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Showbiz Tonight
Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina in Love?; The Big Kim Kardashian Ring Debate; New Development on the Arnold Schwarzenegger Cheating Scandal; Lindsay Lohan on House Arrest; The "American Idol" Star Showdowns
Aired May 26, 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: Well, tonight we are demanding answers to the big burning "American Idol" questions, including Scotty and Lauren in love? I`m A.J. Hammer. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - the big buzz tonight over "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina. The startling signs that they may be America`s hottest new couple.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTTY MCCREERY, "AMERICAN IDOL" WINNER: Me and her have been together since day one and we`re going to stay together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right there with them backstage. Plus, our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, who will be the bigger star?
The great Kim Kardashian ring debate. Kim Kardashian`s jaw dropping 20 carat $2 million engagement ring. $2 million? The SHOWBIZ great debate. Totally tacky or, hey, if you`ve got it, flaunt it?
The dramatic new development in the Arnold Schwarzenegger cheating scandal tonight. For the very first time, the daughter of Arnold`s reported mistress and mother of his secret child speaks out.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with big news breaking tonight, "American Idol" sealed with a kiss.
Yes, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that while Scotty McCreery winning "American Idol" may have been no surprise, I think his full on smackaroo kiss with runner-up Lauren Alaina really was. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Scotty and Lauren may be the hottest, most talked-about possible teen star couple since Justin Beecher just smooched it up with Selena Gomez at the Billboard Music Awards.
Because, yes, the great drama that is "American Idol" sparked another drama today as love detectives everywhere went looking for more clues that Scotty and Lauren may be in idol love.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN SEACREST, "AMERICAN IDOL" HOST: Scotty McCreery!
HAMMER (voice-over): The crowning of the new "American Idol" is always a big deal. And last night`s win by 17-year-old country crooner, Scotty McCreery, is no exception.
SEACREST: Your "American Idol", ladies and gentlemen!
HAMMER: But tonight, as Scotty takes his victory lap, there`s talk that he and his runner-up, 16-year-old Lauren Alaina, might be, could be, you know, dating.
MCCREERY: Me and her have been together since day one and we`re going to stay together.
HAMMER: There were Scotty`s glowing words about Lauren after his win, to say nothing about the sweet "love you" viewers overheard right before the closing credits.
Just after Scotty was announced as the winner, check out this full-on lip-lock Lauren planted on him. Wow. We certainly didn`t see that kind of affection between last year`s "Idol" winner, Lee DeWyze and his runner-up, Crystal Bowersox, or even between the bromantic Kris Allen and Adam Lambert.
So either`s Scotty`s the most gracious winner and Lauren`s the most gracious loser in "American Idol" history or these two are an item. Either way, they`re not saying.
LAUREN ALAINA, "AMERICAN IDOL" RUNNER-UP: I will never tell.
MCCREERY: She`s a character, isn`t she?
HAMMER: Tonight, headlines are buzzing about this possible "Idol" romance. So SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking, do we have another sweet teen couple on our hands like Justin and Selena or Finn and Rachel?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was that scripted?
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Scotty and Lauren are so similar in a lot of ways. They`re both really young. They`re both country music singers. They both went through this new journey together.
So it really makes sense that they`ve grown very close, that they`ve really had similar experiences and have feelings for each other.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: There was a loud whisper about these teens` chemistry after their "Idol" performances, whispers that are even louder today after last night`s PDA.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you guys more than friends or -
ALAINA: Ask Scotty.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was backstage after the "American Idol" finals. Lauren played coy when the questions turned to her and Scotty`s relationship. And she had fun at his expense.
ALAINA: They asked me if we`re dating. I told them to ask you.
HAMMER: But after all the kidding, Lauren fell back on the old "we`re just pals" routine.
ALAINA: He`s my best friend. We went through this whole process together. And I couldn`t have picked a more perfect person to get second place to.
HAMMER: Scotty was also big on the "we`re just friends" mantra.
MCCREERY: We`re really close friends. I mean, really. I met her day one of Hollywood week. And it`s just that we`ve grown very tight over the weeks because we`ve been to school together. But I don`t know about the dating part. She`s just being funny.
SERAFIN: So it seems like they`ve actually learned a few lessons in Hollywood already, "No, we`re just friends. That`s it. Nothing more. No romance."
HAMMER: True, lots of celebrities who were dating on the sly say they`re just friends. But it appears to be true in this case. Sure, Scotty said "I love you" to Lauren, but we noticed he was kind of free with the "I love of you`s" after his emotional big win.
MCCREERY: I love you. I love you. I love you, man.
SERAFIN: It could be that they`re just friends.
HAMMER: "In Touch Weekly`s" Kim Serafin tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT all the romance talk adds a nice postscript to what has been a huge 10th season for "American Idol."
SERAFIN: New judges, younger contestants. Sort of a new flavor being infused into the whole "American Idol" show. We didn`t know if it was going to be kind of a rough year or how this season would turn out.
It turned out really well. I think having kind of a fairy tale romance at the end of it would be kind of the perfect cap for a great season.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Yes. We could be romantic, right? Is this the great "American Idol" love story? Did Scotty McCreery win both idol and a new girlfriend? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is revealing all the big clues tonight about this possible "Idol" romance.
There is that, of course, big kiss on the lips right there on stage. Scotty telling Lauren that he loves her. And even backstage, that confession that SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught on camera.
Well, joining me tonight from Hollywood, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsmaker Rodney Jerkins who was a coach on "American Idol" this season.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right there at the "American Idol" finale. We didn`t miss a second of all of the action. And I`ve got to tell you the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff spent hours, literally, seriously hours, just poring over all the footage, looking at every moment.
And the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff is revealing the clues about Scotty and Lauren Alaina`s possible love connection. First up, listen to what Scotty said on "Idol" just after his big win was announced. You`ve got to watch carefully.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCREERY: Love you, baby.
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, look, I get why people would love to see this romance. It would be this great "American Idol" love story. But the buzz started on stage right after we also heard Scotty telling other "Idol" contestants like Durbin and Casey that he loves them.
I`m not picking up any romance going on there. Rodney, you were right there on the "Idol" set this year, coaching the contestants, watching everything that was going on with a hawk eye. Here`s your chance to break news, Rodney. Are Scotty and Lauren a secret couple? Give it to us straight.
RODNEY JERKINS, "AMERICAN IDOL" COACH: I don`t know if they are or not. I think Scotty genuinely loves everybody. That`s something - you know, that`s something that he says. He says "I love you" to everybody.
You know, he appreciates everybody that works with him and - you never know, though. You know, listen, she`s 16. He`s 17. They`ve been together for the last six months, working side by side. You just never know.
This could be the greatest love story of them all, you know? These two kids falling in love on the set of "American Idol," I mean, I think it could be a great thing for them two to date. It could be kind of awesome, actually.
HAMMER: Yes. It just an amazing, amazing story, you know. I`m watching you carefully, Rodney. I`m checking out your body language, man. I`ve got to tell you I want to make sure you`re giving it to me straight. I believe you are.
And you would tell us if you really saw something going on here. But you know, we`ve got to think about the fact that when Scotty won, he could have talked about anyone.
He went straight to Lauren, again, and disclosed new details about their future. Let`s watch what happened there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCREERY: It been a year since me and Lauren Alaina tried out now. Me and her have been together since day one. We`re going to stay together. This is - never in my wildest dreams.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. What do you think? Is he telling the truth there? I mean, look, Rodney, I`m right there with you. I think we would all like to see this happen. But do you sense that he`s telling the truth there, just friends?
JERKINS: I think he is telling the truth. I think they`ve grown to be really good friends. And I think they`re going to continue to be friends, but you never know. It could blossom into something more than friendship, you know.
I think it would be a cool thing to see, those two together. Listen, Scotty is now the new country Bieber. So he`s going to have every - he`s going to have every girl in the world trying to get at him.
You know, he`s got to figure this whole thing out. And Lauren as well. Lauren - she`s also going to have every guy that`s going to want to try to date her. So you know, they have to sit around and talk about this and see where they want to go with this whole thing.
HAMMER: And let`s remember, they`re going to be, you know, out on this tour all summer long, getting so much attention. Well, after the "Idol" finale, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT went backstage with Scotty and Lauren where they revealed even more about a possible love affair.
Let`s watch what they told us when we asked them if they were dating at that time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALAINA: Everyone keeps saying that or asking if me and Scotty are dating. And all have I to say is, ask Scotty. I will never tell.
MCCREERY: We`re really close friends. I mean, really, I met her day one of Hollywood week. And it`s just that we`ve grown really tight over the weeks because we`ve been to school together. But I don`t know about the dating part. She`s just being funny.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Rodney. Let me ask you very quickly. Ratings were up 17 percent from last season. From your involvement this season, how big of a responsibility do you think that Scotty and Lauren had in pulling in that massive audience?
JERKINS: Oh, huge responsibility. I mean, when you think of - when you think of really the people that voted, a lot of the votes come in from Middle America. And a lot of Middle America loves country music.
So to have two, you know, contestants competing and they both sing country music and they both end up first and second place, I really believe they had a huge impact on the show`s ratings going up.
HAMMER: Yes. I think you absolutely nailed it there. Rodney Jerkins, thanks as always.
Got to move on right now to a dramatic new development in the Arnold Schwarzenegger cheating scandal tonight. For the first time, the daughter of Arnold`s reported mistress and mother of his secret child is speaking out.
Kim Kardashian`s jaw-dropping, 20-carat, $2 million engagement ring. It`s the SHOWBIZ great debate. Is it tacky, or if you`ve got it, flaunt it?
Also this -
(MUSIC)
It`s the Beyonce copycat controversy with B speaking out for the first time tonight about being accused of ripping off her Billboard Music Awards performance. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, it`s the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: "American Idol" posts first finale ratings gain in five years. Last "Oprah" show delivers highest ratings in 17 years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": I thank you for being as much of a sweet inspiration to me as I`ve tried to be for you. I won`t say goodbye. I`ll just say until we meet again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACKIE ROSO, MILDRED BAENA`S DAUGHTER: She`s always been there for us, me and my brothers. That`s why me and my brothers will always be there for her no matter what.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That is the daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger`s reported mistress defending her mom. She doesn`t care what the world is saying. She is standing behind her family. Wait until you hear what else she just revealed today.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And tonight, defending the other woman. For the very first time today, we heard from the daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger`s reported mistress who is speaking out for the first time about her mom. She`s actually calling her mom a superwoman. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has all the brand-new details tonight.
Joining me right now in New York, Atty. Midwin Charles. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is revealing that brand-new interview tonight with Mildred Baena`s daughter - Jackie Roso is her name.
And if you ask me, it makes sense for a daughter, quite obviously, to defend her mother in just about any situation. But I personally don`t think that gets her mom off the hook in any way if she had Arnold Schwarzenegger`s secret child, right? Watch this interview she did with Telemundo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSO: I love my mom very much. And you know, she`s been a great inspiration for any woman that, you know, is out there, you know, working for their kids and everything.
And my mom, you know, she`d give her shirt off her back for anyone. I mean, what can I say? She`s like a superwoman pretty much. You know, she`s always, you know, been there for us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right Midwin, I, again, get defending your mom under almost any circumstances. But is there really any way it defend Mildred Baena`s reportedly having a secret child with Arnold Schwarzenegger?
MIDWIN CHARLES, ATTORNEY, MIDWIN CHARLES AND ASSOCIATES: Well, I don`t know that that`s particularly what she was doing there. I mean, she is her daughter. So she`s not going to say anything bad about her, that`s for sure.
HAMMER: Right.
CHARLES: And remember, she has a perspective of this woman that none of us have. This is her child. She`s been with her day in and day out. She`s raised her and taught her everything she knows. So I can`t imagine that she would say anything but what she said to Telemundo.
HAMMER: Yes. I guess it`s just - you know, people everywhere, and I`m hearing it from so many women, are just so angry at this other woman, if this actually all did happen as it appears to have happened.
Well, someone else connected to Mildred Baena also speaking out in an interview, her ex-husband. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT learned today that Mildred Baena`s lawyer is actually threatening to sue an entertainment show for running an interview with her ex who claims that he had no idea that the child wasn`t his own.
It seems to me, Midwin, that maybe she shouldn`t be running around, filing lawsuits right about now because it`s drawing more attention to herself. How difficult for her and for her kids.
CHARLES: Assuming she doesn`t want the attention now, right? I mean, at this point, the cat is out of the bag. It`s no longer a secret. And perhaps attention is what she wants. There`s no better way to get attention these days than to file a lawsuit, particularly when this issue is so hot right now.
HAMMER: Oh, god, I just don`t understand it and I just feel for all of the kids who are involved here in both families. Look, you`re an attorney. You`ve been at this for a while. You`ve seen these sorts of things before.
But from your experience, can you see this type of a thing causing so many lawsuits all over the place? It`s very complicated and tying up the courts for years to come at this point?
CHARLES: I mean, it`s possible. Let`s hope that that`s not the case, particularly since there are children involved and families. Let`s hope that, you know, cooler heads can prevail and it won`t get to that point, A.J.
HAMMER: Do cooler heads really often prevail?
CHARLES: Oh, sure.
HAMMER: You think more often than not?
CHARLES: Yes.
HAMMER: All right. OK.
CHARLES: When there`s a lot of money at stake, you`ll see how quick people come to that settlement.
HAMMER: Lots of strong personalities involved.
CHARLES: Oh, yes.
HAMMER: Midwin Charles, I appreciate your perspective on all of this. Thanks so much.
CHARLES: Sure. You`re welcome.
HAMMER: Well, we have a lot of phone calls coming in and a lot of perspective from our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been flooded with calls about the Arnold Schwarzenegger cheating scandal.
Pretty much everyone we`re hearing from is just disgusted by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Here`s Jeannine from California.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JEANNINE, CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: With the Arnold Schwarzenegger situation, the only victims here are Maria and the children and the former husband of the maid.
The housekeeper maid was married when she went after a married man and continued to work for his family and his wife for years afterwards. She`s no victim and, certainly, Arnold isn`t either.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you, Jeannine. Douglas from Kansas agrees.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DOUGLAS, CALLER FROM KANSAS: I watched most of Arnold`s movies. And the bombshell he drops - how could you do that to Maria, Arnold? I admired you as an actor, but being a man is more important than being an actor.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you so much, Douglas. All right. I`ve got to say as we move on tonight the "American Idol" finale - it just rocked, didn`t it? Not only were Scotty and Lauren were great. Check out J-Lo and her hubby, Marc Anthony, here.
(SINGING)
Plus, Beyonce sings about sex. Lady Gaga simulates sex. Were they just too sexy for "American Idol"? Coming up, we`re judging the superstar showdown.
Kim Kardashian`s jaw-dropping, 20-carat $2 million engagement ring. Is this thing totally tacky or, hey, if you`ve got it, flaunt it?
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARA DIOGUARDI, FORMER "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE: And the ambulance comes, and the guy is like, "This (EXPLETIVE DELETED) is as high as a kite."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Kara DioGuardi`s incredible story about how she got accidentally high at Paula Abdul`s house. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views. Wait until you see that.
It`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Lisa Kudrow to host 15th Annual Webby Awards. Ryan Reynolds tells "Details" magazine he`s not ready to date again.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: You`ve got to check this out. Former "American Idol" judge, Kara DioGuardi, stayed over at Paula Abdul`s house and she got straight-up stoned. Yes. Kara just revealed on the TBS show, "Lopez Tonight," that she was crashing at Paula`s and found some brownies in the fridge. She had a few of them and, well, you probably know where this is going. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIOGUARDI: Six hours later I was, like, hey.
(CROSS TALK)
(CHEERS)
GEORGE LOPEZ, HOST, "LOPEZ TONIGHT": Wait, wait! Wait a minute.
DIOGUARDI: Oh, yes. I fell out of bed on the floor and I was like - I stumbled downstairs and I was like, brain tumor. And the ambulance comes and the guy`s like, "This (EXPLETIVE DELETED) is as high as a kite.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
Honest to god, I don`t even smoke pot. "This (EXPLETIVE DELETED) is as high as a kite." And I was like, no, no, I don`t do - no, no, I don`t do pot. So, you know, three days in bed, my father`s like, "Jesus Christ, you`ve got to go in the music business with a bunch of drug addicts."
And I was like, "But it wasn`t - they weren`t hers." Someone had left them, you know, from a party and frozen them. And the maid took them out. She had one. She went in the hospital. I had six. I almost died.
LOPEZ: What?
DIOGUARDI: I was like hallucinating.
LOPEZ: Yes.
DIOGUARDI: I was on IV. I stumbled out like a junkie.
LOPEZ: In your tiny little body, you had six of them?
DIOGUARDI: Yes. And when I went down, I was like, "Damn, these things are good."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Note to self, don`t let the kids get sweets from Paula Abdul`s refrigerator. All right. Moving on now to the hottest young actresses in Hollywood.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and "More" magazine teaming up tonight to reveal the stars who have rocking careers. And some are not even old enough to drive.
Elle Fanning, Dakota`s little sis, just 13. Fourteen-year-old Hailee Steinfeld, getting a best supporting actress nomination for "True Grit." Jennifer Lawrence was up for a best actress Oscar for "Winter`s Bone." She`s 20.
Look out for 22-year-old Elizabeth Olsen. She is the younger sister of Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen. And Anne Hathaway, clocking in at 28. She`s the oldest of our young hot stars. She`ll be perfect for "Cat Woman." That`s coming out next year.
For more of the hottest young stars, check out the June issue of "More" magazine. It`s on newsstands right now.
Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Lindsay Lohan goes to jail and, well, this jail looks and feels a whole lot like her house. Actually, it is her house. That`s coming up.
Also this -
(SINGING)
J-Lo, Beyonce, Gaga. We are judging the incredible "American Idol" star showdowns tonight.
Kim Kardashian`s jaw-dropping 20-carat, $2 million engagement ring. The SHOWBIZ great debate, totally tacky or, hey, if you`ve got it, flaunt it? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Disney`s "The Lion King" returns to theaters in 3-D in September. ABC`s "Jimmy Kimmel Live" closes out season with best rating in four years.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - judging the "Idol" superstar showdown. The season finale that brought down the house. Lady Gaga, Beyonce, even Marc Anthony and idol judge J-Lo shows them how it`s done.
(SINGING)
HAMMER: So who owned it? The great SHOWBIZ debate tonight - trouble for Simon Cowell`s "X Factor" before the show even airs? Is this a bad sign for Simon?
Beyonce blasts back after being accused of ripping off this performance.
(MUSIC)
Beyonce speaks out about this for the first time tonight.
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 with big news breaking tonight - superstar showdown.
Yes, there was certainly no shortage of super music stars at the grand finale of "American Idol" last night. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that a boatload of controversy is brewing tonight over some of the things that the stars did on stage that, well, may be just a little too hot for TV.
Beyonce only sang about having sex, but it appeared Lady Gaga simulated sex on the stage. You`ve got to take a look at this.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Oh, yes. There you go. And what a showdown between "Idol`s" freshmen judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. Tonight, we are asking, who did it better?
With me right now from Hollywood tonight, SHOWBIZ newsmaker Rodney Jerkins. Rodney, of course, a big-time music producer. He was a coach on "American Idol" this season.
Rodney also just finished up recording Britney Spears` new album and just wrapped up working with "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson on her new album.
Also in Hollywood tonight, Maggie Furlong, the west coast editor for AOL Television and Movie Fone.
Got to begin with the first superstar showdown and the brand-new controversy that really has been simmering, bubbling up all day today about Lady Gaga simulating sex on the stage.
Rodney, I`ve got to tell you, I thought Gaga put on a typically amazing performance. But my question to you is, was it too much given that so many young people watch "American Idol"?
JERKINS: Way, way too much. I was in there myself, like, what is going on? This is - I`m looking to left, to the right, looking to the left of me. I`m seeing kids.
And I`ve got two kids and I`m like, whoa, I hope they turn this TV off at my house. It was a little too much for "American Idol."
HAMMER: Felt a little uncomfortable for you. Now, I`ve got to say this morning on "The View," I personally thought the ladies made a great point. You know, when you book Gaga for your show, you`ve got to know what you`re getting into even if there are young viewers. Take a look at what they said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": "American Idol" has a really young audience. I mean, you see the crowd, when Scotty won, they flashed to his hometown. Tons of kids watching.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Right.
HASSELBECK: And I thought -
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": And yet we can`t show it on a daytime show.
HASSELBECK: We can`t show it here.
BARBARA WALTERS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Let me show something when she comes.
HASSELBECK: But I just wonder, knowing their young audience, if this was, and many people think so, the wrong place for that art.
WALTERS: OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, if there is any finger-pointing to be done here, personally, I think it should be at the show, not at Lady Gaga. That is what she does.
But Maggie, do you think it was just the wrong setting overall? Are you with Rodney, you know, considering that young kids were watching, it shouldn`t have been on the show last night?
MAGGIE FURLONG, WEST COAST EDITOR, AOL TELEVISION AND MOVIE FONE: Oh, no. I mean, I`m hard to shock and my jaw hit the ground. That was unbelievable and kind of hard to watch. Yes, it`s Lady Gaga and, yes, it`s what you come to expect.
But I honestly think that with "Idol," trying to push the envelope, they pushed it a little bit too far.
HAMMER: And that`s too bad because they`ve had such a great season, an amazing season and quite a finale otherwise last time. I loved the Gaga performance, but I get the sensitively level there.
The superstar showdowns also included Beyonce. Beyonce only sang about having sex. Take a look at this.
(SINGING)
Now, I think it`s fair to point out people have not been making a big deal about Beyonce singing about sex today. So Rodney, do you think there`s a bit of a double standard going on here?
JERKINS: It is a double standard going on. But you know what? Listen, we have to focus on really what happened. And what happened that was great for "American Idol" was the viewership is back up.
Scotty McCreery was the winner. It was a great night for country music. And you had two country contestants going at it. And that`s the bottom line. It was an amazing - other than, you know, the different things that people are going to say about the show, it was an amazing show with a lot of amazing performances.
And we have to - you know, we have to congratulate Scotty on being the youngest - 17 years old and winning "American Idol" is just - it`s amazing.
HAMMER: It`s amazing. And it`s really interesting, you know, you point out the fact that we had Scotty McCreery winning, and of course, Lauren Alaina as the runner-up. Two young - you know, 17 and 16 years old, young, wholesome country stars.
Yet we have all of this sex performance and singing going on and other aspects of the show. A little surprising that "Idol" would go there if you ask me. Maggie, do you think there`s a bit of a double standard when you have Beyonce - OK, not performing simulated sex on stage, but singing about it right there, given the wholesomeness of the night otherwise?
FURLONG: But it`s very different. Beyonce can kind of do no wrong and the way she was doing it was in a classier way. What song isn`t sort of about love or sex or both? She was doing in a nice way, singing about it.
What can you say? I just think people honestly want to talk about it. One way or another, whether they loved it or hated it, it almost crashed our site last night after it was finished because everyone wanted to talk about "Idol."
And look, "Idol" is getting lots of attention for all kinds of reasons today. In fact, they`re getting it for another big "Idol" superstar showdown that went down last night.
I was so happy to see this happen. We`re talking about "Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez. And I say, hats off to J-Lo for just getting out there and shaking her groove thing all over that "Idol" stage as her husband, Marc Anthony, sang. Let`s roll some of that.
(SINGING)
Now, J-Lo not the only judge taking the stage. I thought Steven Tyler just tore down the house. He really showed those "Idol" contestants, hey, this is how superstars get it done.
Now, Rodney, they were both hot performances. Personally, I`ve got to give the edge to J-Lo here. I thought she was in it to win it! But who do you give the edge to? Who wins the showdown?
JERKINS: I actually give it to Steven Tyler, just because we`ve seen J-Lo perform at this level so many times. We haven`t seen Steven Tyler perform in a while. And by the way, he only had a minute and 30 seconds of a performance. It wasn`t even a full song.
HAMMER: Yes.
JERKINS: And he hit notes. He hit notes. He pretty much made James Durbin and Casey Abrams, all the guys who hit the high notes left them low. Hey, you`ve got to step your game up if you want to be Steven Tyler.
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, "Dream On" - that Aerosmith song is, what, 40 years old or 35 years old at this point. And man, he was hitting the notes just like he did when they originally recorded it.
JERKINS: Amazing.
HAMMER: It was pretty amazing.
JERKINS: It was amazing. It was amazing.
HAMMER: And there was a piece of me watching him, saying, Wow. He wanted to get up there and say, "OK, this has been all fun and games, but here`s how you do it." Rodney Jerkins, Maggie Furlong, thank you both.
Well, while the finale of Simon Cowell`s old show was certainly star- studded and a bonanza, is his new show "X Factor" already in trouble? And Beyonce is speaking out for the very first time after being accused of ripping off a performance. All that is in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Beyonce`s Billboard backlash. For the very first time, Beyonce is speaking out about claims her performance at the Billboard Awards copycatted a music video by an Italian pop singer, Lorella Cuccarini.
Beyonce just told AOL Music, "My makeup artist showed me the performance of Lorella Cuccarini a year ago and it inspired me so much. I then met with the talented people who worked on it. The technology and concept were so genius. I never worked so hard on anything in my life as that performance for the Billboard Awards."
The "X Factor" ax. Cheryl Cole is reportedly out as a judge on Simon Cowell`s upcoming new show, "The X Factor." TMZ reports she`s being replaced by former Pussy Cat Dolls singer, Nicole Scherzinger, who had been named the co-host but will now sit in the judge`s chair. No official word on why Cole was axed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Moving on now to Kim`s blinding bling. Kim Kardashian takes getting engaged to a whole new level. We`re talking 20 carats, $2 million and one jaw-dropping new controversy. Is her ring just way too over-the- top?
Lockdown for Lindsay. New details next about Lindsay Lohan`s jail sentence and why she`s not quite in the big house.
It`s the fake talk show that`s become a very real hit. Did you see the latest episode of "Between Two Ferns," Zach Galifianakis, Will Ferrell? Need I say more?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL FERRELL, ACTOR: Just shut up, OK? If you can`t get the fat out of your ears and listen, then why am I here? Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) fat out of your ears.
ZACH GALIFIANAKIS, ACTOR: You know what? I`m not that fat!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views. And now, it`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Amazon goes Gaga again! "Born This Way" album on sale for 99 cents. "Hangover Part II" makes $10 million just from premiere night midnight shows.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Where are you guys?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I don`t know. We woke up in some city.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: They`ve been looking for them all morning.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I can`t believe this is happening again. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) brother he`s lost.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Lindsay Lohan turns herself in for house arrest. Yes, Lindsay is fulfilling her four-month sentence after pleading no contest to stealing a $2,500 necklace.
But Lindsay lucks out yet again. Instead of going to the big house, Lindsay gets to go to her own house to cool her jets because of jail overcrowding. She actually could serve just two weeks of home confinement if she`s on her best behavior.
Lindsay also got some new bling, that oh-so-sexy requisite electronic monitoring ankle bracelet.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And tonight, it`s Kim`s blinding bling. Kim Kardashian is taking getting engaged to a new level. Her fiance, NBA star Kris Humphries, iced her up with a 20-carat, $2 million ring.
And now, there`s this whole frenzy erupting over her precious gem. But is Kim`s big ring too over the top?
With me in New York is Cathy Areu. Cathy is the publisher of "Catalina" magazine. In Hollywood tonight, Rachel Zalis, a contributing editor for "Life and Style Weekly."
Well, "People" magazine first broke this story about Kim`s engagement and her gigantic ring. I`ve got to break down the stats of this new bling that Kim`s got.
The engagement rink is a 16.5 carat emerald-cut diamond. It is flanked by two two-carat diamonds. And the $2 million price tag is reportedly just about a little bit less than one year`s salary for Kim`s husband-to-be.
Rachel, off to you first. What do you think? Is Kim`s ring too tacky, or, hey, you know what, if you`ve got it, flaunt it? What the heck?
RACHEL ZALIS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "LIFE AND STYLE WEEKLY": I mean, come on. Kim Kardashian is known for flaunting her rather large assets, so what do we expect when Hollywood week she gets a ring? Come on.
We would be shocked and surprised if it didn`t equal, you know, her stature. And the thing is, you know, if it doesn`t work out between them and she returns it to him, he can always use it as a basketball, so it`s multi-purpose.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, very good. And you could cut glass with that basketball. But here`s the thing. I`m right here with you in that if it was like a simple, shall we say, classy small ring, that would shock us even more than this.
Kim, of course, not the only celebrity to flash a huge engagement ring. The king of doing things big, Donald Trump, gave his wife Melania a 15-carat worth an estimated $3 million, so outdoing Kim right there.
Paris Hilton was given a 24-carat ring worth $4.7 million from her ex- fiancee, Paris Latsis. I don`t know. I don`t know if he even got her to return that thing.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was given a 40-carat ring. It sold for $2.6 million back in 1996. That was from her second husband, Aristotle Onassis, who really had more money than anybody on the planet.
Kim is becoming a big celebrity. But what do you think? You know, if you got it, flaunt it? Or is it just really, really tacky?
CATHY AREU, PUBLISHER, "CATALINA" MAGAZINE: It`s really, really tacky, even if you have it and you want to flaunt it. It`s just wrong. It`s tacky and most of America can`t afford a ring like this.
Why is she doing this? Is she telling others that we need to put our entire salaries into buying these rings for our fiancees?
HAMMER: No. Don`t be so serious. You know, her whole life has been, "Look at me. Look at me. This is perfect, isn`t it?"
AREU: Which is wrong. It`s so narcissistic.
HAMMER: Of course it is, but this is Kim Kardashian we`re talking about.
AREU: I know, but what kind of example is she setting for kids of America?
HAMMER: Yes
ZALIS: Oh, please.
AREU: It`s this guy`s entire salary. It`s his entire salary.
HAMMER: Well, that`s a little goofy. And I think my buddy, Suze Orman, might have a problem with the financials of this whole thing.
But even before Kim`s rock star engagement ring, people were rushing to get her to the altar. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, in fact, just caught up with Kim barely a week before her big proposal. Here`s what she told us about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAREEN WYNTER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: You recently set the record straight. You shot down rumors, no, we are not getting married. Why do you think people are in such a hurry to see you get married, tie the knot?
KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR: Maybe because I`m 30 years old. But they do ask that a lot. It`s either that we`re engaged or getting married or pregnant or breaking up. There`s nothing in between.
We`re not just normal and happy and having fun. It`s "They`re getting engaged," and "It`s so serious" and, you know, they want babies. It`s always something, which, you know - it`s funny now.
It`s just hard to kind of introduce him to that world of like, OK, they`re going to say a lot of crazy things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Obviously we know the whole crazy story now. And I`ve got to say if the frenzy over the ring is any indication, I can`t imagine what this wedding is going to be like.
There are reports today floating around, actually suggesting Kim`s wedding could rival the royal wedding Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Rachel, do you see this being in the same league? Because, quite frankly, I could picture her in a horse-drawn carriage.
ZALIS: Absolutely. And the Kardashians are marketing machines. The bigger the ring, the bigger the wedding, the bigger the story, the more money.
And you know, they`re going to have a wedding that will more than pay for the cost of that ring. And it will be beyond extravagant. Watch out, Will and Kate, for sure.
HAMMER: Wedding of the century, right? Come on.
AREU: If you want ratings, get a Kardashian near you.
HAMMER: Yes, done.
AREU: Done. Ratings - everyone will watch.
HAMMER: All right. We`ll leave it there. Cathy Areu, Rachel Zalis, I thank you both.
Moving on now to "Between Two Ferns." This is a fake talk show that`s become a very real hit. Did you see this? The "Funny or Die" spoof show is hosted by "Hangover`s" Zach Galifianakis. And things get a bit awkward with a capital A when his interview with Will Ferrell goes horribly wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GALIFIANAKIS: What kind of other things do you do in your down time?
FERRELL: I`m starting to manage a dance team, hip hop groups.
GALIFIANAKIS: Oh, that`s great.
FERRELL: Yes. Anywhere from four to 50 kids, just a lot of energy, a lot of motion, a lot of fun, a lot of high-fiving, a lot of smiles.
GALIFIANAKIS: That`s basically the mantra of it. It`s like a lot of high- fives. Is that what you said?
FERRELL: I said, if you`re listening, a lot of motion, a lot of high-fives and a lot of smiles. That`s what I said. I was pretty clear about what I said. I`m listening to what you`re asking me, and if you`re not listening to my answers, let`s just call it a day.
GALIFIANAKIS: But the mantra is -
FERRELL: Shut up about the mantra. Just shut up, OK?
GALIFIANAKIS: Yes.
FERRELL: if you can`t get the fat out of your ears and listen, then why am I here? Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) fat out of your ears.
GALIFIANAKIS: OK, You know what? I`m not that fat, OK? I`m not that fat! I lost nine pounds.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I would just like to say at this point, as a trained TV professional, that would never happen to me.
All right. Moving on now, director, actor and twitter fan, the great Kevin Smith, is right here tonight. Now, we`ve had our say tonight about J-Lo`s transformation season on "American Idol."
I`ve got to know, what does the Jersey boy think about his former Jersey girl? That is coming up next. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Charlie Sheen selling his Beverly Hills home for $7.5 million. Maya Rudolph talks to Ellen DeGeneres about possible "Bridesmaids" sequel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYA RUDOLPH, ACTRESS: I mean, people keep saying it, which is the nicest thing when your movie just comes out. Like, sequel, huh?
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": There`s got to be a sequel -
RUDOLPH: OK.
DEGENERES: And I`ve got to be in it. I`ve got to be in it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(SINGING)
HAMMER: Oh, yes. That`s Jennifer Lopez stepping out from behind the judge`s table on "American Idol" last night. J-Lo was shaking what her mama gave her as her husband, Marc Anthony, sang his heart out during the big finale.
With me, tonight, from Hollywood, Kevin Smith. Kevin directed J-Lo back in 2004 in "Jersey Girl." And Kevin is re-launching SModcast at the John Lovitz Podcast Theater in Los Angeles this weekend. They`re doing a 12-hour podcasting event.
All right. Kevin, a lot of people have said "Idol" has been terrific and done great things for J-Lo`s image. I think it`s been great seeing a different side of her over this past year. Do you think she even had image problems?
KEVIN SMITH, ACTOR AND DIRECTOR: You mean her backside?
HAMMER: Well, that`s not where I was going, Kevin. But -
SMITH: I think that`s what you meant, man.
HAMMER: All right. Well -
SMITH: I saw that side, too. And let me tell you, if that side had been in "Jersey Girl," huge box office.
HAMMER: All right. So it`s -
SMITH: That`s what I needed. I needed some booty shake in the picture, apparently, because I was mesmerized watching that. I didn`t know she could do that. I never thought to ask her. She had all that junk in the trunk.
Never once did I think to do like, shake your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) real quick on camera. It might be good for box office. That was amazing, though. She still looks fantastic.
I think her going on that show is a real smart idea for her. I ran into her like a couple weeks before she went to - I remember reading she was thinking about taking the job. I was coming out of my dentist, she was downstairs.
Now, I was like, "I heard you`re going to do `Idol.`" She was like, "I don`t know." I said, "Do it." I don`t think she did it because of me, but I was like, "Don`t not do it. That`s huge."
And then, also, she wound up on the show. Right on. Good for her. But I thought she looked great, great for her career. And then her album came out and did very, very well. So obviously, it was a smart move for her.
HAMMER: I think you should give yourself some more credit there. Another one of your stars, by the way, from "Jersey Girl," Raquel Castro, also a big TV star right now in her own right, competing on "The Voice."
SMITH: Yes.
HAMMER: It`s feeling like - it`s feeling like the TV world is six degrees of Kevin Smith right now. I think you should be patting yourself on the back, Kevin.
SMITH: That`s not where I would pat myself, sir. I`d pat myself right on the front. And I`ll tell you, I feel like we were a bit ahead of the curve now, man, because there`s J-Lo on "American Idol" and then you flip the channel and there`s Raquel on "The Voice."
So I don`t know. It`s nice. I guess maybe the rest of the people caught up to how cute that kid was. That kid is (UNINTELLIGIBLE). You could not deny that kid, man.
Raquel, she was bound to do something like this. Oddly enough, when they started the whole singing competition thing, I was like, I bet you that kid goes on one of those one day.
She was ready for that stuff from the beginning. When you go back and watch "Jersey Girl," and trust me, it`s not as bad as people say, there`s a beautiful little sequence where that kid sings her heart out doing "Sweeney Todd." She was just like 18 cups of adorable back then. She looks even cuter now.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Kevin, Kevin, I`ve got to go. But I want to make sure I plug this for you because you`ve got your big SModcast re-launch this week at the John Lovitz Podcast Theater in Los Angeles. Great to see you. I wish you the best of luck with that.
SMITH: See you there, man. See you there.
HAMMER: All right. That it is for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And what a way to go. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is now seen exclusively Monday to Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on HLN.
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