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Showbiz Tonight
Could Amanda Knox Go Free?; New Amy Winehouse Mysteries; Jesse James and Kat Von D Split; Octomom`s Octu-Chaos; Mariah Carey`s Messy Moment on the Home Shopping Network; Maria Shriver`s Strength
Aired July 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: Tonight, SHOWBIZ justice - an Amanda Knox shocker. Could she go free? I`m A.J. Hammer and this is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
More big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - brand-new Amy Winehouse mysteries. Tonight, brand-new revelations about how she may have died on the same day she`s laid to rest. Was her death suspicious?
Shocking split - Jesse James and Kat Von D caput. Sandra Bullock`s cheating ex, Jesse James, splits with his fiancee on Sandra`s birthday. Should Sandra be celebrating?
Octomom`s octo-chaos. Inside the Octomom`s house with HLN`s own Dr. Drew.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NADYA SULEMAN, REALITY TV STAR AND MOTHER OF OCTUPLETS: I have no help. I was defensive and angry. I haven`t had a nanny for six months.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Fourteen kids, no nannies? The SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - should we cut the Octomom a break?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with big news breaking tonight - the big Amy Winehouse mystery. Why did she die?
Disturbing new questions were raised today about what might have killed Winehouse just as she was laid to rest in London three days after being discovered dead in her apartment.
A just completed autopsy could not determine the cause of death. And today, there were reports that a formal investigation has been launched to see whether it might have been suspicious.
There is also big controversy tonight over who might be trying to cash in on her death. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the late-breaking developments in the big Amy Winehouse mystery.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) After a life filled with breathtaking success -
(BOOING)
A spectacular downfall and an epic battle with substance abuse, Amy Winehouse is finally at rest. Amy`s friends and family gathered today in London for her funeral days after she was found dead in her London home under mysterious circumstances.
KEN BAKER, "E! NEWS": By all accounts, Amy`s funeral was very moving.
HAMMER: "E`s" Ken Baker tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Winehouse`s funeral was traditional, emotional and humorous.
BAKER: There were only 150 to 200 in attendance. The service ended with music, and it was one of Amy`s favorite songs, "So Far Away," by Carole King.
And in fact, her father asked everyone in attendance to feel free to sing along to it because that`s what Amy would like, and I`m told that they did.
HAMMER: But while friends struggle with Amy`s death, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, it is still unclear tonight what killed Amy Winehouse. An autopsy just done didn`t list an official cause of death, pending a toxicology report.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL: It could be a long time before we know exactly what the cause of death was.
HAMMER: But another result from the autopsy is raising eyebrows tonight. The coroner ordered what`s called a section 20 postmortem on Amy Winehouse, which is often ordered when a death is suspected to be of a violent or unnatural nature. Could that mean police suspect foul play?
SHUBERT: The very fact that the coroner asked for a section 20 doesn`t mean that she necessarily suspects that there was any violence or anything unnatural. It means she needs more help in determining what exactly caused the death.
HAMMER: In London today, CNN correspondent Atika Shubert told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT foul play isn`t really a factor in the investigation, but Amy`s well-known drug use might be.
SHUBERT: The very fact that toxicology reports have been ordered probably means that the coroner is looking at possible drugs, other substances, in her body that may have contributed to her death.
HAMMER: British tabloids are running wild with reports that Amy Winehouse spent her final days on a self-destructive drug and alcohol binge. As he said goodbye to his daughter today, Winehouse`s father, Mitch, disputed those reports.
In a statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, he said, "Three years ago, Amy conquered her drug dependency. The doctors said it was impossible, but she really did it. She was trying hard to deal with her drinking and had just completed three weeks of abstinence."
(SINGING)
HAMMER: Winehouse wasn`t exactly the picture of sobriety in what was her final performance last month in Serbia.
SHUBERT: She was stumbling through her set. You couldn`t hear what she was singing.
(MUSIC)
She would go offstage, and it was such shambles that she was basically pulled off. She was booed off. And it was quite clear she wasn`t prepared for that concert tour.
HAMMER: Winehouse`s father also said today that despite reports of Amy`s recent depression, she was the happiest she had been in years. He tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "She was not depressed. She saw her mother, Janis, and boyfriend, Reg, on Friday and was in good spirits."
That doesn`t jibe with what Winehouse`s mother, Janis, reportedly said about her final visit with Amy on Friday, the night before her death. Janis reportedly told "The Daily Mirror" that Amy seemed, quote, "out of it."
SHUBERT: There are a lot of conflicting reports here.
HAMMER: CNN London correspondent Atika Shubert tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exactly how Winehouse spent her final days is yet another mystery in this tragedy.
SHUBERT: You would find one friend who would say, she was happy, she was in great spirits. And then, another friend who had seen her at the same time saying she was very depressed. Completely different sides of Amy Winehouse.
HAMMER: It may be a while before we learn how Winehouse spent her final days. But until then, her family, friends and fans are remembering the troubles and the brilliance that marked a short life that ended at the age of 27.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Short and troubled life for such a talented young woman. So what might have been going on in those final days before Amy Winehouse died?
With me in New York tonight, Jane Velez-Mitchell, the host of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL" here on HLN. She`s also the author of this fantastic book, "Addict Nation." In Hollywood tonight, Jim Moret, who is an attorney and a chief correspondent at "Inside Edition."
It seems to me that Amy`s dad went out of his way to shoot down all those reports about Amy being depressed and on drugs at the time of her death. But I can`t help looking to that performance in Serbia last month, when Amy was booed of the stage in a shamble of a performance.
And I have to wonder, Jane, if it wasn`t the drugs, what do you think may have been going on with Amy Winehouse?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": Well, first of all, sometimes chronic drug users, even when they`re not intoxicated, can die because their bodies have broken down because they`ve abused them so much.
But also, as much as my heart goes out to her father, his comments betray a lack of understanding about how addiction works. You can`t say, well, "I conquered drugs three years and I`ve been off booze three weeks."
It doesn`t work that way. Either you`re sober or you`re not. Either you have no mood-altering substances or you are intoxicated. Really, the substance itself is not so much the issue.
HAMMER: Yes. And it seemed - he did, as mentioned - he did go out of his way to make a point of all this. Amy`s dad revealing in this brand-new statement today that Amy was trying hard to deal with her drinking and had just completed the three weeks of abstinence.
He even quoted Amy as having said to him, "Dad, I`ve had enough. I can`t stand the look on your and the family`s faces anymore." So you hear that, Jim, and at least it sounds to me like Amy, perhaps, was trying to get herself together.
And it seems to me that her father`s brand-new revelations today perhaps paint a different picture about Amy`s final days than what most people are imagining, don`t you think?
JIM MORET, CHIEF CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": I think the statements may, in fact, say a lot about the dad. Look, I`m a dad and when we hear our children and when we see them in pain, we want to see the good side of them because we love them so much.
Her dad clearly loved his daughter. He wanted to believe she was kicking the habit. He wanted to believe she was getting better. You do look at that performance a month ago and your heartbreaks when you see Amy Winehouse on stage just weeks ago, so out of it.
Her mom said she seemed out of it the day before she died. That doesn`t mean Amy Winehouse didn`t want to beat the addiction. But this was a year`s long trouble for her. And I believe Jane`s right. You say she was off alcohol for three weeks. You know, in the scheme of things, that`s just not that much.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, as Amy`s family said their final goodbyes earlier today at the funeral, we also learned today that Microsoft is now apologizing after being accused of trying to exploit Amy`s death to make money.
Now, shortly after Amy Winehouse died, Microsoft sent out a tweet. They urged people to remember her by downloading one of her albums from their online music store.
And I guess, yes, somebody over there must have realized, maybe this is a little tacky. So Microsoft tweeted this, "Apologies to everyone if our earlier Amy Winehouse download tweet seemed purely commercially motivated. Far from the case, we assure you."
And to be fair, Apple also launched a "Remembering Amy Winehouse" campaign just after she died as well. Here`s our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - is it wrong to cash in on Amy Winehouse? Jane, it`s going to happen. What do you think? Wrong?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, a decent interval would be nice. But let`s face it. This is our culture, A.J. It would be hypocritical to attack any company because that`s how they would celebrate her death, by saying, "Hey, play her music. Listen to her music."
Now, could they have said, "You can do it for free"? Perhaps, but I really think that this is how it works. It`s our culture, and it really was part of the pressure that caused her to go out there and perform right after she got out of rehab.
HAMMER: Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That was commercial pressure that forced her on the road, and it didn`t work, because she had to cancel her European tour.
HAMMER: And to the point of cashing in on somebody`s death, whether or not that`s the motivation, you look at what naturally happens. As you said, when somebody dies who`s a music star, their album sales go to the top of the charts. Michael Jackson a great example. Jim, what do you think? OK cashing in here?
MORET: Well, look, there`s a commercial motivation for all these companies. Perhaps Microsoft could have said, "Remember her by listening to her music," not by saying, "Download it on Zune." You know, that really probably offended a lot of people.
HAMMER: Yes. There wasn`t a sensitivity chip in place, if you will, at that time. Well, Jane Velez-Mitchell, Jim Moret, I appreciate you chiming in as always.
As we move on tonight, a lot of people say that because of Amy`s untimely death and her incredible talent, she`s now a legend. But what do you think?
Here`s what we`re asking in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll - "Amy Winehouse: Does she deserve legendary status?" Let us know your vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Got to move on now to Maria Shriver`s devastation. Her 13-year-old son in a terrible surfing accident right in the middle of her painful divorce. I`ve got to wonder, how much more can Maria take? Well, today, Maria speaks out for the first time since the accident.
Jesse and Kat Von D split on Sandra Bullock`s birthday, no less. Is this even surprising? Should Sandra be celebrating today.
Also, Octomom in octu-chaos. HLN`s own Dr. Drew goes in the octu- house.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SULEMAN: I don`t want people to feel empathy.
DR. DREW PINSKY, HOST, "DR. DREW": I can see that.
SULEMAN: I don`t want - I feel guilty when people say they feel pity.
PINSKY: I don`t feel pity.
SULEMAN: I don`t want that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Fourteen kids, no nannies. The SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - should we cut Octomom a break? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Tobey Maguire poker scandal trial date set for November 30th. Gene Simmons proposes to longtime partner Shannon Tweed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHANNON TWEED, GENE SIMMONS` LONGTIME PARTNER: This is the bravest thing I`ve ever done.
GENE SIMMONS, MUSICIAN: That`s for sure.
ANNOUNCER: But will Shannon say yes?
SIMMONS: You`re the only one right now. You`re the only one I`ve ever loved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, we have big Knox news to bring you.
Now, before Casey Anthony was making headlines, there was the fascinating trial of Amanda Knox, the American exchange student convicted in 2007 of murdering her roommate in Italy.
Her story was made into a highly-rated TV movie on Lifetime. Hayden Panettiere played Knox. Well, tonight, it looks like Amanda Knox may be one step closer to freedom. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you there`s shocking new testimony that could set her free.
With me in New York tonight, Sunny Hostin. She`s a legal contributor for "In Session" on Tru TV.
Now, this is unbelievable. Court-ordered experts in Italy just testified that DNA evidence used to convict Amanda Knox was mishandled, and that includes the alleged murder weapon.
And this morning on the "Today" show, Amanda Knox`s mom said she has newfound hope. Check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDDA MELLAS, AMANDA KNOX`S MOTHER: Her lawyers are feeling more and more optimistic, and I think this is the most optimistic I`ve seen them, you know, so far. But we`re all, you know, really cautious about how hopeful we get. Like you said, it`s a big letdown when it doesn`t go the right way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Sunny, do you think Amanda Knox`s mom`s hope could be justified here, she actually could be set free?
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION" ON TRU TV: I think there`s no question about it. I mean, the thing to remember that in Italy, when you get an appeal, it`s almost like a do-over.
It`s not like here in the United States where an appeal - you should have stuck to the facts at trial. That`s very different. Now, she`s almost going through a new trial.
Now, you have two court-appointed experts that are saying, "No, this prosecution did it the wrong way. This police department did it the wrong way. This evidence should be inadmissible."
If that`s the case, as you just mentioned, that would be the murder weapon. So you toss out the murder weapon. She`s got a really good chance of being freed.
HAMMER: What an incredible turn of events. All right. Let`s talk about another big court case that`s making headlines tonight - the New York City maid accusing Dominique Strauss-Kahn of assaulting her in that hotel room.
Well, today, on "Good Morning America," we saw more of the only interview that she has done about the charges against him, which, you know, they may get thrown out because she has been untruthful in the past. Watch what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAFISSATOU DIALLO, DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN`S ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM: That doesn`t mean - it doesn`t mean this man tried to rape me - he tried to rape me. It`s different. It`s not the same thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I understand the maid is trying to clear up any misconceptions. But check out the front page of the "New York Post." Let`s put that up. Look at that, "Unmaid Blabber Hurts Case Versus DSK." Sunny, do you agree with that?
HOSTIN: You know, I do. I`m conflicted over this case because I`ve said it over and over again, just because she has lied in the past does not mean that she is lying about this.
When I was a prosecutor, A.J., I put prostitutes on the witness stand often. So just because they were in that line of business doesn`t mean they weren`t raped or sexually assaulted.
HAMMER: Right.
HOSTIN: But in this case, because she`s been so inconsistent, lying in the past about being sexually assaulted on her asylum application, and also lying about the circumstances surrounding this alleged assault, I`m uncomfortable that she`s coming forward now, because, now, we have another set of statements that, if this goes to trial, she`s got to stick to.
HAMMER: Yes. But even if it all gets thrown out, as we saw with O.J. Simpson, he was acquitted, yet he had to pay up or was supposed to pay up in the civil suit.
HOSTIN: That`s right.
HAMMER: Do you think Strauss-Kahn should be fearing a major civil suit here?
HOSTIN: There is no question that the civil suit will go forward, notwithstanding the fact that I think the criminal case might get tossed out. We`re going to see a civil suit here. But a civil suit is not as strong when the criminal suit has been tossed. And so -
HAMMER: Tossed is different than an acquittal, for sure.
HOSTIN: Exactly. So I would say civil suit, definitely. Criminal suit, unlikely.
HAMMER: Thank you for your expertise, Sunny Hostin. I always appreciate it. Well, as we move on, we have been getting nonstop calls into the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines with tributes to the late Amy Winehouse.
We got this call from Jennifer in Alabama. And Jennifer says this is a tragic wakeup call for stars like Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JENNIFER, CALLER FROM ALABAMA: It`s a shame what happened. She was a great talent. Music world has lost this brilliant young woman, and it`s just a shame that all the people around her didn`t try to help her.
And I feel so sorry for her parents. They really did all they could do. But the people around her, instead of trying to think what`s best for her, they pushed her out there to keep performing.
And I hope she rests in peace now. It`s just so sad. And Lindsay Lohan, I hope she wakes up and realizes that she could be next. Charlie Sheen, too.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you, Jennifer. All right. I want you to ponder this. Is Britney Spears a slave for Pauly D? Could the femme fatale be heading for "Jersey Shore"? Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the brand-new details on why Britney`s teaming up with Pauly D.
Happy birthday Sandra Bullock. What a gift this must be for her today, Jesse James and Kat Von D, kaput. Some people are thinking, Sandra`s somewhere thinking, "I told you so." 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: "American Idol`s" Haley signs recording deal with Interscope Records. Plan to move "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" to Web delayed due to contract snag.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENISE RICHARDS, ACTRESS: Today, we`re good. You know, we have a very - you know, sometimes up and down. But at the end of the day, I`ll always be there for him. And you know, we have kids together and it`s important for us to maintain a good relationship.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Denise Richards reveals she and her ex-husband, Charlie Sheen, are all good, just a few months after his ugly public meltdown. But a lot of people are wondering today, even after their knockdown, drag-out divorce and his wild antics, why doesn`t Denise have anything bad to say about Charlie?
Well, Denise Richards is revealing details today about her relationship with her ex-husband, Charlie Sheen. Denise has got a brand- new tell-all memoir. It`s called "The Real Girl Next Door. And this morning, she told the ladies of "The View" why she won`t trash-talk Charlie despite their bitter divorce and his wild antics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WALTERS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I assume he`s involved with the children and gives child support, so he`s still in your life.
RICHARDS: Regardless of the child support - that`s not why I don`t say anything negative - I just think that what happened to our marriage is very private between he and I.
WALTERS: I just wonder what the relationship is with him now.
RICHARDS: Today, we`re good. You know, we have a very - sometimes up and down. But at the end of the day, I`ll always be there for him. And you know, we have kids together, and it`s important for us to maintain a good relationship.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And Denise just gave her two daughters with Charlie a brand-new sister. She adopted a little baby girl, Eloise, simply because she couldn`t wait to have more children. So congratulations, Denise.
So Amy Winehouse`s death at just 27 years old is sparking this fiery debate on our Facebook wall. She died at the same age as legends like Janis Joplin, Jim Morris and Jim Hendrix.
We asked you, is there such a thing as the curse of 27? Here`s what Tom W. writes, "The whole 27 curse is a coincidence. A lot of celebrities who battled addictions died around that age. But there some have died older and younger."
Noreen B. writes, "No curse of the 27. It`s people being out of control and their addictions. No one forces them to do it. They do it to themselves, and it`s very sad."
Connect with me. Join our debates on Facebook. We are "ShowbizTonightHLN" there. Follow at @ShowbizTonight on Twitter for breaking entertainment news alerts. Call me at "Showbiz on Call." That`s 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. And there`s always E-mail, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup - here` what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Mariah Carey`s messy moment on the Home Shopping Network.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIAH CAREY, SINGER: And because I was pregnant, when I was parading this stuff, I was like, "Uh-oh, I need a camouflage-ian moment."
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HAMMER: A camouflage-ian moment, Mariah? Are you kidding me? You`ve got to see what happened when Mariah met HSN.
And Maria Shriver devastated. Her son`s surfing accident. Her painful divorce. Tonight, we`ve got to ask, how much more can Maria take? Well, she`s speaking out for the very first time today. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And this is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - here come more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: "Big Bang Theory" star Kaley Cuoco to host "Teen Choice Awards" August 7th on Fox. Lauryn Hill gives birth to her sixth child July 23rd named Baby Boy Marley.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Maria Shriver`s brave battle. Her painful divorce. Her son`s sudden accident. How much can Maria take?
Plus, what a split. Jesse James and Kat Von D call it quits on Sandra Bullock`s birthday. So what does Sandy think of her cheating ex`s relationship meltdown.
Tonight, inside the octu-mayhem. HLN`s Dr. Drew uncovers the wild scene inside the Octomom`s home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SULEMAN: I have no help. I was defensive and angry. I haven`t had a nanny for six months.
PINSKY (voice-over): You heard it right. She`s the only one making lunch and changing diapers for eight toddlers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Fourteen kids, one Octomom. Tonight`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Flashpoint - should we cut the Octomom some slack?
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with big news breaking today - Maria`s brave battle.
Tonight, there are brand-new details inside the private life of Maria Shriver. She is coping with a double whammy of a messy divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger and her latest trial, the freak surfing accident that landed her 13-year-old son, Christopher, in the hospital.
We also learned today her soon-to-be ex, Arnold, is changing his tune about his divorce demands. How is she possibly dealing with it all?
Right now, in Hollywood, Jim Moret, who is a correspondent for "Inside Edition." Right now, from Chicago, Kelli Zink, who is a host for "CelebTV.com."
So "People.com" reports today that Maria had been holding a 24/7 vigil by her son Christopher`s hospital bed. He suffered internal injuries in a boogie board accident - a collapsed lung, broken ribs and bones, all after the tragedy.
And today, some light at the end of the tunnel for Maria. She tweeted this just this afternoon. Great news. She wrote, "Blessed to be able to take Christopher out of the hospital last night. What a feeling of relief to know that he`s going to be fine. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. The whole family, especially Christopher, felt your love."
"We were very lucky. Many patients and families we met have been there so long and have no end in sight. I pray for their recovery."
Jim Moret, it is incredible to me, although not truly surprising, that here she is, going through one nightmare after another and she still has the strength to feel sorry for other families at the hospital. What a woman.
MORET: You know, I know Maria Shriver. I`m happy to say that I know her. She`s a class act all the way. She`s lived much of her life in the public eye. And she cares a great deal about other people as evidenced by her charity work and the work for the women`s conference and so forth.
This doesn`t surprise me. That`s Maria Shriver. And I`m so happy that her son - what a horrible week it must have been last week. She made the 911 call. She saw the accident with her son. You know, she needs a break.
HAMMER: Yes. And I have to imagine she is in full survival mode right now that we all can go into when we`re surrounded by crisis. You know, she`s got her son`s accident, the high-profile divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"People.com" reporting today that Maria has been incredibly resilient at this time and through this entire crisis. Listen to the dramatic 911 call that Maria made to the police when she discovered her son had gotten into this boogie board accident.
And if it proves anything, it is that Maria knows how to keep it together in a crisis. Listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MARIA SHRIVER, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER`S ESTRANGED WIFE: It`s like the boogie board accident. He can`t move off o the beach. Maybe broken a rib or something like that.
911 OPERATOR: OK. Do you see it from your house?
SHRIVER: Yes, it`s my son.
911 OPERATOR: How old is your son?
SHRIVER: Thirteen.
911 OPERATOR: Is he awake and breathing?
SHRIVER: Yes, he`s awake and breathing. I just - he can`t move. He`s having trouble breathing.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: And it doesn`t even sound like she`s crying. This is a mother`s worst nightmare, Kelli. Can you imagine keeping it so together like that while so much is going on?
KELLI ZINK, HOST, "CELEBTV.COM": No. I mean, she is not only a picture of class, but just calmness. That kind of reminds me of when we heard that after she found out about the mistress, instead of saying, "Get out of my face. I don`t want to talk to you," she actually embraced her and said, "It`s going to be OK. We`re going to work through this."
That seems to be her whole mantra, "It`s going to be OK. I accept it. We`re going to take care of it," rather than freaking out. I mean, she`s definitely coming out on top of this one.
HAMMER: Just an inspiration to all of us. And I was so happy to see this piece of news, another real light at the end of the tunnel for Maria. Today, her soon-to-be ex-husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has amended his divorce filing.
He asked the judge to take out his refusal to pay spousal support for Maria as was originally indicated. Now, Arnold is taking a much kinder approach. He`s even willing to pay her attorney`s fees.
Jim, you`re an attorney. Why the change of heart here? Do you think it is because he`s seen how much Maria`s going through right now?
MORET: Well, I think the public backlash was immediate and understandable. Arnold Schwarzenegger fathered a child with the housekeeper who lived there for 13 years, and then to deny her spousal support and attorneys fees seemed heartless.
But in Arnold`s defense, I think it wasn`t that he was denying her so much. When the form is filled out, you, as a matter of course, would check the box denying spousal support, denying attorneys fees to preserve your rights later. I don`t think that there was any malicious intent.
I fully believe this will be an amicable divorce. And I think that Arnold Schwarzenegger is making things right by at least telling the public, "I`m not going to hurt my ex-wife any more than she`s already been hurt."
HAMMER: Yes. I get the impression, as you say, it was a legal matter, of course, just against the backdrop of everything that`s going on. You have to be really careful with every box you check and every move you make.
But right now, let me move on to another messy celebrity split that`s making big news today. Get this - Sandra Bullock`s cheating ex-husband Jesse James and Kat Von D - they split. Kaput. Curtains for their love fest. Are you surprised?
Well, Kat broke the news today. Here`s what she tweeted, "I am no longer with Jesse, and out of respect for him, his family and myself, that`s all the info I`d like to share."
Gee, I wonder what could have possibly split these two clearly stable, like-minded human beings. Kelli, today is Sandra`s birthday. A lot of people are calling this a perfect present for her. I`m thinking she doesn`t give a rat`s you-know-what that these two are splitting up. Are you with me or do you think maybe somewhere she`s smirking just a little bit?
ZINK: All right, A.J. She`s a female. As classy as she is and as much as she`s been through, I think she still cares. Of course, she cares.
I mean, now, she`s saying, "Ha ha, buddy. It`s a lot more than just a good sex life that keeps a couple together. You had it all. I`m America`s sweetheart, and look what happened." You can`t just base relationships on what Jesse said in the press, with better sex. He`s a dog.
HAMMER: I still don`t think she cares. I don`t know. I just feel like she`s so far above this.
ZINK: A little bit.
HAMMER: Jesse James tells "People" magazine that they split up, because this was a long distance relationship. It was just too difficult keeping it up over the phone. Let me just move on.
Judging by the fact that he`s now suffered two miserably failed relationships in two years, look, Jim Moret, I`m personally thinking, maybe Jesse James isn`t exactly relationship material. Do you get the sense that he should stay single?
MORET: He`s not necessarily the marrying kind. We can certainly say that. Look, who knows why they split up? I don`t know anybody who`s really shocked though. You`re not shocked. I can tell by the way you`re reading the story. You`re not shocked.
HAMMER: Not one bit.
MORET: I`m not shocked either.
HAMMER: Let me quickly get to one other extraordinary story that`s making big news today. TMZ reporting Casey Anthony`s parents have laughed off a $250,000 offer to do an interview with ABC, NBC or CBS.
And TMZ reports the bidding war for that first interview as high as $1.5 million. Kelli, I don`t know what`s worse, the fact that the parents are trying to milk this for every cent or the fact that the networks are willing to fork over so much money for it.
ZINK: Or how about the fact that now they`re denying that they pay for interviews? I mean, as the media, we kind of need to be honest and say, "Yes, we do pay," or "Yes, we don`t."
You know, paparazzi footage - it`s sold. That`s how they make their living. So they need to come clean and say, "We`re going to pay, not that we`re going to pay for the licensing of the footage." Either way, it`s a big mess.
HAMMER: Yes. They`re all saying now, even if they did in the past, they`re not going to be paying anymore. We hear. We don`t. Jim Moret, Kelli Zink, thank you both.
Moving on tonight, HLN`s Dr. Drew takes us - are you ready - inside the mind of the Octomom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SULEMAN: I don`t want people to feel empathy.
PINSKY: I can see that.
SULEMAN: I don`t want - I feel guilty when people say they feel pity.
PINSKY: I don`t feel pity.
SULEMAN: I don`t want that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Dr. Drew goes to the octo-house where cameras have never been before, and it`s octu-mayhem. So the SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - do we need to cut the Octomom a break?
Plus, Mariah Carey`s first TV appearance since having twins. I`ve got to know what`s her excuse for this truly bizarre moment on Home Shopping Network.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAREY: And because I was pregnant and I was parading this stuff, I was like, uh-oh, I need a camouflage-ian moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You heard it right there. Maria needed a camouflage-ian moment. I wouldn`t try looking that one up. 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: Kelly Rowland says "Destiny`s Child" reunion is not in the works. Mark-Paul Gosselaar admits to smoking pot with his mom on "Lopez Tonight."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK PAUL GOSSELAAR, ACTOR: I think the last time that I was in Amsterdam with my parents was when I was 18 and I was with my mother. And we got high together. She`ll deny it. She (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And tonight, inside the octu-mayhem as cameras go where they`ve never been before, inside Octomom Nadya Suleman`s home.
HLN`s Dr. Drew goes into her home for what I really found to be a jaw dropping primetime special. It`s airing Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern right here on HLN.
And I know you`re going to have the same reaction I did when you see it. It`s chaos, I tell you. Dr. Drew gives us an exclusive look behind the scenes.
And this is just days after a tape is uncovered of Nadya Suleman released saying that she is disgusted by babies and that she locks herself in the bathroom to hide from her octuplets (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Well, when you see what Dr. Drew just discovered at the Octomom`s house, you might want to do the same thing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PINSKY (voice-over): This family with 14 kids - the writing is on the wall. There`s some shouting and even more running. Nadya Suleman never sits down.
SULEMAN: I`m still getting their lunch. I have no help. I was defensive and angry. I haven`t had any nanny for six months.
PINSKY: You heard it right, she`s the only one making lunch and changing diapers for eight toddlers. She says she likes it this way, even though she gets just two hours of sleep a night.
Believe it or not, the octuplets seem to be able to entertain themselves waiting patiently. For the lunch, Nadya frantically puts on 14 plates. Keep in mind that what you just witnessed is less than one hour of her day.
SULEMAN: I get away -
PINSKY (on camera): I want to calm you down -
SULEMAN: I don`t want people to feel empathy.
PINSKY: I see that.
SULEMAN: I feel guilty when people say they feel pity.
PINSKY: I don`t feel pity.
SULEMAN: I don`t want that.
PINSKY: I just want you to calm down. I feel like I need to -
SULEMAN: I`m a walking ball of anxiety, I know.
PINSKY: I would be, to, with two kids or three kids or four kids.
SULEMAN: Right.
PINSKY: With 14 kids, I would want to jump out the window.
SULEMAN: What`s the paradox?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I`m shaking just watching that. And that`s just a little startling glimpse into Octomom`s world. It`s so disturbing and so eye- opening. And when you see all the challenges she faces every single day taking care of her 14 kids - I don`t know. Do you kind of want to side with her?
Here`s our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - should we cut the Octomom some slack? With me in New York tonight, Sunny Hostin. She`s a legal contributor for "In Session" on Tru TV.
In Hollywood tonight, Beth Littleford. Beth is a fantastic comedian, and she`s starring alongside Steve Carell in a great new movie. It`s "Crazy Stupid Love." It opens on Friday.
I watched that and I`m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the Octomom is changing, feeding and bathing eight two-year-olds and taking care of six other kids by herself.
I cannot possibly imagine what it must be like. So Sunny, to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, do we need to cut Octomom some slack here?
HOSTIN: You know, I hate to sound this way, but no, I don`t think so. You know, A.J., I`m a mom.
HAMMER: Yes.
HOSTIN: I have a five-year-old little girl and an eight-year-old boy, and I chose to have my children. She chose to have 14 children and it was a bad decision. So the fact that she`s got to take care of all 14 of them by herself, that was her choice.
I don`t think we should cut her any slack. It was an irresponsible thing to do in the first place. Of course, her day looks like that. My day sort of looks like that sometimes.
HAMMER: Yes. All right.
HOSTIN: So, no. I`m not going to cut her any slack, but I sound like a horrible person.
HAMMER: Not necessarily. Let`s go and see what Beth thinks. You know, Beth, it is certainly easy to say no one told her to have 14 kids. That`s what most of us have always thought. But what do you think, Beth? Do we need to cut her a little slack maybe, just possibly?
BETH LITTLEFORD, COMEDIENNE: I`m of two minds. I mean, I watch her and she`s a vibrating ball of anxiety and defensiveness, and I feel bad for her. I feel more bad for her 14 children.
I mean, if she had 14 cats in the house, the Humane Society would come and take them away. Having said that, can we make something - can we salvage this? I mean, because she has 14 kids, let`s not rip her to shreds.
Let`s not leave her to sort of, you know, perish in her own filth and the filth of her 14 children. How can we help this poor woman for that horrible decision?
HAMMER: Yes. Yes.
LITTLEFORD: Yes, it was like jumping off a building and saying mid-fall, you know, "I should have thought this through a little bit." But you`re right. The issue is, what about the kids? What about the kids? And I think that`s where our focus should be.
HAMMER: Yes. What can be done? How can things be helped? Dr. Drew sits down with the Octomom for this primetime special. It`s going to air Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern here on HLN.
And even he, a trained professional, seems completely stumped by Nadya`s life. She`s single. She`s unemployed. She`s raising these 14 kids. And to the point of getting help, she`s gotten advice from the likes of Oprah and Suze Orman.
But her life is as chaotic as ever, Sunny. Do you think there`s anyone or anything that can bring calm to that kind of chaos?
HOSTIN: I don`t think so. I mean, perhaps with age, the kids are going to be able to take care of themselves a little bit more. She`s not going to be changing these diapers.
But have someone take them away from her or getting her help. I don`t think there`s anything that can be done because she cannot do this alone. She cannot. That`s what we saw. She can`t do it herself.
HAMMER: Let`s move on to a mom who probably does have a whole lot of help for far fewer kids. Mariah Carey - two babies there. And she`s not full- on Octomom wacky, of course.
But Mariah does have everybody talking about the appearance that she just made on the Home Shopping Network, HSN. Mariah was on.
She was promoting her perfume and her jewelry and her clothing lines in the very first TV appearance she`s done since she gave birth to her twins. I`ve got to say - and I love you Mariah. I won`t say anything. Just watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAREY: I don`t know where to look. There`s like 20 zillion cameras here. I`m looking at four. There`s five. It`s like, I didn`t know there was math involved.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don`t know if you remember me, but I called in February.
CAREY: You did? And you`re calling from Illinois. I was in February. Honey, it was bleak for me. They were always saying to me, "It`s all worth it." And I`m like, "That`s easy for you to say when you`re not the one whose feet are this big."
And it turned into a really difficult time. Honestly, I`m going to spray it right now, because I need a moment. And because I was pregnant when I was parading this stuff, I was like, uh-oh, I need a camouflage-ian moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Quickly, Beth, can we just chalk this up to baby brain? I mean, what`s going on here.
LITTLEFORD: Post-partum. She was given some medication and she`s overused it and made her sound drunk. Maybe she`s just drunk or maybe she`s just Mariah being Mariah.
HAMMER: Yes. I don`t want to say that she`s any of those things other than Mariah being Mariah, personally. And again, Mariah, you know I love you. Sunny Hostin, Beth Littleford, thank you so much.
And make sure you catch Beth in the movie, "Crazy Stupid Love." It is terrific. It opens everywhere this Friday.
Well, coming up next, the Pauly D./Britney Spears hookup. If you`re thinking it`s that kind of hookup, don`t worry. This one is a little more G-rated and we`re going to tell you all about it. 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: James Franco to return to "General Hospital" in September. Josh Duhamel returns to "All My Children."
HAMMER: It is time now for the SHOWBIZ buzz list, the things we cannot stop buzzing about this week.
The new season of A & E`s "Storage Wars." It`s back and it`s the network`s most watched show of all time.
Europe`s much buzzed about Spotify, which lets you listen to millions of songs online and on your phone, is now available in the U.S.
Well, this could be the book of the summer, Emma Donoghue`s "New York Times" bestseller, "Room."
You can watch HLN and CNN without your TV. Just pull up the new app on your smart phone or tablet.
And "Sarah`s Key," an emotional detective story, is getting a lot of buzz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) children do not have any (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) obsessing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, the Jackson family feud. Why the Jacksons are at war over a memorial concert for Michael.
More family drama - "Gossip Girl" star, Leighton Meester, slaps her own mother with a lawsuit. And the Pauly D/Britney Spears hookup. All that is making news in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Jackson family feud. Jackson family members are at war over a just announced tribute to Michael Jackson.
Michael`s mom Katherine and four of his siblings say they`re planning a concert in Wales in October. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can reveal brothers Randy and Jermaine are not happy about it.
The concert would be at the same time as the criminal trial of Dr. Conrad Murray. And the brothers tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it`s inappropriate, "While we wholeheartedly support the spirit of the tribute that honors our brother, we find it impossible to support an event that is due to take place during the criminal trial surrounding Michael`s death."
Meester mommy war. "Gossip Girl" star, Leighton Meester, is reportedly suing her own mother. "People" magazine reports that Leighton is accusing her mom, Constance, of misusing money Leighton sent to pay medical bills for her brother.
Leighton claims that, instead, her mom spent the cash on cosmetic procedures and personal expenses. Her mom has now filed a countersuit.
Britney Spears is hooking up with Pauly D, but it`s not what you think. "Us Magazine" reports that the "Jersey Shore" star will join Britney`s "Femme Fatale" tour opening for the singer on six stops.
Pauly D. tells "Us Magazine," "Britney is one of my favorite performers and certainly one of this generation`s most influential artists. It`s an amazing platform to connect with my fans around the country."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
On Monday, we asked you to vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. Moments ago, I got the final results. The question - "Amy Winehouse Tragedy: Could she have been saved?"
Only 33 percent of you say yes; 67 percent no. This E-mail from someone who really sums up your thoughts. Marynelle from Maryland writing, "I`m saddened for Amy`s death, and no one could have helped her because she didn`t want help."
Well, "Sex and the City" fans, rejoice. Brand-new reports say a "Sex and the City" prequel is in the works. But is the original cast going to make the cut? Or will Sarah Jessica Parker and the rest of the ladies be pushed aside?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Move over, Sarah Jessica Parker and the rest of the "Sex and the City" gang. "The Daily Mail" reporting tonight a new movie is on the way with a brand-new cast of Hollywood`s hottest talents - Elizabeth Olsen, Emma Roberts, Selena Gomez, Blake Lively - all rumored to play the girls when they were teenagers, before they became a force for the men in Manhattan to reckon with.
Great news to share tonight, even if you`re in front of your TV, you can still watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT or anything else on HLN or CNN anytime, anywhere on your smart phone or tablet.
Look at this. Just pull up this CNN app. And as long as you get HLN and CNN on your cable system and it`s participating in the special, type in your user name and password and then you are in.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Remember, you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively Monday through Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on HLN.
Right now, Dr. Drew talked with three of the women forced to live under the rule of polygamous cult leader, Warren Jeffs. Thanks for watching.
END
