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Showbiz Tonight
"Arnold, How Could You?"; Bedrock`s Back
Aired May 17, 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: The burning questions tonight about Arnold Schwarzenegger`s revelation today that he has a love child.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): Big news breaking tonight. Maria Shriver`s shocking heartbreak over Arnold`s love child. How will she possibly deal with this ultimate betrayal? How can she get past this?
Plus, this showbiz great debate. Whose affair shocked you most? Arnold`s, John Edwards` or Jesse James`?
Showbiz in Chicago tonight with Oprah. Backstage at her final shows as stars reveal to us how they want Oprah to end it all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She just peels of her face and is Sally Jesse Rafael the whole time.
HAMMER: Brand new controversy tonight over the Donald ducking out of the presidential race. Our "Showbiz Flashpoint," has Trump become a big joke?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking tonight. Arnold, how could you? I can only imagine that is exactly what`s going through Maria Shriver`s head tonight over and over again.
The news today that Arnold Schwarzenegger publicly admitted that he had a love child with someone who worked for him for 20 years has everyone wondering tonight how in the world is Maria Shriver dealing with this mind boggling heartbreak, that the man she`s been married to for 25 years, the man she gave up her career for so he could become governor of California, the man she so publicly defended so many times could do something so incredibly cruel and heartless? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the tears of Maria.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, ACTOR: We both love each other very much. We`re taking one day at a time.
HAMMER (voice-over): When movie star and ex-California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and his wife, Maria Shriver, announced last week they were separating, a shocked country asked what on earth would make this political Hollywood power couple split up after 25 years together? Well, today we found out.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: A bombshell that broke up the former first couple of California.
HAMMER: Maria reportedly packed her bags after Arnold admitted earlier this year that he fathered a child with another woman and kept a secret from Shriver for more than ten years.
NINA PARKER, TMZ: She hasn`t filed for divorce yet, but she has been meeting with the financial advisor, which is a major clue that divorce is coming.
HAMMER: In a brand-new statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Shriver says, quote, "This is a painful and heartbreaking time. As a mother, my concern is for the children. I ask for compassion, respect, and privacy as my children and I try to rebuild our lives and heal."
MARIA SHRIVER, WIFE OF ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: I`d like to hear from other people who are in transition.
HAMMER: When Maria made this YouTube video in March after their separation but before it was public, she mentioned she was in transition but didn`t say why.
SHRIVER: It`s so stressful to not know what you`re doing next.
HAMMER: Now that the secret is out, headline writers are having a field day. "True Lies" raves the "New York Post." And Arnold, who`s reportedly been considering a "Terminator" sequel --
SCHWARZENEGGER: I`ll be back.
HAMMER: Is instead starring in a real life remake, the John Edwards story, another politician who fathered a love child and then tried to cover it up from voters and his wife.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know that it`s not possible that this child could be mine.
HAMMER: While today, Maria Shriver deals with the incredible pain of being deceived and betrayed by a man she`d sacrificed so much for.
PARKER: She stood by him. She gave up a lot of things that she wanted to do to assist Arnold, and now, you hear about this affair, and it`s just a slap in the face.
HAMMER: Today`s "Los Angeles Times" reports the mother of Arnold`s love child was a member of their household staff, who recently retired after working for them for 20 years.
PARKER: He had this indiscretion with this woman which resulted in a child, and even more so, is someone who worked with them.
HAMMER: In a statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Schwarzenegger says, quote, "After leaving the governor`s office, I told my wife about this event which occurred over a decade ago. I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family." TMZ`s Nina Parker tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT when it comes to Shriver`s reaction, anger and disappointment are an understatement.
PARKER: Sources close to her say she was angry and that she was just completely distraught.
HAMMER: Over the years, we`ve actually lost count of all of the things Shriver has sacrificed for Schwarzenegger. She actively campaigned for him when he ran for governor of California in 2003, and when during the campaign, more than a dozen women accused him of sexually harassing them over a 30-year period, Shriver fiercely defended her husband.
SHRIVER: You can listen to all the negativity and you can listen to people who have never met Arnold or who met him for five seconds 30 years ago or you can listen to me.
HAMMER: Shriver quit her dream job as an NBC reporter to support his campaign. She used her connections to the legendary Kennedy family to help make voters in this blue state comfortable with voting for her Republican husband.
SHRIVER: I wouldn`t be standing here if this man weren`t an A-plus human being.
HAMMER: All the while, Maria, apparently, was completely unaware of the devastating secret her own husband was keeping from her.
SCHWARZENEGGER: She has been the best partner, and I always knew that the greatest wife in the world and as a mother, untouchable.
HAMMER: In a "Larry King Live" interview back in 2003, Arnold praised Maria as an incredibly selfless woman.
SCHWARZENEGGER: She`s selfless. She only thinks about the children and only thinks about me.
HAMMER: And now, it seems Shriver and the world are learning that selflessness is a trait her husband apparently didn`t share.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (on-camera): It certainly does appear that Arnold was very selfish. I can`t even imagine how Maria felt when she was finally clued into what was going on right under her nose. So, in the weeks, in the months ahead, how can Maria possibly deal with this ultimate betrayal?
With me tonight in New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell, the host of "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell" right here on HLN. In Hollywood tonight is Wendy Walsh who`s a TV journalist and doctor of psychology. I think Maria`s statement today to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is a testament to just how devoted she is to her family, especially when she said this: "As a mother, my concern is for the children. I ask for compassion, respect, and privacy as my children and I try to rebuild our lives and heal."
Jane Velez-Mitchell, I never condone violence, but I think women everywhere want to give Arnold Schwarzenegger a collective slap on behalf of Maria Shriver.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST OF "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": How about a kick in the pants? How about knocking him over into the ocean, the Pacific Ocean? I am so outraged. As a person who lived in California when he was running for governor and woman after woman, woman after woman came forward and said he behaved inappropriately. He groped me. He harassed me, and now, this was -- honestly, it`s almost beyond words, because this guy`s an actor.
And he stood up there and said I`m family man. And single parenting is a danger that should be avoided. I guess, it`s OK if it`s a secret love child, and you have a beard (ph) pretending to be the dad. He should be ashamed of himself.
HAMMER: No question about that. Absolutely ashamed. Maria is, obviously, thinking about their kids first and foremost, which is certainly appropriate. But, Wendy, I also think, you know, what about Maria? She was Arnold`s wife. She was there while he carried on this lie, this true lie for more than ten years right under his nose. How does she possibly deal with that?
WENDY WALSH, TV JOURNALIST AND DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY: Yes. I mean ultimately, A.J., she`s got to learn how to trust humanity again, because she`s got -- the trust was broken with her husband and with this employee for 20 years. I think she is doing the right thing in the short-term. She is in process, and she`s going to be caring for her kids, and there`s some evidence that supports that when women console their own children, in some ways they are self-consoling as well.
You know, we can only be as happy mothers as our saddest child. So, it`s very important that she keep the family together and that`s what she`s good at. And this will also continue to hold her. She`ll be reminded of who loves her and who is there for her in this time.
HAMMER: Yes. And that`s great and I`m great she can take some comfort in that. I don`t even imagine how you begin to process all this. I think the ladies of "The View" put this in terrific perspective this morning when they were talking about why this news must have been so shocking for Maria Shriver. Watch what Barbara Walters had to say about it this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WALTERS, HOST: This is a woman who was in her house, and the idea that Maria thinks whoever this woman is, you know, this was in my house, all this deception for 20 years, that sort of adding, you know, more of an injury.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. All of this deception, and it was going on right under Maria`s nose. Jane, what do you think the best way she can possibly deal with all of this deception and move on at some point is for her?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I think that as they say in 12 steps, when you`re a victim, you`re a victim, but when you acknowledge your part in it, it even if it`s one percent or one half of one percent, then you`re just a participant, and then, you don`t feel helpless. You don`t feel victimized. So, I do feel that there is a co-dependency issue here that she might have to look at.
The fact is you saw the clip of her standing up for her husband and saying don`t listen to those women who accused him of sexual harassment, listen to me. I know him. Why did she feel the need to defend him so vigorously when so many women had come forward? Was she in denial? Was she behaving --
WALSH: It definitely was denial.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And a co-dependent, don`t you think?
HAMMER: Yes. Wendy, I mean, I think -- I don`t want to take anything away from Maria right now. She needs all the healing she can get, but I`ve heard the word denial thrown around quite a bit today.
WALSH: Well, I`ll say two things. One, I totally agree with Jane that there obviously had to be a piece of denial, but I also want to add that men can be very sneaky, Jane, and their lives can be huge webs that they weave along the way, and they come up with many excuses for their bad behavior.
HAMMER: And Maria gave up so much of her life for Arnold. You know, she gave up this terrific career, Jane. She was a reporter for NBC, something that she just absolutely adored doing. Look, you`ve written how many books in your life?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Three.
HAMMER: You`ve written three books, and you`ve always told me it was cathartic when you`re writing about your own personal experiences. Do you think maybe something that could be very healing for her is once she`s had some time to process this, write another book, tell her side of the story?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Absolutely. I think she`s going to come out and top, and please don`t misunderstand, I have tremendous compassion and respect for her. She did nothing wrong. You asked me how she can best deal with it, how she can best heal. But I think she`s going to come out on top. They`re all chasing her for a show. So, she`s going to get a show at the very least.
She should write a book. She should be on top of the world. And he`s the one who should hang his head in shame because he didn`t just betray her, he betrayed his own kids, he betrayed that kid who had to live a lie, forcing that kid into living a lie, and he betrayed the taxpayers of California.
HAMMER: Not to mention the public, absolutely. Jane Velez-Mitchell, thank you.
WALSH: But not right away, A.J. She needs to heal for a while. Let`s do this next year.
HAMMER: Yes, that`s what I`m saying. She does need to process. She needs to get a bit of this behind her. So, now, that Arnold has come clean after living his life for more than ten years, so many burning questions about him, including how was he able to keep it a secret for so long? Arnold now joining a long line of very deceitful men in the public eye, Jesse James, former presidential nominee, John Edwards. Which affair shocked you the most? Those burning questions coming up.
Jane Velez-Mitchell, Wendy Walsh, please do not go anywhere.
Well, Donald Trump fires himself from a bid for the White House.
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HAMMER (voice-over): And now, he`s gone from political hopeful to political punch line. The "Showbiz Flashpoint" tonight, is Donald now just a huge joke?
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is in Chicago today. We`re backstage at Oprah`s farewell superstar spectacular. We`ve got a few ideas for how she could sign off and so do the guys from "Hangover 2."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She just peels off her face, and it`s Sally Jesse Rafael the whole time.
HAMMER: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Time now for the "Showbiz News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 302 men disappeared that night. They were never seen or heard from again. Until now.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The person who handed you this card is under the care of a prescription drug designed to help create a psychological distance between himself and the negative aspect of his personality.
HAMMER (voice-over): Mel Gibson can`t catch a break. His ex says he`s a monster, and now, his strange new indie flick, "The Beaver" is tanking at the box office. Can anyone actually remember when Mel Gibson was actually box office gold?
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HAMMER (on-camera): Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Yes, "The Beaver" was supposed to be Mel Gibson`s big comeback movie, but it is tanking at the box office, only pulled in $100,000 during its opening week. And it looks like the world just isn`t ready to forgive Mel Gibson just yet.
One friend, however, is sticking by him. "The Beaver`s" director, Jody Foster, has known Gibson for decades and says he is a great guy. Listen to what she just said today. "He`s someone I love. When you love somebody, you don`t just run away from them when they`re struggle. I will always be there."
So, how did Mel get to this point? Were all the sign there from his complicated life story? And who was Mel before the scandal? Here`s Brooke Anderson for CNN Presents.
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BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mel Gibson`s father, Hutton, certainly ruled the roost. A conservative catholic, he once considered the priesthood. Instead, he worked the railroad until 1964 when a bad accident put him out of work and out of a paycheck.
LAWRENCE GROBEL, WRITER: So, while he was out, he started going on game shows. He went on "Jeopardy."
ANDERSON: Hutton would go undefeated and later be invited back for the show`s tournament of champions. The winnings, along with a $145,000 settlement with New York Central Railroad, allowed the family to leave America for Australia, in part so Mel`s brothers could escape the Vietnam draft. But 12-year-old Mel would have to fight his own battle in school.
GROBEL: He`s a yank because he`s has an American accent, and the kids, you know, teased him, and they don`t really accept him so easily.
ANDERSON: One of Gibson`s coping mechanisms was humor.
GROBEL: He sort of clowned around a lot, you know, and his father tells him, you know, the one thing you never do, they don`t pay a clown.
ANDERSON: Mel would prove his father wrong with some unsolicited help from his sister. Without his knowledge, she filled out an application for him to attend Australia`s National Institute of Dramatic Art, where an addiction to acting was born.
GROBEL: Yes, there was a moment where it clicked, and it wasn`t on stage. It was during the middle of an exercise with like being drunk or high.
ANDERSON: By the age of 20, Gibson had signed on to play the role of a surfer in his first flick, "Summer City."
MEL GIBSON, ACTOR: My chance to do this is more of a way of life.
ANDERSON: On screen, Mel`s acting ability easily surpassed his surfing skills.
BILL AVALON (ph), PRODUCER: Hopeless. Absolutely hopeless.
ANDERSON: Bill Avalon (ph) wrote and produced the movie.
AVALON: Uncoordinated. We had a double for him, but, because he`s a good actor, when it came to him being a surfer, you wouldn`t know that he wasn`t.
ANDERSON: Clearly, Mel was not yet a star, making just $400 for a month of filming. With just 66 grand to make the movie, the cast and crew slept on mattresses in a hall also used for weddings. For Gibson, it was an invitation to trouble.
AVALON: Mel and his side kick, Steve Beasley (ph), went over this wedding going on for too long. So, they got to the windows and gave them the moons.
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HAMMER: Much different time for Mel. For more on the life of the provocative actor, tune in Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. eastern for CNN Presents "Acting Out: The Mel Gibson`s Story."
Moving on now, Brad and Angelina are taking over Cannes.
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HAMMER (voice-over): They owned the red carpet, looking just stunned, very affectionate, but why did Brat get boo (ph)?
Tonight, it`s Jennifer Aniston versus Kate Gosselin. They both rock signature hairstyle, so who wins in the celebrity hair smackdown?
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT backstage in Chicago with Oprah`s last superstar show. So, how should Oprah say goodbye? We went to Oprah`s superstar friends for their advices.
TOM HANKS, ACTOR: Man oh man, outside of a barge down the Nile as she`s waving at everybody with fireworks.
HAMMER: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (on-camera): Now, the "Showbiz News Ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am emotional right now. This is a breakup. I`ll probably be watching "Dirty Dancing" at least six or seven times a day. Also, I like to sing to myself a lot.
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OPRAH WINFREY, HOST: Did you think at the time I was too hard on you?
JAMES FREY, AUTHOR: I knew I had made a bad mistake.
WINFREY: What did you think of the way it was conducted? Your impression of it.
FREY: I mean, I thought I got ambushed, absolutely. I felt like I got ambushed.
HAMMER (voice-over): Oprah faces off with one of her most controversial guests ever, "A Million Little Pieces" author, James Frey, who admitted he made a lot of his memoir. He was one off Oprah`s final guests. And can you believe it, she is about to tape her final show this week.
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HAMMER (on-camera): SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s farewell to Oprah. We continues, and we are right there in Chicago today. Oprah is about to tape her final shows ever, and a lot of people are wondering how is she going to say goodbye. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter is in Chicago just outside the United Center where Oprah`s star studded spectacular goodbye will be tape. And when I spoke with Kareen late this afternoon, I had to ask her the question everyone is asking, how will Oprah sign off?
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, A.J., there`s been so much speculation as to how Oprah will end her show. Luckily, we caught up with the stars of "Hangover 2," and let me tell you, they had some pretty interesting ideas for her. So, Oprah, if you`re watching, pay attention. These guys came up with what could be the best exit ever for a television host in all of TV history.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What would be your favorite way to see someone like that go out? If you had your druthers, you`d kind of host your own show between two ferns. When you --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He also had "Late Night with Zach" on VH1.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You would be the person to answer this question as an expert talk show host veteran. What would be the best way for her to go out?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably just like out of a door. She just peels off her face, and it`s Sally Jesse Rafael the whole time.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Or Phil Donahue.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She says goodbye and then the set like closes and you realize it`s a spaceship, and she launches up into outer space. And then parachutes back down.
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WYNTER: Taking off in a spaceship probably not how Oprah will end her show. By the way, "The Hangover 2" hits theaters Memorial Day weekend -- A.J.
HAMMER: Yes, that peeling off her face, although, that would be some great ratings, wouldn`t it? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter in Chicago. Thank you, Kareen.
Well, luckily, Oprah`s got some less frightening examples of TV legend who have said goodbye before her like Johnny Carson`s emotional farewell from the "Tonight Show." Even Rosie O`Donnell when she left her talk show. So, what could Oprah learn from those legendary goodbyes? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter will be back with that showbiz special report in just a few minutes.
Now, the showbiz line up. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Arnold and Maria, burning questions today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER (voice-over): How could he have kept it a secret for so long that he had a child?
Donald Trump ducks a presidential run. The "Showbiz Flashpoint," is the Donald a big joke?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
This is the "Showbiz News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Burning questions about Arnold Schwarzenegger`s big betrayal. How could he have kept his affair and love child hidden for more than ten years? Should Maria have been surprised?
Plus, brand-new Trump controversy tonight. Is Trump a joke now that he`s dropped out of presidential race? It`s our "Showbiz Flashpoint." Showbiz backstage in Chicago tonight with Oprah. Backstage with all the stars at her final shows. You are not going to believe how they want Oprah to end it all.
HANKS: Man oh man, outside of a barge down the Nile as she`s waving at everybody with fireworks.
HAMMER: I think she`s probably going to stay in Chicago, Tom.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City, and we got big news breaking tonight. Arnold`s betrayal. The burning questions, and there are more burning questions than we can count tonight following Arnold Schwarzenegger`s shocking confession today that he had a love child ten years ago with someone who worked as a staff member in his household for 20 years.
Tonight, his soon to be ex-wife, Maria Shriver, is just devastated, and she`s got every right to be, especially after Arnold publicly humiliated her today when he released this statement. He said, "After leaving the governor`s office, I told my wife about this event. I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses, and I take full responsibility for the hurt that I have caused."
That leads to our first burning question tonight, how is Arnold able to keep this secret for so long? I want to bring in Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell" right here on HLN. She`s also the author of this fine book "Addict Nation: An Intervention for America." Jane, I don`t get it. They were married for 25 years. He kept this a secret for ten years. It blows my mind that he was able to keep it secret for so long.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, by the way, first of all, Arnold, having a kid is not an event. OK? It`s not like going to a charity event and then you leave and you can forget about it. The child is a living human being. Even his language as he is apologizing for this is appalling. But I think that, first of all, after he rode out that scandal when he was running for governor about the sexual harassment and settled into the governor`s office, people stopped really digging.
And they`ve only really started digging when they hear about the separation that was recently announced, but I think it`s also because this guy is a world class actor, and he acted the part of family man, talking about a la Tiger Woods, family is everything.
HAMMER: And like Tiger Woods, a likable guy, and I think a lot of people just naturally and easily gave him a pass because of that. Well, I think for a longtime as an actor, you know, prior to all that --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh, yes. Sure. "Kindergarten Cop."
HAMMER: Yes, exactly. I`m going home to watch that tonight. Wendy Walsh is also with us tonight. She`s a TV journalist and doctor of psychology. What do you think, Wendy? How could you possibly keep something like this a secret for so long?
WALSH: I think he had help. Not only was he paying off this woman for her silence, but of course, he had financial people advising him who were writing the check. Do you think he wrote the check himself and signed it every month to her? So, there was definitely a small cadre of people on the inside who knew this was going on and did protect him.
HAMMER: Yes. There were, you know, all these reports flying around when Arnold ran for governor back in 2003 that he was fooling around on the side as we`ve been talking about. He denied everything, as we`ve said, even though he knew the secret could come out. That leads to our next burning question, how could Arnold run for public office with this secret looming?
It is outrageous to me, Jane, that, he had the you know what to ask people for their vote. You were living in California at the time. He basically pulled a John Edwards.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Absolutely. I think that`s why I`m so angry because I`m asking myself, why am I so worked up about this? It`s just what`s happening in somebody else`s life. And again, I feel tremendous compassion for Maria Shriver, but I`m angry because I was a voter and a taxpayer in California at the time that he ran and basically brushed off all these women who came forward and at their own expense revealed that they felt humiliated and degraded because they accused him of sexual harassment.
They brush it off, and he is elected to an office where at least 50 percent of the women -- 50 percent of the people in California are women. So, I feel he betrayed not just Maria but all the women of California. I feel betrayed as a person who lived there and made a decision on who to vote for based on faulty information, a man who was pretending to be something that was the opposite of what he really was.
HAMMER: Yes. Everybody`s taking this owe personally, and everybody feeling for Maria Shriver. I can`t help but feel for her and imagine what she`s feeling like tonight. I want to you take a look at the statement that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT got from Maria today. She said, "This is a painful and heartbreaking time. As a mother, my concern is for the children. I ask for compassion, respect, and privacy as my children and I try to rebuild our lives and heal."
For many years, we watched Maria standing by Arnold`s side, defending him, despite those unconfirmed reports that Arnold was getting frisky on the side. That leader to our next burning question tonight, should Maria be surprised about Arnold`s affair. Wendy, what do you think about that?
WALSH: I think she should be surprised, because she was living partly in a state of denial, but she was also very busy bearing his four children, nursing them, and raising them as well as nurturing and caring for him. So, that keeps a woman very occupied, A.J. So, we can`t blame her for missing it. And yes, she can be absolutely surprised because he made a promise to her, she trusted him, and he betrayed all of that trust.
HAMMER: You know, I wish we could be surprised when a politician pulls something like this, but for some reason, we`re not. Why is that? Well, let me say this right here. We have to put Arnold right up there now with all the shock that we all felt when we heard about John Edwards cheating on Elizabeth, when we heard about Jesse James, while not a politician, he cheated on America`s sweetheart, Sandra Bullock.
That leads to our next burning question, whose affair shocked you the most? Arnold? John Edwards? He also fathered a love child, remember, and that was going on while his wife battled terminal cancer. Or was it Jesse James for cheating on Sandra Bullock? Jane, which shocked you the most? I`m pretty clear on this one for myself.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I`m the most shocked by this, because when somebody has the nerve to run for governor of California when they`re just an actor and, boy, did I have arguments with people California, he`s an actor, he`s not qualified to be governor. No, but I trust him. There`s something about him I like. That`s what people used to say. And look at Maria, she`s standing up for him. And I just feel good about him.
And this is what we get. This is the ultimate betrayal. I am shocked by the depth of the betrayal, the fact that this poor Maria Shriver had to live in a house that was surrounded by intrigue. It`s something out of beyond Shakespeare. It`s a horror story.
HAMMER: It`s hard to make this stuff up. Wendy Walsh, among these, which shocked you the most?
WALSH: I think the Arnold thing because of the secrecy for ten years. I mean, I live in Los Angeles where people talk, everybody talks. And if a household worker is showing a, shall we say, treasure that doesn`t represent her salary grade, then someone`s going to ask questions or know something. And this, nobody leaked anything for ten years is a shocking and surprising to me.
HAMMER: Well, nobody was shocked and surprised to hear both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Donald Trump`s name being mentioned in the same breath today. No, not because Donald was cheating or anything like that, but like Arnold, he has his own political tragedy to deal with today after pulling out of the presidential race. I personally think that political commentator, James Carville, summed it up nicely this morning on "Good Morning, America" when he was talking about Arnold and Trump making big news on the same day. Let`s watch that.
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JAMES CARVILLE POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: First of all, Shakespeare would have loved this broadcast. We`ve gone from tragedy to comedy right away. This guy got out because he was beaten, realized that he was making a fool of himself. And that`s what the political system does.
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HAMMER: And that leads to our "Showbiz Flashpoint," Is Donald Trump now a big joke? Jane, I`ve been pretty clear about this from the moment that he even started toying with the idea of running for president that he has become a joke. Where are you on this?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, yes. He was attacking the president of the United States really very personally and saying some nasty things, and then, the president pulls out, well, we got Bin Laden. Not so good. And then, of course, the "New York Times" comes out with a scathing report about all the people who feel betrayed by the Donald because he put his name on projects that they felt really ended up very, very badly if constructed at all. So, I think the sum total of it is hasta la vista, baby.
HAMMER: Yes, from Arnold`s mouth to Donald`s ear. What do you think, Wendy Walsh? Quickly, is he a big joke now? I don`t see any way around it.
WALSH: I don`t know if he`s a joke, but every time I hear his name, I find myself breaking out into a big smile.
(LAUGHTER)
WALSH: I think the Donald is done for now as far as political career. Enough already.
HAMMER: Yes. Go back to your reality TV show, Donald. Thank you very much. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Wendy Walsh, I thank you very much.
Moving now to Britney Spears. Is she a believer? Could it be?
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HAMMER (voice-over): Brand new revelations tonight from Britney about the power of Justin Beiber. Is Britt his biggest fan?
Jennifer Aniston versus Kate Gosselin. It`s a celebrity hair showdown over two famous styles that have rocked the red carpet. You don`t want to miss this. So, the question is who would you rather look like?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the hottest ticket in Chicago. We are right there backstage at Oprah`s last shows. We`ve got the world`s biggest stars. Listen to their advice for Oprah`s big goodbye.
HANKS: Man oh man, outside of a barge down the Nile as she`s waving at everybody with fireworks.
HAMMER: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Time now for the "Showbiz News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are at the dawn of a new civilization.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome To Terra Nova, folks. Welcome home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What`s that?
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KIRSTIE ALLEY, ACTRESS: I`m going to miss being on it and miss her show, but, you know, Oprah is one of those people that will never cease to amaze. So, whatever she has up her sleeve that she wants to continue doing or whatever her next journey is, I`m sure will be more incredible than the last one. So, I am more excited to see what`s going to happen next.
HAMMER (voice-over): One of Oprah`s thousands of guests from her 25 seasons. Kirstie Alley revealing her thoughts on Oprah`s final goodbye as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT covered Oprah`s farewell rolls on from Chicago.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s special report. Oprah`s final farewell. Oprah Winfrey`s final goodbye is certainly going to be one of the most highly anticipated moments in television history. And how should the Queen of Talk sign off after all?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter is in Chicago just outside the United Center where Oprah`s star-studded spectacular goodbye will be taped. So, Kareen, so much anticipation around Oprah`s farewell. There`s got to be a lot of pressure for her to make it one that we`ll always remember.
WYNTER: You know, A.J., that`s so true. I mean, how do you put that big exclamation point at the end of 25 amazing years, right? well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has some suggestions from some of TV`s biggest goodbyes.
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WYNTER (voice-over): She`s been the queen of daytime television for decades.
WINFREY: What a history it`s been.
WYNTER: Now, after 25 years, Oprah`s saying goodbye to the "Oprah Winfrey Show," but SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is dying to know how will lady o bid farewell on the talk show`s final broadcast? And, what can she learn from other famous TV goodbyes? Hollywood`s biggest stars can`t stop buzzing about Oprah`s sendoff.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, what do you think would be the ideal sendoff for her?
HANKS: Man oh man, outside of a barge down the Nile as she`s waving at everybody with fireworks, you know, and chariots.
AMERICAN LEVY, ACTOR: I think she should be shot out of a cannon and land in a big cake that says 25 years.
RITA WILSON, ACTRESS: I think it should be Oprah alone talking. I would like to hear what the last 25 years has meant to her.
WYNTER: Alone talking to the audience. Sound familiar? Johnny Carson did just that during his very emotional goodbye on the "Tonight Show."
JOHNNY CARSON, FORMER HOST OF "TONIGHT SHOW": I bid you a very heartfelt good night.
MAGGIE FURLONG, AOL TELEVISION: I don`t think there was a dry eye in anyone`s house watching that show.
WYNTER: AOL Television`s Maggie Furlong, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that Oprah can learn a little something from Johnny Carson`s intimate farewell.
FURLONG: When he sat on that stool for his very last show to hand over the reins for the "Tonight Show," it was some of the best television in TV history.
WYNTER: But if intimate isn`t what Oprah has in mind, how about extravagant? The bon voyage broadcast of the Rosie O`Donnell show featured the host the dancing and singing a la a Broadway musical.
(SINGING)
WYNTER: But furlong tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT not to expect too much song and dance when Oprah signs off.
FURLONG: Mind you, Rosie`s goodbye was big, huge, over the top, out of control, hey, look at what I can do, look at all the fun we`ve had. I think Oprah might take a smaller approach to make it more intimate and more special.
ROBIN ROBERTS, BROADCASTER: It`s going to be a morning to remember. Thank you, Diane.
WYNTER: Robin Roberts and Diane Sawyer had a special moment during Sawyer`s "Good Morning, America" sendoff which also included a surprise serenade from her staff.
(SINGING)
WYNTER: Sawyer was touched by the gesture and even sang along. Oprah, however, won`t likely be caught off guard.
FURLONG: Here`s the deal, people. Oprah does not like to be surprised. Oprah`s not a fan of not knowing what`s going on at every point of every show. I don`t think they need to surprise her to get a tear out of her.
WYNTER: Speaking of tears, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can report that many Oprah fans will likely shed a few when her show ends, and we`ve been asking the Oprah faithful on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook wall how they think she`ll bring the series to a close.
Marcel T. writes, "Oprah should end the way she started, stand in the audience, holding a microphone. Laurie R. would like a recap of the hundreds of highlights, and Danielle D. wants Oprah to announce that this isn`t the last show, it was all a joke. Sorry, Danielle, but the queen, she`s moving on. And as speculation swirls around Oprah Winfrey`s big finale, Maggie Furlong tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that one thing is certain.
FURLONG: She definitely, again, wants it to be about the viewers, the audience, the people that have kept her show on the air. I think it`s going to be absolutely a perfect moment for her to say goodbye to her fans.
WYNTER: And the perfect moment for us all to celebrate what is sure to become one of television`s most famous farewells.
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WYNTER (on-camera): And A.J., if you`ll remember, CNN`s own Larry King signed off simply saying "so long." He sat silence as the lights on his iconic set went dark after 25 years. That magical number, you know, really makes you wonder what Oprah will do.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter in Chicago. Thanks so much, Kareen.
And all this week, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is saying farewell to Oprah. On Wednesday, we`re right there inside Oprah`s surprise spectacular in Chicago, 20,000 people are at this thing. Thursday, what`s next for Oprah? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s farewell to Oprah all this week.
I bet Jennifer Aniston wishes she could say goodbye to her friend`s hair- do.
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HAMMER (voice-over): It`s the great Jennifer Aniston-Kate Gosselin debate tonight. Who would you rather look like?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
Time for the "Showbiz News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m going to ask you politely to please let my friend go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Or what? You`ll recite me a poem? What the hell is that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, that`s my legal adviser.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Time now for the showbiz buzz list. Here`s what the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff is buzzing all about this week.
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HAMMER (voice-over): We are downright gleeful about the upcoming season finale of "Glee" next week set right here in New York City. I cannot wait to see that thing.
We are ready to cut up the dance floor to Lady Gaga`s latest track "Hair." It is hot, and it`s on iTunes this week.
Stephen Spielberg brings us the TNT new series "Falling Skies," and it looks so cool we will be tuning in when it premieres on June 19th.
We`re definitely intrigued by the latest touch screen tablet. The Blackberry playbook looks great. We love it. It`s nice and compact.
And we`re so excited. ABC has renewed the hilarious comedy, "Happy Endings," for a second season. It`s the show we cannot stop watching on Wednesday night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am awesome boyfriend material, OK? I like long walks. I like puddles, jumping in and jumping out. I like listening to really long stories about who sat next to who at yoga. I`m in trouble.
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HAMMER: There were only cheers for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. Too bad Brad`s film didn`t get as warmer reception. Pitt plays a tough dad in "The Tree of Life," but the film shockingly got some boos from the audience during its debut. Much of Brad, most critics didn`t agree with the crowd, giving the film pretty solid reviews.
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HAMMER (on-camera): There`s more big news breaking in the buzz today. Demi Lovato made some revealing breakthrough. Demi surprises her Twitter followers in a bikini.
Yaba daba doo! The Flintstones are back, and Britney Spears catches a serious case of Bieber fever.
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HAMMER (voice-over): Britney`s Bieber fever. Britney Spears has just revealed she has a monster new crush. In a brand-new interview, Britney confesses to Harper`s Bazaar that she`s jumped on board the Justin Bieber train. "I think he`s adorable. I just saw his movie, and I really didn`t realize how big he was. He`s enormous. He`s just Mr. Man. It was so cool to see our similarities."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yaba daba doo!
HAMMER: Bedrock`s back. Flintstones are Yaba daba doo-ing TV again. "The Family Guy" creator, Seth MacFarlane has confirmed for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that he`s got Fred, Wilma, and Barney on board for a 21st century cartoon TV redo of the modern stone age family saying, quote, "the very first cartoon character I drew at age 2 was Fred Flintstone. So, it`s appropriate that events have come full circle, allowing me to produce the newest incarnation of this great franchise." Flintstone comes to Fox in 2013.
Demi`s bikini body bombshell. Demi Lovato has just hit her Twitter fans with a brand-new shot of her in a bikini. The former Disney star who spent three months in a treatment center for emotional and physical issues told her Twitter followers she considers the bikini a breakthrough. "I didn`t think I`d ever feel confident enough to ever do that. I`m excited how far I`ve come since being completely ashamed of my body. I want any girl/guy out there who struggles with body image or confidence to know that it is possible to find peace with yourself." Nice going, Demi.
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HAMMER (on-camera): Moving on now to showbiz trending tonight, It`s a showbiz celebrity hair smackdown. You know Jennifer Aniston`s old trend hair-do, the Rachelle. It`s a big story trending tonight. Aniston`s iconic Rachel hair-cut from her days on "Friends" is still a huge hit online. That`s the hair-cut that, of course, helped propel Aniston to champion status.
She topped Bing`s ratings of the celebrities fans would most trust to help them decide on get the new haircut. I get it. Jennifer style sparked a big trend. I got to say, she still looks fantastic today, and I think that`s why people want her styling their own hair.
Now, Aniston smackdown, the hair raising stars, Kate Gosselin, Donald Trump, and Snooki. Aniston also beat out Justin Bieber who Bing users voted as the least trusted celebrity to help decide a new haircut. Less trustworthy than Trump, really?
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT now seen exclusively, Monday through Friday at 11:00 p.m. eastern and pacific. You`re on HLN.
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