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Showbiz Tonight
Inside the Minds of Controversial Celebrities; Courting the Kardashians; Barry Manilow Unplugged; Charlie Sheen Back on TV?; Jessica Simpson`s New TV Show
Aired June 14, 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: Tonight, inside the mind of Tracy Morgan. His incredible about-face over his homophobic rant. But will his mea culpa put the scandal to rest? I am A.J. Hammer. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Big news breaking tonight - a SHOWBIZ special report, inside the minds of celebrities caught up in huge scandals. Casey Anthony, accused of killing her two-year-old daughter. Is she really obsessed with fame?
Plus, inside the mind of Anthony Weiner. HLN`s own Dr. Drew goes inside TV`s biggest controversies.
Courting the Kardashians. Tonight, why the Kardashians may have just gotten out of writing a $75 million check.
Barry Manilow unplugged. Tonight, Barry`s incredible revelations about Kim Kardashian. Plus, Barry on Britney and Lady Gaga. It`s my headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview with Barry Manilow.
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.
And tonight, inside the mind Casey Anthony. What was she thinking? Inside the mind of Anthony Weiner. What was he thinking? And the same question tonight about Tracy Morgan.
HLN`s Dr. Drew Pinsky is here tonight to try to help us make sense of it all. It`s a headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. Dr. Drew joins me in just a moment.
And let`s kick things off, Tracy Morgan. I`ve got to wonder what possibly could have been going through his mind when he went on stage and went on a homophobic rant saying, among other offensive things, he would actually stab his son to death if he found out he was gay.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can reveal that Tracy did a major about-face today, so big, so humongous, the SHOWBIZ scale that we measure mea culpas on here at the studio, it actually broke. It exploded. It shattered into pieces. It it`s immeasurable, I tell you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tracy Morgan is doing a total about-face.
HYLA, "THE HOLLYWOOD FIVE COUNTDOWN": This 180 that Tracy Morgan has pulled - I can`t think of another celebrity that has even come close.
HAMMER: Not only is he apologizing for his homophobic rant at the Tennessee Comedy Club, he`s doing something about it.
HYLA: He got on the phone with the president of GLAAD right away and pretty much gave into all of their quote, unquote "demands."
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Tracy Morgan is making good today on his big bad blunder. Tracy is teaming up with GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
He plans to return to Tennessee to meet with people who were offended by his remarks. He`s making a public statement supporting the LGBT community and will shoot a PSA for GLAAD.
HYLA: He had to do this for his careers.
HAMMER: And that`s not all. Tracy also tells GLAAD, "I`m sorry for what I said. I didn`t mean it. I never want to use my comedy to hurt anyone. My family knew what it as like to feel different."
"My brother was disabled. And I lost my father to AIDS in 1987. My dad wasn`t gay, but I also learned about homophobia then because of how people treated people who were sick with that."
"Parents should support and love their kids no matter what. Gay people deserve the same right to be happy in this country as everyone else. Our laws should support that. I hope that my fans, gay, straight, whatever, forgive and I hope my family forgives me for this."
HYLA: I think it`s genuine thing because there was no hesitation.
HAMMER: It`s been a bumpy week for Morgan. When reports first hit the news about what he said, it was impossible to think he could ever bounce back.
KEVIN ROGERS, AUDIENCE MEMBER AT MORGAN SHOW: It was just really hate- filled and very straightforward.
HAMMER: Kevin Rogers was in the audience the night of Tracy`s rant. As an openly gay man, he tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he was mortified by what he heard.
ROGERS: He discussed if his son came into his house and spoke to him in an effeminate voice as he thinks apparently most gay people speak in, that he would pull out a knife and stab him to death.
HAMMER: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you it was the talk of the town on the red carpet today.
REV. AL SHARPTON, NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK: I think what he did was wrong and I respect the fact he said it was wrong.
HAMMER: The Rev. Al Sharpton tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Tracy screwed up. But now, he`s making good on his blunder.
SHARPTON: He`s right to make it right and to go the extra effort to make it right. And I respect him for doing that.
HAMMER: Sinbad tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to keep it in perspective. Comedians are meant to cross the lines.
SINBAD, ACTOR: Yes, he made a mistake. As a comic, comics say some things sometimes. It doesn`t take away from him the kind of person he is. He`s a good person.
JIM BREUER, COMEDIAN: I said I apologize!
HAMMER: And comedian Jim Breuer who co-starred with Tracy Morgan on "Saturday Night Live" tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT keep it in context.
BREUER: He`s a comedian. Freedom of speech, period. Nobody heard how he said it. If I said, "If I caught my kid gay, I would stab him to death," it sounds a little menacing. If I said, "If my kid came out and he gay, I`m going to stab him."
HAMMER: That may be how some people feel, but joking about stabbing your gay child in the head, not funny at all. But with Tracy`s brand-new action plan to save his good name and his career, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has got to ask, is it enough?
HYLA: Usually something like this is a career buster, but I think it Tracy Morgan`s fans are absolutely going to take him back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And Tracy`s fans - they may want to take him back. But I honestly cannot understand what possibly could have been going on inside his mind when he went on that homophobic rant.
HLN`s Dr. Drew Pinsky is with me tonight to help us figure that out as well as what could be going on inside the minds of Casey Anthony and Anthony Weiner. Dr. Drew`s show is seen every weeknight right here on HLN at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Dr. Drew, always great to see you.
DR. DREW PINSKY, HOST, "DR. DREW": A.J., thank you.
HAMMER: Look, we know Tracy Morgan, Dr. Drew, has done this major about- face. He is about to launch this apology tour. But you`ve got to help me understand this.
Why would he think he could go on stage, say that he would stab his son to death if he was gay and think people wouldn`t get outraged? Could he be that self-centered a guy?
PINSKY: You know, it`s about being self-centered. It`s about - gee, I don`t want too strong of a word here, but it`s about not being enlightened, let`s say.
One of the things I like about what he`s doing is he`s going to get educated through what he`s about to go through with GLAAD and these PSAs.
Yes, he understands what it is to be different and that`s what made him understand that he crossed the line, that it`s terribly painful for some people. It`s really hate-filled, even though he was just trying to be funny.
I get the comedians` point of view. The fact is, comedians follow their instincts in the moment, sometimes they cross into a zone where if they are not really enlightened about what the landscape looks like, they can hurt people with their words.
And we live if a time when bullying with words has become sort of sport almost on the Internet. It`s just awful. And so naturally enough, when a group - a group is singled out and harmed, they should speak up.
They should be angry. There should be a reaction. And God bless Tracy for immediately realizing he had done something not good and trying to make it right. I`ve met Tracy many times. I`m sure you have, too, A.J. He`s not a bad guy. He`s not a bad guy.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: But no - as you`re saying, I think your choice of words is excellent. "Not enlightened" I think fits in here. And I agree with you. I think some good can actually come out of this, not only for Tracy, but the people he reaches out to and can educate what he`s going through.
PINSKY: Yes. Yes, exactly.
HAMMER: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did learn today Tracy is going to return to Nashville next week. He`s going to go right back where he said what he said. He`s going to personally apologize.
But the big question that everyone`s asking tonight, still not everybody is certain he`s being sincere. Is he? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did speak with "View" co-host, Sherri Shepherd who plays Tracy`s wife on "30 Rock." And we had to ask her. Watch what she told us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": The Tracy I know has a beautiful heart. And I think, you know, Tracy is realizing that you have to be careful with what you say because you represent so many more people than just you.
It sounds like his apology is very sincere and I`m glad he is making amends.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Again, I do think he`s doing the right thing by going to Nashville to apologize.
PINSKY: I agree.
HAMMER: Dr. Drew, I do need to point out, it did only happen after all of the outrage. It was a week - a week, had gone by. It wasn`t something that he woke up one day and said, "Oh, I`d better apologize."
So I have to wonder what`s going on inside his mind, what is really behind this. Are you sensing perhaps at least a little bit of panic here because he does need to save his career from falling in the tubes?
PINSKY: Sure. Well, of course. It`s a serious thing. But there`s two things. He doesn`t think of himself as homophobic, and yet he is. That`s the reality here.
And so he needs to understand and hopefully he`ll educate other people where that line is and how that works for somebody. The fact is - and this is the thing that amuses me - people oftentimes in the media will go, "Well, if he hadn`t gotten caught, this wouldn`t have happened."
Same thing with Rep. Weiner. Same thing with many people out there. That`s just the way it works. When people are misbehaving, they don`t think they`re misbehaving. They don`t contemplate the consequences in those moments until the consequences come to bear.
And then they`re forced to look at it in and a good person, a person who at least wishes to be enlightened like Tracy, will look at that and change direction and do what they`ve got to do to make things right.
You can always clean up your side of the street. You can do that, but it takes a lot of work.
HAMMER: Yes. Maybe I`ll try not to hold that against him so much because it did seem a bit late for me. But right now, I want to move on because we want you take us inside the mind of someone who is a celebrity really because of such an unthinkable crime.
Casey Anthony today was on day 18 of her trial, charged, of course, with killing her two-year-old daughter Caylee. And we`ve learned through the Casey trial that she may actually be enjoying her notoriety.
She wrote a letter to a fellow inmate. I`ve got to read that, "I`ve told you about all the mail I`ve gotten. I`m up to the thousands with positive letters and cards. Low 20s for the negative. Good stuff."
"Well, there are a couple of fellows who have either become infatuated with the celebrity or with the fair damsel in distress. One is more hooked than the other. Is this what celebrities have to deal with? Yikes! It is it sweet in a strange sort of way."
And that line really strikes me, Dr. Drew. You literally wrote the fantastic book on celebrity obsession. This is it. It`s called "The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism is Seducing America." Do you think Casey Anthony is loving the celebrity part of this tragic story?
PINSKY: Yes. When you watch - if you spend anytime watching this trial, Casey`s behavior becomes increasingly disturbing. And this is it just one more nail in the coffin of trouble.
And the fact is, yes, she seems to be enjoying - she`s well aware of the cameras are on her. She`s well aware that she`s developed some celebrity status.
So much of Casey`s life is really just about Casey. And that`s what outrages everybody. Her parenting was outlandishly bad. If you spent any time watching this trial, you`ve seen her lie in ways that are not just unconscionable, but difficult to comprehend. I mean, just outlandish lie after lie after lie.
HAMMER: And that has so much to do with why we can`t seem it to tear ourselves away. And please, for everybody, don`t forget to keep it right here on HLN for our continuing coverage of the Casey Anthony murder trial.
And tonight we`re also going inside the mind of Congressman Anthony Weiner. Get ready for it. We`re talking about his decision to seek treatment, possibly sex rehab, after being - pardon the expression - exposed as an online exhibitionist.
Could it be sex rehab? And would treatment really help, Dr. Drew? I want you to stay right where you are.
But first tonight, Jennifer Aniston, home wrecker? Could it be? Tonight, there`s a startling new report that Jen just caused a big breakup involving her new guy.
Courting the Kardashians. Why the Kardashians may have just gotten out of writing a $75 million check. Yes, I said 75 million.
What does Barry Manilow think about the Kardashians? Let me ask him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera) You have the Kardashians, for instance. I don`t know, Barry, if you`ve been keeping up with the Kardashians.
BARRY MANILOW, SINGER: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
I don`t know about you. I can`t smile without this guy. Barry Manilow right here with me. Barry on Britney and Lady Gaga. It`s my headline- making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview with Barry Manilow. This is 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: Bruce Springsteen thanks fans for concern about Clarence Clemons, who had a stroke. Stevie Wonder talks to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about being honored at the Apollo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVIE WONDER, SINGER: I appreciate the compliments. I think we are all spiritual people. So I`m not even different. I`m just very thankful for the opportunity of being used as a vehicle through which messages of positivity have been given to me to say.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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SHARPTON: You like to give people the benefit of the doubt. And certainly, what he did was wrong and he has said that. You like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but every day as more and more coming and the window of doubt getting smaller and smaller.
HAMMER: Rev. Al Sharpton there on Congressman Anthony Weiner and his shocking sexting scandal. Tonight, we`re going inside the mind of Anthony Weiner.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ tonight. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
So what the heck was Anthony Weiner thinking when he tweeted all of those lewd photos and sent those sexy texts? I guess he thought they were sexy.
Back with us again to help us go inside the mind of Anthony Weiner, HLN`s very own Dr. Drew Pinsky in a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
So in an apparent desperate attempt to save his job - that`s how I see it, anyway, Dr. Drew - Weiner asked for a leave of absence to get evaluated for treatment.
Anthony Weiner is not a patient of yours, I do understand that. But based on the behavior you`ve seen, the sexting, the lewd photos, the lying, are you seeing signs of what are common in sex addiction?
PINSKY: Oh, yes. I mean, I can`t tell you for sure that`s what this is. But this is certainly probably something that could be conceptualized and treated that way.
And you know, A.J., you asked the question, what was he thinking? This is what everybody shakes their head at. What could he possibly be thinking?
When you treat these guys, oftentimes, they`re very clear they`re not thinking in those moments. Really, what they typically often are, are men with a very empty, barren emotional life, often from narcissism.
And again, remember, people that need to be sort of pumped up by positions of power and public image and whatnot are people that are gravitating to those positions tend to have narcissistic tendencies.
And that`s a very barren emotional life. And so really what they`re trying to do, even though they don`t realize it at the time, is try to evoke some type of arousing emotional experience so they feel something.
HAMMER: So that`s interesting. So this is why we see this typically happening with such powerful people, you know, whether it is Anthony Weiner or Bill Clinton or even Arnold Schwarzenegger.
PINSKY: Yes.
HAMMER: Do you think - look, because this is something we always look at, whether it`s Tiger Woods or Jesse James. They often run off to these treatments because they think they`re trying to - going to be able to escape the spotlight. Do you think that maybe what`s going on in this case?
PINSKY: Yes.
HAMMER: I mean, it`s hard to know.
PINSKY: Well, sure. But A.J., the deal is - you know, I would oftentimes see programs like yours talking about my patients who are drug addicts, who are allegedly on a PR campaign by getting treatment.
When we come in and treat them, they are in profound pain. They have to work very hard. That`s one of the reasons we did "Celebrity Rehab," to make the point these are no minor issues. These are profound, painful, intense experiences.
And yes, it`s because they were caught that they come to treatment. But just like drug addictions, it`s the courts, it`s the family, it`s the doctors because the health issues that require people to get treatment, the same as the issue here. When they`re escaping the consequences, they don`t come.
HAMMER: Well, Dr. Drew, nobody has insight quite like yours. And I really appreciate you sharing it with us on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Please remember, catch more of Dr. Drew. His spectacular HLN show "DR. DREW" airs weeknights 9:00 p.m. right here on HLN.
Moving now to Jennifer Aniston. Home wrecker? Could it be? I love Jen. Tonight, the unbelievable reports that she may have caused a big breakup involving her new guy. Imagine that, after all of Jen`s man issues.
Tori Spelling`s paparazzi might mare. Tori`s revelations about a scary car crash with her kids.
And this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m sorry. I`m thinking about cats again. I just - I think about how many don`t have a home and how -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What`s up with this crazy crying cat lady? It`s the SHOWBIZ viral video that`s making everybody say, is this for real? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And this is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Candy Spelling sells $150 million mega-mansion to British heiress. Stevie Wonder tribute - Spike Lee tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT what Stevie means to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPIKE LEE, DIRECTOR: Stevie brings joy to my heart. When my wife Tonya and I got married, he sang at our wedding, sang "Ribbon in the Sky."
(END VIDEO CLIP) b
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WONDER: Until the day I die, I can`t send back a model of the things I have done, but remember the things that I have yet to achieve and do it to the best of (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SHARPTON: Stevie is a life experience. You traveled your whole life journey with Stevie.
GABOUREY SIDIBE, ACTRESS: It means a lifetime of music, the music that I listened to in my Pampers and the music I listen to today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Me, too. I`m totally there with Gabby. Stevie Wonder is definitely one of the greats. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was there when Stevie was honored at New York`s Apollo Theater. We`ve got more stars raving about Stevie. How can you not? That`s coming up.
Selena Gomez is thankfully back on her feet. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was there in Sta. California as Selena made her first appearance since she got sick this past week. Selena was actually in and out of the hospital, but what exactly was wrong with her?
I want to bring in SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. What was the deal, Kareen?
KAREEN WYNTER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, A.J. We were all worried about this young star for a minute there. But Selena - she just performed at a mall here in California. Get this - 500 fans showed up.
Wow. And Selena - she looked great. She sounded great. And when asked by reporters how she was doing, she revealed, A.J., for the very first time what sent her back and forth from the hospital.
Selena said, and I`m quoting here, she was just very malnourished, low on iron and exhausted. Now, she performed two songs at the event from her new movie, "Monte Carlo." Those songs were "Who Says," one of my favorites, and "A Year Without Rain."
She did a fantastic job. Now, A.J., it`s no secret that Selena Gomez - she has been dating that big star, Justin Bieber. And the relationship has been, shall we say, under the microscope since they confirmed it. So you know, we had to ask her, how`s that been? Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SELENA GOMEZ, SINGER AND ACTRESS: No. I love what I do, and unfortunately, it just kind of comes with what I do. So I just kind of focus on the stuff that makes me happy and kind of go through it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: There you have it. A.J.?
HAMMER: I`m so happy to hear she`s back on the feet and has good perspective on, you know, what comes with the territory. Kareen Wynter, thanks so much.
WYNTER: Absolutely.
HAMMER: Now, on to the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Courting the Kardashians. Tonight, why the Kardashians may have just gotten out of writing a $75 million check. Amazing.
Big star TV news tonight - Charlie Sheen could actually be getting a brand-new TV show. It may be on the air really soon.
Also, Jessica Simpson is coming back to TV. No, this time she won`t have to figure out the difference between tuna and chicken. Those days are gone. But I`ve brand-new details about Jess` new TV show, coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: NBC affiliate in Utah won`t air new NBC show, "The Playboy Club." Fergie tells "Allure" magazine she`s "just trying to age gracefully."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - courting the Kardashians. Kim and company are breathing a sigh of relief after dodging a $75 million lawsuit. But is there a more scandalous court battle still brewing?
Jennifer Aniston being called a home wrecker. All these years from her split from Brad Pitt, has karma come back to bite Jen on the butt?
Barry Manilow unplugged, tonight Barry`s incredible revelations about Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera) You have the Kardashians, for instance. I don`t know, Barry, if you`re keeping up with the Kardashians.
MANILOW: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s the SHOWBIZ newsmaker with the extraordinary Barry Manilow.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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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. We`ve got big news breaking tonight - courting the Kardashians.
When I say "court," I mean court. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is keeping up with the Kardashian lawsuits. Yes, we learned today that the K-clan has just dodged a massive $75 million lawsuit just as Kim was getting ready to file a defamation suit against the guy who claims that she had an affair with him.
Joining me right now, Carrie Keegen, who is the host of VH1`s "Big Morning Buzz Live" and Sunny Hostin, who is a legal contributor for Tru TV`s "In Session."
So the Kardashians were sued by a credit card company after they pulled out of an endorsement deal when they found out that this company was basically hitting people with these huge extra fees.
But a judge ruled they had every right to walk away from this thing. And Carrie, I`m thinking maybe, just maybe, the Kardashians came away looking like heroes now. Do you see it that way?
CARRIE KEEGEN, HOST, "BIG MORNING BUZZ LIVE": I think they did, actually. And I think they got very lucky, because this kind of situation could blow up in their faces so easily.
But I think, at the end of the day, they`re celebrities and their entire business is their reputation. And the fact they were able to come out of this saying, "OK, we didn`t do anything wrong," they win.
HAMMER: Yes. And I know they make a lot of money, but having to scratch a check for $75 million over something like this, that wouldn`t being good even for the Kardashians.
Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the Kardashians are keeping their lawyers plenty busy. There were brand-new reports today that Kim K. may be getting ready to file her own lawsuit any minute now against NFL player Bret Lockett.
Now, I spoke with Bret about his claim that he had a sexting relationship with Kim after she started dating her now-fiance, Kris Humphries. You`ve got to listen to what he told me in this exclusive interview with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRET LOCKETT, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SAFETY: I`ve said before that it was a physical relationship. But when I mean physical, I say that meaning there was a physical aspect in the relationship, meaning that - I don`t want to get really into the details.
But she did tell me that she was, you know, touching herself in a physical way over the phone towards me. So when I say physical, that`s what I mean physical. But was it a physical relationship, meaning I saw her in person? No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. So if you`re following along there, he never met Kim Kardashian. But the person that Bret insists set him up with Kim is claiming tonight that someone impersonated her.
So Sunny, I`ve got to ask you. If that is true, and let`s just say he may have had a relationship with someone he thought was Kim but was actually a Kim K. imposter, would that actually get him off the hook if there was a lawsuit here? I`m testing your legal mettle right now.
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION": You know, I`m so confused about the physicality of this alleged relationship. You know, I think it`s possible, certainly, because a defense to defamation is that it is true or not true.
And so, certainly if he was texting with someone or sexting and he thought it was Kim Kardashian but it wasn`t, then I think he would be found - you know, I think he wouldn`t have any liability there.
HAMMER: OK. More straightforward, if he made the whole thing up and she sued him, she`s got a case.
HOSTIN: She definitely has a case. And let`s face it, I mean, I agree with you. It`s all about reputation for the Kardashians because they are famous for being famous, and so their image is everything.
So it`s very specially crafted. It`s very specifically crafted to sort of shine the light on them. And she can`t have this sort of sexting scandal when she`s got a what, it 20-something karat ring. I mean, I think I may divorce my husband for that ring. So certainly, it`s going to be important for her to maintain that facade.
HAMMER: And she needs to come out on the right side of this.
HOSTIN: I do have -
HAMMER: Everybody says it won`t hurt her image, but I think it would if it turns out she was lying.
KEEGAN: Well, everybody`s right. Her butt knows how to text really well. It is amazing. It is as amazing as everyone says.
HAMMER: That`s one texting butt, isn`t it? Well, listen, a lot of people are calling Bret a possible home wrecker for coming out with these sexting allegations right after Kim announced her engagement.
And tonight, Jennifer Aniston is also being accused of being a home wrecker. Listen to this. There`s a new report out today claiming that because of Jen`s romance with her new beau, Justin Thoreau, Justin actually ended his 14-year relationship with his live-in girlfriend.
Now, those reports sound pretty bad. But I want to point this out. I think we really have no idea exactly what was going on with Justin and the woman he was living with.
Personally, I think if Jen has found love, good for her. Do you agree with me? As long as it really wasn`t a home wrecking situation?
KEEGAN: Yes. I mean, there`s a thing with the media that if the heart bleeds, it leads, right? Everybody is going to have - someone in this type of relationship is going to have a broken heart and that`s going to make news. Unfortunately, Jen is now on the opposite side of Angelina Jolie, that whole thing, that home wrecker monicker that she`s getting.
She`s now going to have to live on that side of the press. And maybe it will be good for her because she`s been such a good girl for so long, that this could actually help her just sort of relax a bit in the press. She doesn`t have to worry about that squeaky clean image anymore.
HAMMER: Yes. And you certainly can understand. Look, given the history, given what happened with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt connecting allegedly while Jen and Brad were still together, you could see where people might have this whole sort of karma wish thing going on.
But Sunny is that how you see it? Can we simply call her a home wrecker and, again, not knowing the whole situation?
HOSTIN: We don`t know the situation. But you know, there`s a special place in hell for people who take other people`s men. And I don`t want to put Jennifer in hell with those people.
But I don`t like it. I don`t like it. And they lived together for 14 years. And now, all of a sudden, there`s a lot of PDA with Jen and this guy? And they`re - I don`t like it.
HAMMER: But she knew that - she knew that this was the situation, yet she was comfortable coming out about their relationship. So I`m thinking she`s got nothing to hide.
HOSTIN: I don`t know. I don`t like it. I don`t like it.
HAMMER: Trying to give her the benefit of the doubt here.
HOSTIN: I`m not giving it. I`m not giving it. I don`t like it.
HAMMER: All right. Sunny Hostin, Carrie Keegan, I thank you both. Make sure you watch Carrie on VH1`s excellent "Big Morning Buzz." It is weekday mornings.
Got to move on now to big Jessica Simpson news tonight. Is it possible the former newlywed is really getting back into the reality TV game? Could it be?
Also, Lady Gaga`s gigantic bank account. She tops a very elite new list.
And say it ain`t so. Charlie sheen back on TV in six months? That story and more in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Charlie`s TV comeback? Charlie Sheen just may be this close to winning a brand-new TV show. "TMZ" is reporting the fired "Two and a Half Men" star is in deep negotiations and cutting a deal for a big offer for a new sitcom written entirely around him, which could debut as early as January 2012.
Sources tell "TMZ" the series would air on a broadcast network and a deal could be done by the end of the week.
Gaga`s monster millions versus Bieber`s bank account. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals which young star is breaking the bank. "Forbes" just released ranking of the best paid celebs under 30. Justin Bieber`s $53 million beats LeBron`s James. And at only 17, Bieber is the youngest to make the cut and take second behind Lady Gaga who topped the list with $90 million.
Jessica`s reality rewind. Jessica Simpson has just jumped on board for an all-new fashion business-based reality show. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has confirmed Simpson will be acting as a mentor on "Fashion Star," a brand-new NBC reality show where wannabe designers compete to start their own brand.
The network calls it a true spectacle that will be taped in front of a studio audience and will feature dancers, live music and models along with a full fashion show each week. Jessica`s made a reported $1 billion with her own fashion and cosmetics lines.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Are you ready for Barry Manilow unplugged? This man is a true legend. There isn`t anything he hasn`t seen after being in the music business for more than 40 years.
Tonight, Barry`s got plenty to say about the hottest stars who are out there right now. I`m talking Britney, Lady Gaga, even Kim Kardashian.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera): You have the Kardashians, for instance. I don`t know, Barry, if you`re keeping up with the Kardashians.
MANILOW: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wait until you hear what he told me. It`s my incredible SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview with Barry Manilow.
Tori Spelling`s terror. The pregnant reality star tells all about her paparazzi nightmare at her kids` school.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m sorry. I`m thinking about cats again. I just - I think about how many don`t have a home and how I should have them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. People are calling her the crazy cat lady. It`s the SHOWBIZ viral video that has everybody asking, is this thing for real? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And this is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Hugh Hefner tweets that his wedding to his 25-year-old fiancee is off. Stars speak out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at Stevie Wonder tribute in NYC.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WYCLEF JEAN, MUSICIAN: I mean, Stevie Wonder is a musical inspiration. He`s a musical muse. He`s like one of the last of the living - of what we consider one of the gods of the music industry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. I hope you`re ready because it`s time for Barry Manilow unplugged.
Yes, the legendary singer is out with a brand-new album. This thing is called "15 minutes." I sat down with Barry late today and he told me that Britney Spears` very public meltdown back in 2007 - you remember that`s the one that culminated with her shaving her head - that`s what inspired Barry to write this album.
Listen to what Barry told me when I asked him if he felt bad for Britney Spears.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANILOW: I think we all looked in horror at what was going on with this young girl trying to go to Starbucks, getting into her car and this paparazzi thing was just like driving her crazy - really driving her crazy.
Nick and I - my collaborator, Nick - we said, is that the price of fame today? That`s not what happened to me. I mean, it knocked me over when "Mandy" hit and, you know, I became a public person.
We didn`t have the Internet. There were no paparazzi doing that. I had my own share of it. But these days, whoa, it it`s really rough going from nowhere and becoming famous. It`s really rough.
HAMMER: And it`s easy to understand how that can really push somebody over the edge.
MANILOW: Certainly what we saw was really - they were driving her crazy.
HAMMER: Yes. And fortunately she really has turned things around, which we were all hoping would happen. But quite frankly, there was a moment we weren`t sure. And she had been at it for a long time.
But now, these days, we see so many stars who are cashing in on their 15 minutes that maybe they got somewhere else. They didn`t hone their talents as a child. You have the Kardashians, for instance. I don`t know, Barry, if you`ve been keeping up with the Kardashians.
MANILOW: No. But I met her.
HAMMER: Kim?
MANILOW: Yes. Really nice girl. You know what? I think they`re just having a ball with it.
HAMMER: Yes.
MANILOW: I just think - that`s not what I`ve been talking about, you know. Because my experience is - you know, you start wanting to get your music out there, your book out there, your art out there.
And then, you luck into it. You pay your dues, and with a little luck, you get it. What you`re talking about is another world of being famous for -
HAMMER: Yes. Who knows what?
MANILOW: For what?
HAMMER: And I know you`ve been so busy promoting this album. You haven`t had a chance to probably catch the season premiere of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." It just hit the air. Let`s take a look at a little bit of it right now, shall we? Roll that out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR: If I marry Kris -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excuse me. Are you saying - are you marrying Kris all of a sudden?
KIM KARDASHIAN: I know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Has he proposed to you?
KIM KARDASHIAN: No, no, no.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you talked about it?
KIM KARDASHIAN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What? Like what do you talk about?
KIM KARDASHIAN: We are going to get married one day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just have to get down to a couple of things. Saturday you have the Sears meeting on the Kardashian collection.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I mean, Barry, that is just a nugget of what has turned Kim Kardashian and this family into this mega-brand. We`re talking multimillions, hundreds of millions of dollars. Can you understand at all how they were able to turn that 15 minutes into this?
MANILOW: I can`t. It`s compelling. I sort of find myself interested. I think it`s compelling. This whole new batch of reality shows - I see it. Didn`t it start with that PBS show many years ago, maybe in the `70s - what was that called, the PBS show?
HAMMER: The PBS show, yes.
MANILOW: I wonder what that was. It was the same thing. We all began to get involved in their lives. What was going on with their divorce and their - this - that`s what`s going on here, and it is compelling.
HAMMER: Fortunately, you were able to be part of a reality show. Technically, it`s called a reality show that does involve people with genuine talent. It was great watching you on season 8 of "American Idol," having the opportunity to mentor some of these kids. I meant to ask you, are you a Lady Gaga fan?
MANILOW: I am. I think I was the first guy in my block to discover her.
HAMMER: So had she been under your tutelage, your mentorship, what kind of advice would you be giving Lady Gaga?
MANILOW: She seems to be so insecure. I think I would probably tell her to - that she doesn`t have anything to be insecure about. She`s got it. She just - you know, I`ve worked with these people, you know, who have it. They have that little extra something that makes them huge, a star. And she has it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Got to love Barry Manilow. His new album, "15 Minutes," is available right now.
And right now eHarmony`s best match ever. A woman just posted an extremely passionate profile on the dating site. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viral video tonight.
Debbie is looking for a very special man who shares her passion for cats. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am a cat lover and I love to run. I`m sorry. I`m thinking about cats again. I just - I think about how many don`t have a home and how I should have them and how cute they are and their ears and the whiskers and the nose -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Aww. I guess calling it a passion is a bit of an understatement. The folks over at eHarmony created a special department just for Debbie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it`s a great idea. It`s fresh. It`s edgy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But is matching cats with people really where we want to take eHarmony?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why not? We match people on 29 dimensions of compatibility. Cats - they must have five or six. Technically, I think we need to make it work.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Curiosity - that`s a good cat dimension.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) what do you think?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Meow. This is perfect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So Debbie`s profile video, as I figured out, was a spoof. But eHarmony`s response was very, very real. They loved the viral video so much they decided to respond. And now, I`m thinking Mr. Mittens won`t have to be home alone on a Saturday night. Good for you, Mr. Mittens.
Moving on to Tori Spelling`s terror. The pregnant reality star`s real-life nightmare as she drops her kids off at school. We`ve got the new details tonight about how a paparazzo caused her to get into a very scary car crash.
It`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: "Real Housewives" star Teresa Giudice sued over alleged beach brawl. Stars peak out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at Stevie Wonder tribute in NYC.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEPHERD: My name is Sherri because he sang a song called "Ma Cherie Amour. My Mom and my Dad had too many drinks. They loved that song. He`s an icon and his songs are just timeless.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It is now time for the SHOWBIZ buzz list. Here is what the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff is buzzing all about this week.
We think Neil Patrick Harris did an amazing job hosting the Tony Awards. One critic even asked, "Can he host the show forever?"
The ladies on our staff - they can`t wait to see Ryan Reynolds suit up as the Green Lantern. The movie finally opening on Friday.
Best game console ever? There`s big buzz in the SHOWBIZ newsroom about Nintendo`s Wii U. Word is it can knock the socks off Microsoft`s XBox 360.
And we`re saying thank you, Jimmy Fallon. His hilarious late night segment now a book.
And it`s creepy and addictive, "Toddlers and Tiaras" back on TLC. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE, REALITY TV CHILD STAR: My name is McKenzie. Everything goes together. I don`t know how to act. I just know I`m McKenzie.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, Tori`s terror. Tori Spelling, who`s pregnant with her third child, just tweeted about getting into a car wreck after being followed by a paparazzo. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter joins me now from Hollywood.
Kareen, I`ve got to tell you, I could not believe this story when I heard it.
WYNTER: Mind-blowing, A.J. And I can tell you, too, as a mom, I cannot fathom something like this actually happening.
Tori - this is what went down. She was dropping her kids off at school on Monday when this ordeal unfolded. And she tweeted the details, "Paparazzi chased me with the kids to school. I was trying to get away from him and had a pretty big accident. Took down whole wall of school."
"He then still got out to try to get pics. Ten school moms chased him away." Unbelievable, A.J.
HAMMER: Kareen, now, I heard the witnesses say Tori didn`t really do much harm to her car or her school. Nobody was really injured, thank goodness.
But in my mind, this guy totally crossed the line, don`t you think?
WYNTER: He absolutely did. I mean, the fact remains - this is really the gist of it - that paparazzo - they basically caused Tori to crash her car as she was trying to protect herself and her kids, more importantly.
Tori and her unborn child - they weren`t hurt, but she was pretty ticked tweeting this, "What will it take, someone dying for paparazzi to stop?" And that`s really the big question, A.J.
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, it`s amazing to me, although I hate to say it, not entirely surprising this still goes on. I feel like we`ve been talking about this forever. And I`m thinking this is probably not the last we`ve heard from Tori on this, Kareen.
Are you guessing she`ll probably go to war with this paparazzo? Maybe she`ll even take the battle to court and make an example of the guy? I`m not sure.
WYNTER: You know it`s tough. It`s like a blood sport for the paparazzi. We`ve seen other celebs like Nicole Richie do this. I don`t think she`ll take it that far. She`ll tweet about it. She`ll be frustrated about it.
But really, at the end of the day, what can you do until the laws are really changed here? Stars - they have no protection when it comes to this voyeuristic type of journalism, if we can even call it that, right?
HAMMER: Well, exactly. And the thing is, I just don`t understand - I understand they have a job to do, but I don`t understand what goes through people`s minds when they think they can actually put people`s lives in danger.
And, quite frankly, they have to know that they are putting people`s lives in danger when they do what they`re doing just to get a picture. Kareen Wynter, thank you so much.
WYNTER: I agree.
HAMMER: Terrible story.
WYNTER: Thanks, A.J.
HAMMER: All right. Big shout-out to the Ghetto Film School as we move on tonight. The Ghetto Film School is a nonprofit organization which trains talented teens who have big dreams of being Hollywood filmmakers.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right there at the organization`s swanky fundraising gala in New York honoring David O. Russell. David is the Oscar-nominated director of "The Fighter."
Melissa Leo won Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in the movie in "The Fighter." Melissa was right there at the event supporting David and the Ghetto Film School. And she tells us she is excited to get involved.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELISSA LEO, ACTRESS: I`ve been trying to make it down here and make it to one or two of the classes and work with the kids, actually.
And my schedule, unfortunately, has not allowed that yet. So I come down and get a little taste of it tonight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And to find out more about this great cause, the Ghetto Film School, go to "GhettoFilm.org."
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Remember, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT now seen exclusively Monday through Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
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