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Showbiz Tonight
Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed`s On-Air Smackdown; Is Casey Anthony`s Trial Bigger than O.J. Simpson`s?; The Congressman and the Porn Star; Confessions from Arnold`s Schwarzenegger`s Mistress; Kim Kardashian Speaks Out About Bret Lockett
Aired June 15, 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, we just saw Gene Simmons long-time girlfriend storm Joy Behar`s set because of cheating claims. Joy is with us with the story you haven`t heard.
And is the Casey Anthony trial bigger than the O.J. Simpson trial? I`m A.J. Hammer. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
More big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - the Congressman and the porn star. The former XXX actress who claims Anthony Weiner sent her raunchy E-mail speaks out today for the very first time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GINGER LEE, PORN STAR: He asked me to lie about our communication.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is right there. Arnold`s mistress also speaks out tonight for the very first time. Shocking confessions from the woman who had Arnold Schwarzenegger`s secret child. Our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, was it wrong for the mistress to go public?
And for the very first time, Kim Kardashian speaks out about SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s exclusive interview with the football star who claims she had an affair with him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR: I`m not going to let anyone get away with making up ridiculous claims.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Should Kim just let this go? 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. Just moments ago, on "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW," right here on HLN, we saw an unbelievable explosive confrontation, as Gene Simmons long-time lover, Shannon Tweed, walked off the set, furious at his alleged cheating ways.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHANNON TWEED, GENE SIMMONS` LONG-TIME GIRLFRIEND: That`s very nice of you to joke about it.
GENE SIMMONS, SINGER: It`s a joke. (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Where are you going? What are you doing?
TWEED: It`s over.
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW": She`s done with you.
TWEED: I didn`t think it was very funny.
SIMMONS: I was just joking because she`s a comedian. Thanks for the question.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. Well, look who`s here. It`s Joy Behar. She`s going to reveal the story you haven`t heard. Joy, don`t go anywhere. I`m going to get to you in just a moment.
But first, what a Weiner. The former porn star claims Congressman Anthony Weiner tried to seduce her online, spoke out today for the very first time at a news conference in New York City.
Of course, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there. Ginger Lee was joined by her attorney, Gloria Allred, as she claims Weiner sent her E-mails bragging about his endowment. And yes, it`s fair to conclude I am not talking about a charitable donation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLORIA ALLRED, GINGER LEE`S ATTORNEY: The only E-mails that I will talk about today are the ones that support what we said about his package.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That was Gloria then and this is Gloria Allred with me tonight for our SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. It is great to have you hear. Wow, what a busy day you`ve had, Gloria.
ALLRED: Yes. It`s nice to be here, A.J.
HAMMER: I have to be perfectly honest with you. I don`t think I`ve ever heard the word "package" used quite as frequently in a press conference as I did today. In fact, I`ve never heard a press conference about a package.
ALLRED: And I`ve never used it before at a press conference.
HAMMER: Well, you looked almost a little uncomfortable at having - you were reading your words there. And you`re representing Ginger Lee who said today that Anthony Weiner told her to lie about their communication. Let`s watch that part of the news conference.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEE: When the scandal broke and people started E-mailing me, I didn`t know what to do. I asked Congressman Weiner. He asked me to lie about our communication. I refused to lie so I went silent and went into hiding
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So Gloria, why did Ginger Lee decide to speak out now?
ALLRED: Well, because there are a lot of misconceptions, A.J., about her in the press and a lot of people, including one person who specifically threatened her that if she didn`t finally speak out, that he was going to release a statement, which she did not authorize.
And she felt that it was time to break her silence. She`s been in hiding since the scandal broke. There have been reporters literally camped outside of her home. She left her home. In fact, she left her state and has been on the move and she hasn`t even been able to work.
So now, she has to go back to work. She has to be able to pay her bills and she`s going to say the truth from her lips. And that`s what she did today. And now, she has to try to resume her normal life.
HAMMER: Well, and I totally get that motivation. It does make perfect sense. And I listen to you very carefully when you were explaining that at the press conference as well. The question is, will she really able to do that? Because - is this really going to keep people from camping out at her door and trying to get more information out of her?
ALLRED: Well, we hope that it does answer a lot of questions that people have been asking and wanting her to answer. It probably is not going to answer all of those questions.
But if and when the House Ethics Committee decides that it is going to pursue an investigation and hold hearings, if she`s called to testify, she will testify truthfully at that time and she`ll provide all of the E-mail communications between the Congressman and herself.
HAMMER: OK, fair enough. I do want to put up a photo that he tweeted, not to Ginger Lee, but he tweeted this to a college student. This is the one of his chest, just one of many lewd photos that he sent to various women.
And today, Ginger revealed for the first time that Weiner never sent this photo or any sexually-charged photos to her. Let`s watch that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEE: I did not send photos to him or receive any from him. Any time that he would take our communication in a sexual direction, I did not reciprocate.
When the tweet regarding his crotch went out, I had already been told by him about a Twitter sex scandal on the horizon. At the time, I did not think it would be what it became.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Ginger Lee first followed the Congressman because she supported him and his political views. How does she feel about him now?
ALLRED: Well, apparently - actually, she blogged about her support for him and then he followed her. And then, there was the communication.
She feels now that he should resign. She still feels very strongly in support of Planned Parenthood and the health care plan, which was why she supported him in the first place. But she thinks there are better people to advocate for those issues and not Anthony Weiner.
HAMMER: Well, I hope your plan works in helping her get life back.
ALLRED: Thank you so much.
HAMMER: Gloria Allred, good to see you.
ALLRED: You, too, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, I`m sad to say the cheating scandals rage on tonight. Now, Arnold Schwarzenegger`s mistress speaks out for the very first time.
In a brand-new interview revealed today, Mildred Baena, Arnold`s mistress and housekeeper, tells "Hello" magazine the sordid details of how Maria Shriver discovered that Baena and Arnold had a child together.
Here`s what Baena tells "Hello" magazine, "She would say things like, `I`m here if you need to talk.` I sensed something was up. I have so much love and respect for Maria."
"Finally, she asked pointblank. She was so strong. She cried with me and told me to get off my knees. We held each other and I told her it wasn`t Arnie`s fault, that it takes two."
That brings us to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint tonight - was it wrong for the mistress to go public?
Fran Drescher stars in TV Land`s new sitcom "Happily Divorced." I`m guessing Arnold and Maria won`t be that. And Fran is with me for a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. It`s great to see you. I really appreciate you being here tonight, Fran.
FRAN DRESCHER, ACTRESS AND COMEDIENNE: I`m delighted to be here.
HAMMER: So Arnold`s mistress says that she wasn`t paid to tell her story. She just wanted to set the record straight. But really, when she was doing that, she revealed some of Maria`s most vulnerable moments in the process.
So Fran, to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, do you think it was wrong for the mistress to go public with her story?
DRESCHER: Oh, god. You know, I don`t think that the story could get any more public than it already is, to tell you the truth. It such a circus that, you know, I really don`t have an opinion on that.
I think that - you know, I don`t understand women that, you know, have affairs with married men to begin with, so I can`t really -
HAMMER: Yes. And that`s a good point -
DRESCHER: Judge her on whether it`s good that she went public. I kind of had more of a problem with the fact that she was working for Maria and, you know, had an affair with her husband.
HAMMER: Yes, clearly. And I can understand anybody`s motivation when they want to get their side of the story out there, but there`s a piece of me also that I don`t understand women or anybody who cheats. And I think you lose your right to tell your side of the story when that happens. I don`t know.
DRESCHER: Well, he was the cheater. She wasn`t married. I mean, if you`re talking about Maria -
HAMMER: Sure, who says it takes two.
DRESCHER: You know, I mean, he`s the one that cheated on his wife. But she was the other woman. You know, I have a very strict cardinal rule being a single woman that, you know, I don`t do other women`s men.
HAMMER: It`s a pretty good rule to have.
DRESCHER: Yes. I have my sister`s back and, you know, it eliminates a whole pool of men that, you know, you just don`t need to be dealing with.
HAMMER: Well, it seems like, you know, for most people who have their moral compass pointed in the right direction, that that should be the way of life.
DRESCHER: Well, you would think so.
HAMMER: I want to read something else that she tells "Hello" magazine in terms of her feeling that maybe this couple could be getting back together.
She said, "He`s a good man and I know he`s suffering, too. He loves Maria. I hope, with time, they work things out."
Fran, again, the name of your show, "Happily Divorced," which I don`t see it being a happy divorce, but do you see this couple, Maria and Arnold, ever getting back together?
DRESCHER: You know, I think that they both have a lot of internal exploring to do, especially her. I think that this is a very painful time, I`m sure. You know, I`ve had my personal life exposed several times and it`s always really difficult and compounds having to deal with something that personally is so wounding.
But I think that it also affords us an opportunity to look within and wonder, "Why am I in this situation? Why did I end up with this type of a man? And what do I have to learn about myself so that I don`t repeat the same mistake twice?"
HAMMER: Yes. It`s pretty complex. Fran, I`m so thrilled you`re here. Stay right where you are, OK?
DRESCHER: OK.
HAMMER: We have a lot to talk to. You have to see what Fran`s new show, "Happily Divorced," looks like. And you will get to do that in just a moment.
But right now, I have to move on to this, because this is unbelievable. The explosive big kiss-off that was just seen on HLN`s "JOY BEHAR SHOW."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMMONS: My back is good. My schmuckel(ph) not so much.
TWEED: That`s very nice of you to joke about it.
SIMMONS: It`s a joke! Where are you going? What are you doing?
TWEED: So rude.
BEHAR: She`s done with you.
TWEED: I don`t think it`s really funny.
SIMMONS: I was just joking because she`s a comedian.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know, that`s Gene Simmons` long-time partner, Shannon Tweed, storming off Joy`s set because of Gene`s alleged cheating.
We`ll get to the bottom of it with Joy herself right here for a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview with a story you haven`t heard. She`s got it for us. What happened when she ran off?
In our next big news in the Casey Anthony trial, the prosecution rests its case. Tonight, we`re asking, has this actually become a bigger trial than the O.J. trial? 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: E Street Band`s Clarence Clemons showing "encouraging" signs after stroke. Angelina Jolie to visit Syrian refugees along Turkey`s border.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Casey`s TV trial showdown. The prosecution rested today in the Casey Anthony murder trial. And there was yet another sensational moment in court that seems to be making even bigger headlines than the O.J. Simpson trial ever did.
With me in New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell, the host of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL" right here on HLN.
So one of the pieces evidence that the prosecution presented in the trial today was this tattoo that Casey got after her daughter, Caylee, went missing or drowned as the defense claims.
This reminds me a lot of the O.J. Simpson trial, the infamous moment when O.J. tried on the glove and it didn`t fit, then he was acquitted.
Jane, do you think this tattoo bombshell will have the same lasting effect as that O.J. Simpson glove moment? It kind of feels like it might.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": It certainly was a dramatic moment, A.J. I mean, who gets a tattoo that says, in Italian, "the beautiful life," when their little daughter is missing and, now, they`ve admitted, dead.
Well, the defense has been very clever in massaging the evidence to fit their theories saying, well, she knew that her child had drowned accidentally. So went and got that tattoo in loving memory, in remembrance of her secretly dead child.
I don`t know if you believe it, but is it enough to create reasonable doubt? That`s thing.
HAMMER: And that`s obviously what I think certainly aided to the acquittal of O.J. Simpson in that trial, a trial which you, of course, covered for all the time it was going on, Jane.
I think that the details in this case are even more horrific because it was a child. We don`t want to minimize any death, but it really is just such an awful thing to think about.
Do you think that is why, because the victim is a child, that perhaps it`s one of the reasons this is turning out perhaps to be bigger than the O.J. trial?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I think it`s so big because this defendant is so fascinating. Here she is, a pretty, attractive young lady from a seemingly run-of-the-mill, middle-class family.
And yet, she is also, according to the prosecution, diabolical and pure evil. She`s a pathological liar and a convincing liar. She`s a thief.
And not only that, they`re saying she meticulously plotted the murder of her daughter, researching how do it on the Internet and then covering the child`s face and nose, suffocating her with duct tape and then dumping her in the woods in a t-shirt that says, "Big trouble comes in small packages."
If that`s true, this woman is pure evil, and that`s why it`s so fascinating.
HAMMER: And of course, O.J.`s defense, you know, they got him acquitted.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes.
HAMMER: They worked very hard and they managed to do that. Do you see this happening in the Casey Anthony trial?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I have learned never predict what a jury is going to do. Look at the Michael Jackson molestation trial. Everybody thought, oh, he was done for. And he was found not guilty on all counts.
You cannot predict, and I do think they are taking a page from the O.J. dream team. Remember garbage in, garbage out? They`re arguing the same thing here.
HAMMER: Yes. I think this wild ride is far, far from over.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes.
HAMMER: Jane Velez-Mitchell, thank you so much. And make sure you continue to keep it right here on HLN for continuing coverage of the Casey Anthony murder trial.
A lot of people, as we move on tonight, have been calling into SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about the reports that Jennifer Aniston is a home-wrecker.
Now, Jen has been dating this new guy, Justin Thoreau. Jen`s relationship with him reportedly caused Justin and the woman he`s been with for 14 years to break up. And oh, he and the woman happened to be living together as well.
Now, Desiree from Florida called in to say back off Jen, everybody.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DESIREE, CALLER FROM FLORIDA: I don`t believe that she would break up a relationship. She knows how it feels and she would not cause that pain on to another woman, not for one second.
People need to find out the whole story. And she is very private about her life and she`s been kind of public about this. I don`t believe for one second she has anything to hide or did anything wrong.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks, Desiree. I`m with you. I mean, here`s my take on this. I really don`t think that after all the dating issues that Jen`s been through very publicly and the fact a lot of people think Angelina Jolie stole Brad Pitt away from her, she would actually do something like this.
Well, we don`t know what Justin`s relationship with this other woman was or what it was like. But what we do know is there is more to this story than meets the eye. And I would love to know what you think about it.
Call me at "Showbiz on Call." The phone lines are always open at 1-888- SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. That`s where you can leave me a voicemail so I can play your call here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
There is another shocking star split to talk about tonight, quite the alliteration. Twenty-year-old Playboy playmate Crystal Harris calling off her wedding to 85-year-old, Hugh Heffner.
What do you think went on there? Tonight, the big debate, was crystal just using Hef for fame? That is next.
Jordin Sparks` stunning weight loss. Pippa Middleton looking hot. And you can`t forget about the guy either, David Beckham, among them. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT revealing the most amazing star bodies.
And SHOWBIZ breaks news. For the very first time, Tracy Morgan`s "30 Rock" co-star, Cheyenne Jackson, talks about Tracy Morgan`s homophobic rant.
What does "Happily Divorced" star, Fran Drescher think about this? Fran, whose ex-husband is gay, is right here in a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Prince William and Catherine will attend "Brits to Watch" event when they visit L.A. Stars speak out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about Tracy Morgan`s anti-gay rant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES FRANCO, ACTOR: I don`t, in any way, condone what he said and I am very sensitive to youth. A lot of the work I do is centered on youth. And I know it`s an incredibly hard time. And to joke about that kind of thing, I do not condone at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: And now, the runaway bride. Eighty-five-year-old Playboy founder, Hugh Hefner, was supposed to marry 25-year-old playmate, Crystal Harris, this weekend but she just bailed on him. No wedding.
And tonight, there are startling claims that crystal was just using Hef to prop up her career.
Let me get to "Life and Style" contributing editor, Rachel Zalis, in Hollywood tonight. Rachel, on the very same day that Hef reveals Crystal dumped him, her new song comes out.
I`m thinking that`s pretty good ammo for the Crystal fame conspiracy. What are you thinking?
RACHEL ZALIS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "LIFE AND STYLE": What a crazy coincidence, right? I mean, I haven`t been this excited for a single since Heidi Montag.
But I mean, she must be pretty darn confident if she`s willing to walk away from a wedding with no pre-nup. I mean, Hef is worth $43 million. She could have had half of that.
So it`s a little bit nuts. But you know what? Usually, you know, you`d think someone sitting at home, sulking in their pajamas - it not going to be that tough for Hef. He`s always in his pajamas. So -
HAMMER: Yes.
ZALIS: I don`t think this is going to such a tough break.
HAMMER: Although at the same time, you know, I don`t think - he`s used - you know, used to getting dumped is what I`m trying to say.
ZALIS: Yes.
HAMMER: I think Hef, you know, is usually the guy in charge. And as far as her reasons, well, this morning on Ryan Seacrest`s KISS FM radio show, Crystal was talking and she revealed that her big reason for bailing was she didn`t like the playboy lifestyle. You know, women always hanging around.
Rachel, wouldn`t she have known from the start that that was the deal? She was engaged to Hugh Hefner.
ZALIS: I mean, come on. It`s ridiculous. It`s like saying I thought Donald would change his hair or that Lady Gaga would wear a pair of pants.
I mean, you know who you`re marrying, like, that is just the most ridiculous thing I`ve ever heard. You know you`re going to be a playboy. You know there are a million girls around. That`s just a lame excuse.
I mean, obviously, she`s kind of trying to deflect a little. There`s a lot of rumors circling that she`s been hanging out with Dr. Phil`s son. She`s got her single coming out. So, you know, call me crazy for being cynical.
HAMMER: Let me quickly throw up - I want to quickly throw up the cover of the July issue "Playboy" magazine. There she is - Crystal as Mrs. Hugh Hefner. I don`t think Hef saw this coming.
Rachel Zalis, I thank you very much. Moving on, here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. The explosive big kiss-off just being on HLN`s "JOY BEHAR SHOW."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMMONS: My back is good. My schmuckel, not so much.
TWEED: That`s very nice of you to joke about. It`s a joke. Where are you going.
TWEED: It`s over.
BEHAR: She`s done with you.
TWEED: I didn`t think it was really funny.
SIMMONS: I was just joking because she`s a comedian.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Gene Simmons` long-time partner, Shannon Tweed, storming off there from Joy`s set because of Gene`s alleged cheating.
Tonight, Joy, right here for a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. I`m going to find out exactly what happened when Shannon ran off. We`ve got to see that.
And for the first time, Kim Kardashian speaks out. New revelations about SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s exclusive with the football star who claims they had an affair.
And is J-Lo really leaving "American Idol" after just one season? I thought she was great. 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: Elizabeth Hurley`s divorce has been finalized. Jennifer Aniston talks about waiting tables, interior decorating in "Marie Claire."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Kim Kardashian breaks her silence. Kim K. speaks out about SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s exclusive interview with the football star who claims they had an affair.
Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed caught-on-tape`s cheating smackdown. A nasty battle erupts on Joy Behar`s show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMMONS: My back is good. My schmuckel not so much.
TWEED: That`s very nice of you to joke about.
SIMMONS: It`s a joke. Where are you going?
TWEED: It`s over.
BEHAR: She`s done with you.
TWEED: I didn`t think it was really funny.
SIMMONS: I was just joking because she`s a comedian.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Gene`s humiliated, Shannon`s steaming but was this all an act? Joy Behar right here with the inside story. What really happened after Shannon walked off the set?
Jordin Sparks` amazing body transformation. Pippa Middleton`s perfect posterior. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals the most amazing star bodies.
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. We`ve got big news breaking tonight - Kim`s SHOWBIZ revelation.
Yes. For the very first time, Kim Kardashian is speaking out about SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s worldwide exclusive interview with the NFL star who claimed she had an affair with him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRET LOCKETT, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SAFETY: 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: Now, Kim is firing back in her own words. Joining us tonight, Sunny Hostin, legal contributor for Tru TV`s "In Session."
So Sunny, on one of the late-night talk shows last night, the guy who is the host asked Kim Kardashian about what Bret Lockett told me exclusively here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Watch how this played out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, TV HOST: THIS guy got cornered on one of the, you know, TV shows - one of the entertainment shows - and he finally admitted he never even met you.
KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR: Yes, finally. But you know, he said, "But we texted."
LENO: And you didn`t text either.
KIM KARDASHIAN: And then he also says, "And by the way, I have an album coming out and check out my song." And it`s like, you know - don`t use other people for attention. It`s not morally right.
It`s just not OK and I`m not going to - I`m going to let, you know, the legal system take over and handle it because I`m not going to let anyone get away with making up ridiculous lies. I`m really tired it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Jay, the entertainment show you`re referring to was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, OK? Just to be clear on that. Sunny, Kim says she`s just being used for attention.
Does it really make any sense to you that a well-paid NFL star would make up a relationship with a reality star to get attention, particularly knowing he`d be sued for it?
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION" ON TRU TV: You would think he would be smarter than that. But you know, she has a pretty good case against him, A.J.
I mean, if it is true that they`ve never met and he knows this now - apparently, before he gave this interview to a magazine, her people told him that she was denying this, that this was not true.
And they went ahead and went forward with it anyway. I mean, defamation means you`re talking about someone and it isn`t true. Now, he`s saying - he`s sort of switching his story around and saying it wasn`t really physical but she was touching herself so it was physical in that sense.
I mean, the lies are now sort of spiraling out of control. And I say kudos to her because she has to protect her reputation. Her career is built on that reputation and on her image.
She`s about to get married to a very gorgeous man with a very big diamond that he gave her. And I say, absolutely, she needs to protect herself.
HAMMER: Well, Sunny, Kim couldn`t stop talking about SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on Leno`s "The Tonight Show." Watch what she revealed about possible plans to sue Bret Lockett.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM KARDASHIAN: If I sue him, I don`t want the money.
LENO: Yes.
KIM KARDASHIAN: He can take all the money that I`ve spent and donate it to a charity of my choice. I mean, I`m not looking for that. I just want him to, you know, be honest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, you know, he told me he was being honest. But Sunny, very quickly, I mean, I think her at least delivering that money to a charity would be a smart move if that`s happening.
HOSTIN: Oh, my goodness. I mean, she`s just a media Svengali. She shows how to work it and that would be the most appropriate thing to do. I mean, she`s making her point and she`s making herself look good.
HAMMER: All right. Sunny Hostin, got to wrap it there. Thank you so much. Because right now I must move on to the brand-new controversy tonight over Tracy Morgan.
Everybody is asking if his new campaign to make up for his outrageous anti- gay rant is sincere. Well, I`m so happy that with me in New York is Fran Drescher, the star of TV Land`s new sitcom, "Happily Divorced."
Now, this is based on Fran`s real-life experience with her ex-husband who revealed he was gay after they split up. Great having you here, Fran.
DRESCHER: Thank you.
HAMMER: I`ve got to find out as an actress, as a comedian, what did you think when you heard that Tracy Morgan in his standup act in Nashville said, among other things, he would actually stab his son -
DRESCHER: Don`t say it again. We should not ever repeat that.
HAMMER: I won`t, but it was terrible.
DRESCHER: It`s terrible. You know, I found it completely repulsive and deplorable and just horrible and -
HAMMER: OK, we don`t need to dwell on it. I think I got your reaction pretty clear. And now, of course, Tracy trying to make amends. Some people say it`s sincere. Some people say, you know, he`s got a pretty huge career to protect.
But he`s on this campaign to prove he`s not homophobic. He`s going back to Nashville to apologize to the people he offended. He`s doing a PSA with GLAAD.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just caught up with Cheyenne Jackson - that`s Tracy`s "30 Rock" co-star, who is openly gay. I want to watch what he told us about this plan of Tracy`s. Roll that out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHEYENNE JACKSON, ACTOR: I feel like there was an olive branch. There was compassion and forgiveness. So I feel like everything is moving forward. I`m very happy to hear about the things that are happening in his life the last couple of days.
And I - my heart breaks for - everything that has gone on in the last few days has been very difficult. But I think good is going to come out it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. I think good can come out of it. I think that, certainly, Tracy Morgan can help other people change their minds. And I think what Tracy is now doing is good if it`s genuine. I certainly hope that it is.
Do you think he`s at least moving in the right direction?
DRESCHER: You know, the only thing that`s positive is that we see that there`s a moral compass that`s changing here. And people are actually outraged when other people do gay-bashing.
That`s an interesting growth in terms of social consciousness and the raising of it. As far as he goes, you know, I`m just disgusted by it.
And I - you know, I really can`t comment on it because I don`t know the man and I don`t know whether he`s being sincere, or whether he`s doing it to protect his career. But I think if he had anything going on morally, then he never would say anything like that.
HAMMER: Yes.
DRESCHER: It just so destructive and, you know, it`s - I just - I mean, you`re talking to a person that won the Ally for Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign. I`m a big advocate and activist for civil liberties.
So you know, I find this completely unacceptable and outrageous. And I don`t really - I don`t know if I can, you know, accept any kind of apology from him.
HAMMER: We`ll have to see how it plays out. But you also have a very personal connection to this sort of storyline. I actually think a lot of people are not aware of the fact of what your history is with your ex- husband.
Your new show, "Happily Divorced," which looks terrific on TV Land, is based on your story. You were married to your husband for, how many years?
DRESCHER: Like 20 years. We`d been together since we were 15.
HAMMER: And you divorced and then you find out that he`s gay. And on the show it`s the same sort of scenario, except you`re living with your gay ex- husband under the same roof. Let`s take a look at a bit of that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Honey, do you think now`s a good time to talk about how we`re going to tell other people?
DRESCHER: Oh, my god, we`re going to have to tell other people. My parents! My mother is going to be devastated.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: We always thought he was gay.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: He had beautiful cuticles.
DRESCHER: You knew he was gay and you never mentioned to bother it to me?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: We thought you knew!
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: We thought you knew!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So I`ve got to ask you, and I have to ask you to tell me quickly, how did your husband reveal to you a couple of years after your divorce, after 20 years of marriage, that he was gay?
DRESCHER: You know, he said - I was going on a press tour for my book, "Cancer Schmancer," and he said, "I don`t want you to be taken by surprise if somebody happens to ask you. But I am living in New York and I`m dating men." And that was how he said it.
HAMMER: And were you surprised as your character on "Happily Divorced"?
DRESCHER: Well, you know, he had already admitted a few years earlier that he thought he was bisexual -
HAMMER: OK.
DRESCHER: But that he was choosing to live with me. I had already survived cancer and so that kind of level -
HAMMER: It changes your perspective a little bit.
DRESCHER: Yes, what`s important.
HAMMER: Well, Fran (INAUDIBLE). And by the way, congratulations on your continued work with "Cancer Schmancer" and everything you`re doing.
DRESCHER: Thank you. I appreciate that.
HAMMER: And make sure that you catch Fran`s new show on TV Land. It`s called "Happily Divorced," Wednesday nights. It really does look terrific.
Moving on now, Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed. They`re a legendary rock couple. They`ve stayed together unmarried for nearly 30 years despite Gene`s claims to have slept with 5,000 women. Well, Shannon stood by her rock star man until now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMMONS: My back is good. My schmuckel not so much.
TWEED: That`s very nice of you to joke about.
SIMMONS: It`s a joke. Where are you going?
TWEED: It`s over.
BEHAR: She`s done with you.
TWEED: It`s so rude to joke about it. I didn`t really think it was very funny.
SIMMONS: I was just joking because she`s a comedian.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You`ve got to see Gene`s humiliating caught-on-tape smackdown on HLN`s "JOY BEHAR SHOW." But was it an act? Well, Joy is right here to tell us what really happened after Shannon walked off the set. It`s a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview, next.
And there`s big news breaking tonight about J-Lo and "American Idol." Is she leaving the show?
And Jordin Sparks - wait until you see her showing off her amazing new bikini body. Also, Pippa Middleton`s enviable assets. Still ahead, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT revealing the most amazing star bodies. 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.
TEXT: Justin Timberlake tells "Playboy" that smoking pot helps him "turn his brain off." SHOWBIZ first look: movie poster for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TWEED: That`s very nice of you to joke about.
SIMMONS: It a joke! (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Where are you going? What are you doing?
TWEED: It`s over.
BEHAR: She`s done with you.
TWEED: It`s so rude to joke about it. I didn`t think it was really funny.
SIMMONS: I was just joking because she`s a comedian. Thanks for the question.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. An explosive confrontation tonight on HLN`s "JOY BEHAR SHOW." Shannon Tweed, Gene Simmons partner of 28 years, just stormed off the set, right in the middle of the interview there. Was she really furious over Gene cheating on her?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And yes, it`s a case of "I`m out of here." Shannon Tweed took off like an angry bat out of hell. And if you think it was something watching that, wait until you see what else happened.
I want to know the real story behind the story. That`s why Joy Behar is with me tonight in New York for a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. Lovely to see you, darling.
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW": Hi, A.J. Lovely to see you, too.
HAMMER: So Joy -
BEHAR: Yes.
HAMMER: There you had Gene and Shannon on your show. They`re talking about the new season of their hit reality show, "Gene Simmons Family Jewels."
I`m watching this thing and I`m thinking Shannon wanted to kick Gene in the family jewels.
BEHAR: Oh, that`s very funny.
HAMMER: All of this started when you showed Gene and Shannon an interview that did with rock legend, Alice Cooper. Let`s watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: You know, Gene Simmons was on the show. I`ve heard this before from him, anyway. He claims that he had sex with 5,000 women. Do you believe that?
ALICE COOPER, ROCK STAR: At the same time?
BEHAR: No. If that`s true, wouldn`t he be in traction at this point?
COOPER: Yes.
BEHAR: How`s your back, Gene?
SIMMONS: My back is good. My schmuckel, not so much.
TWEED: That`s very nice of to you joke about.
SIMMONS: It`s a joke! (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Where you going?
TWEED: It`s over.
BEHAR: She`s done with you.
TWEED: I didn`t think it was really funny.
SIMMONS: I was just joking because she`s a comedian. Thanks for the question.
BEHAR: I`m sorry. You`re blaming it on me? Don`t put this on me. This is all yours.
SIMMONS: You did the entire setup. Please come back here.
TWEED: No. You joked about it and it`s not funny.
SIMMONS: Well, I`m trying to make you feel a little more comfortable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Joy, what was going through your mind when Shannon stormed off the set? Did you think that, you know, maybe this is all staged? They`re doing it for PR? I mean, here we are talking about them and their show.
BEHAR: Well, when I first saw the clips and I know - I said this show is about as real as the "Bachelorette" show. But then, you know - I mean, they gave us clips to use which showed them being annoyed and angry each other on their reality show.
So I decided I`ll play along with it. You know, it`s a reality show, so- called. You know, I don`t believe any of it anyway. And then, when they- the-sat down and this all came down, I thought maybe they really are mad at each other.
I mean, you have to know they were angry with each other - or she was angry with him in the green room before. So I don`t know. If they`re acting, they`re really carrying it through.
HAMMER: You know, I`m paying close attention and she pushes him and he said, "Where are you going," in my mind or in my view before it even looked like she was getting up. But I don`t want to get too forensic about this.
I couldn`t stop watching because after Shannon left the set, you were sitting face to face with Gene Simmons. I`ve got to see what happened next here.
BEHAR: All right.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera) So it`s possible she`s done with you, Gene. How do you feel about it?
SIMMONS: Well, I hope not.
BEHAR: You hope not?
SIMMONS: Please come back.
BEHAR: Shannon, you want to come back?
TWEED: I don`t.
BEHAR: She doesn`t. She`s mad. She`s mad.
TWEED: I`m tired.
SIMMONS: Good setup, Joy.
BEHAR: Don`t blame me for this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Did you get the feeling -
BEHAR: He`s blaming me.
HAMMER: That Gene was really blaming you for what happened?
BEHAR: Well, his argument is that I showed this clip about him sleeping with 5,000 women, that Alice Cooper and I were having a few laughs about.
And then, he laughed at the clip, you know. And that`s what made her mad, supposedly, that he thought it was funny that he slept with 5,000 women. So I mean, where do I come into this exactly?
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: But here`s the thing. And Joy, I`ve been on your show and I`ve been on your set. And I was watching carefully as she walked off there.
BEHAR: Yes.
HAMMER: And I`m thinking you can`t get out that way.
BEHAR: I know.
HAMMER: And so what was happening?
BEHAR: I know.
HAMMER: So did she get stuck back?
BEHAR: She got stuck.
HAMMER: You`d have to tear through the set wall to get out. Was she just standing there?
BEHAR: She basically got stuck over by the camera and the poor girl could not really escape Gene. So she just stayed there and had to endure the rest of the segment, which we carried on until it was over.
HAMMER: I`ve got to tell you, Joy, I appreciate you being here. But shame on you for really adding to the strife in the life of Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed.
BEHAR: I`m sorry. I`m sorry. But you know, all I can say is I`m glad we taped it because it gave me time to call my publicist.
HAMMER: Yes, perfect. Well, make sure you watch "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW" weeknights at 10:00 p.m. Eastern right here on HLN.
And there`s much more big reality show news in "The Buzz Today." SHOWBIZ breaks news with Adam Levine of "The Voice." Is he really at war with Christina Aguilera? Could that be? Plus, is Jennifer Lopez quitting "American Idol"?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) J-lo dropping out? Jennifer Lopez has just confessed she`s considering calling it quits on "American Idol" after just one season as a judge. In a brand-new with BBC Radio One, Lopez let it slip that she`s not at all sure she`s coming back for a second season.
JENNIFER LOPEZ, "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE: I don`t know. I haven`t been forced to make a decision. And I`m glad about that, because honestly, I`m very kind of on the fence about it.
HAMMER: Lopez signed a one-year deal with the show in October for a reported $12 million. SHOWBIZ breaks news. "The Voice" host speaks out. Maroon 5 leader, Adam Levine has just opened up about reports of a beef between him and fellow coach, Christina Aguilera.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there on the set of "The Voice" when Levine told us the rumors are totally false.
ADAM LEVINE, HOST, "THE VOICE": We`re friends. She`s the only girl. I feel bad, you know, because we`re a bunch of dudes, so we have it easy. She`s the only girl. It can`t be an easy position to be in.
HAMMER: Adam and Christina have just announced they`re teaming up on a brand-new duet they`ll premiere next week on the show.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: As we move on tonight, what do David Beckham, Jordin Sparks and Pippa Middleton have in common? Their amazing assets - abs, arms and thighs. Oh, my.
Coming up next, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is revealing the most amazing star bodies. You can`t miss it. 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: Natalie Portman and fiance, Benjamin Millepied, welcome a son. Stars sound off to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about Tracy Morgan`s gay joke scandal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY COHEN, ACTOR: He`s going above and beyond. And so, you know, I`m happy at least to see him doing that work. I think it`s great. And I think it proves a point. And you know, I`m all about forgiveness.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, your favorite stars are taking it all off to show their rocking abs, their amazing arms and even their luscious legs.
Hollywood`s hottest hotties are strutting their stuff for "People" magazine`s annual "Most Amazing Bodies" list.
With me now is Michelle Tan who is a senior editor for "People" magazine. She ho had the privilege of working on this particular special report.
So "American Idol" alum, Jordin Sparks has really had one of the most amazing body transformations that we`ve seen. She looks fantastic. We`re talking a look this behind-the-scenes video from her "People" magazine photo shoot. What did Jordin tell "People" about her weight loss?
MICHELLE TAN, SENIOR EDITOR, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: WELL, what`s interesting is she started off in the public eye at 17 and a size 14. Now, she`s 21. She`s grown up. She`s becoming a woman and she`s showing off a sexy side to her now that she`s lost 30 pounds.
HAMMER: I thought she always looked terrific, but she looks fantastic now. And let`s talk about the newest star in "People`s" "Amazing Bodies" list.
Now, she doesn`t rock a bikini for this, which I don`t fully understand. But she certainly has the world`s attention perhaps more than anybody else in Britain other than the royal couple right now. Pippa Middleton made "People`s" "Most Amazing Bodies" list. Why?
TAN: Well, we ranked all our top body moments, and Pippa Middleton was number one, because after the royal wedding, she stepped out in that beautiful Alexander McQueen gown. It just hugged her in all the right ways.
But in particular, her rear end became an instant phenomenon. Right now, her bum has three Facebook fan pages and its own Twitter feed.
HAMMER: OK. And we`re looking right now at the pictures. And yes, actually, you can tell she doesn`t need to be in a bikini, but she actually does have an amazing body. You guys (INAUDIBLE).
All right. Here`s what I like about what "People" magazine is doing, because, clearly, one size does not fit all.
Let`s take a look at some of these ladies right here. You have Cheryl Burke, Kristin Chenoweth, Annie Ilonzeh. Clearly, by showing this diversity of women, we see that amazing bodies come in all sizes.
I think ladies everywhere are going to be inspired by this, Michelle.
TAN: Absolutely. We wanted to do is say exactly what you said. All body shapes are beautiful and they`re all confident.
An what`s great is Kristin Chenoweth is 4`11". Annie Ilonzeh is about 5`8". And there are small sizes. But they`ve really come to learn is, no matter how they look, they always have to embrace themselves and really live a healthy lifestyle.
HAMMER: Here`s the deal. I`m going to get hate mail if we don`t get to the guys. We`re going to have men in Facebook posts.
Chris Hemsworth, David Beckham, Gavin Rossdale - just a couple of the guys who are baring their abs. You can confess it right here if you like this was yours and perhaps a lot of the staff at "People" magazine`s favorite part of actually working on this particular issue, wasn`t it?
TAN: I have to say it`s a tough job but somebody has to do it. And I`m perfectly happy and proud that I was the one who was able to look at all of those hot guys and pick which ones are in our issue.
HAMMER: You had all these guys in the issue. But can you rank one as your absolute favorite?
TAN: I can`t pick an absolute favorite. But I have to say Kellan Lutz is very impressive. He`s turning into that new Matthew McConaughey who is always around shirtless and you just don`t mind it.
HAMMER: All right. Well, there you go. Michelle Tan, you said it right here. I appreciate you being here. And make sure you grab your copy of "People" magazine. It`s on newsstands right now.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Remember, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is now seen exclusively Monday to Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on HLN.
END