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Showbiz Tonight
"Real Housewives" Suicide Shocker; Millionaire Matchmaker on Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson`s Relationships; Adam Levine Slams "American Idol"; "Kate Plus 8" Canceled
Aired August 16, 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: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - a "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" suicide shocker. Russell Armstrong, the husband of "Real Housewives" star, Taylor Armstrong, found dead.
Tonight, the big mystery - why did he kill himself? Did it have anything to do with the startling claims he beat his wife? Tonight, Russell`s attorney right here in a headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
The millionaire matchmaker breaks news to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Does Patti Stanger think Jennifer Aniston is headed for heartache again?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATTI STANGER, "THE MILLIONAIRE MATCHMAKER": I like him. I just don`t like the way it went down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What about Jessica Simpson and her fiance?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STANGER: He doesn`t have a job. That`s the worst thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: "American Idol" - homophobic? Tonight, shocking claims by a star of one of "Idol" biggest competitors. Why "The Voice" judge, Adam Levine, is accusing "Idol" of being too skittish about gays on stage. Is Adam out of line or on the money?
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 real tragedy of Beverly Hills.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you breaking new information about the shocking suicide of the husband of one of the stars of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." We learned today that Russell Armstrong, who was accused of abusing his wife, Taylor, killed himself.
And late today, I spoke with Russell`s attorney who is making startling claims about how the show may have had a terrible impact on Russell as he dealt with his wife filing for divorce. All that SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview in just a moment. But first, the story behind the suicide that has rocked reality TV.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Russell and Taylor Armstrong`s troubled marriage often provided some uncomfortable moments on the hit reality show, "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Taylor, you seem resigned to a loveless marriage.
HAMMER: But today, uncomfortable became downright horrifying when SHOWBIZ TONIGHT confirmed Russell Armstrong was found dead last night from an apparent suicide.
DYLAN HOWARD, SENIOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "RADAR ONLINE": Paramedics discovered Russell`s body. He was fully-clothed. It was also apparent that he`d hanged himself
HAMMER: Russell Armstrong`s death comes a month to the day after his wife Taylor Armstrong filed for divorce and made the shocking claim that Russell had been abusing her. "Radar Online`s" Dylan Howard tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Taylor is incredibly upset over her estranged husband`s death.
HOWARD: She`s said to be distraught. She was up all night last night, coming to the terms of the harsh realization of this tragedy.
TAYLOR ARMSTRONG, REALITY TV STAR, "THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS": It`s obvious that Russell and I have been having a tough time of late.
HAMMER: The tension between Russell and Taylor was apparent to the viewers of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There seems to be little romance and he treats you poorly.
HAMMER: And to Taylor`s fellow housewives.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel with Russell I haven`t connected with him at all.
HAMMER: But it was only after Taylor filed for divorce that she claimed their marriage was much more troubled than what we saw on the show.
T. ARMSTRONG: We`re so disconnected.
HAMMER: Taylor told "People" magazine their five-year marriage included verbal abuse and physical abuse, saying, "I was walking on eggshells." She added, quote, "I`m mad at myself for tolerating things I shouldn`t have tolerated from the first moment."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you hanging in there?
T. ARMSTRONG: I am. Thank you so much. I`m just really focused on Kennedy right now.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT spoke with Taylor and her fellow housewives just two weeks after she filed for divorce. Taylor told us her marital troubles would be a part of the show`s upcoming second season.
T. ARMSTRONG: Thankfully, I have five strong women that are standing next to me now, and they`ve got my back.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Russell Taylor`s last days were filled with stress.
HOWARD: Russell spoke to someone that I know only in the last seven days and said, quote, "It`s funny how a reality show can ruin your life."
HAMMER: After his wife filed for divorce, Russell denied abusing her and he blamed their split on reality show fame. He told "People," "Did I push her? Yes, maybe things happened in the heat of the moment, but it was during a time in our lives that was not characteristic of who we were."
He added ominously, quote, "This show has literally pushed us to the limit." But it appears Taylor wasn`t the only woman in Russell`s life to have accused him of abuse.
HOWARD: There was an ex-wife and also a past girlfriend which accused him of being violent.
HAMMER: Making matter worse, the formerly high-flying businessman, who we saw living the sun-drenched glamorous life on "Real Housewives," was apparently suffering from crushing financial problems.
HOWARD: There`d certainly been a vortex of emotion for both Taylor and Russell. And one could only imagine that all of those provided a cocktail for depression and for disaster for Russell.
HAMMER: A rep from Bravo, the network that airs "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "All of us at Bravo are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Our sympathy and thoughts are with the Armstrong family at this difficult time."
T. ARMSTRONG: I feel like I have this life that I want to celebrate. I just wish he would celebrate with me.
HAMMER: We may never know exactly what led him to it, but today, his death is already being seen as a tragic cautionary tale about the dangers of reality show fame.
HOWARD: It`s very early on to ascertain whether or not the reality program was the ultimate factor. That said, it`s clear that the reality program exacerbated the issues for Russell and Taylor.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, some of Taylor`s fellow housewives reacted to today`s tragic news on Twitter. Camille Grammer tweeted, quote, "My sympathy and condolences go out to Taylor and Kennedy. My thoughts and prayers are with them."
Adrienne Maloof tweeted, quote, "My heart goes out to Taylor Armstrong and Kennedy during this devastating time. You will be in my thoughts and in my prayers."
HAMMER: "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" was certainly a part of a very real drama that played out last season between Russell Armstrong and his wife. But how much of a role could that have actually played in Russell`s distress before he committed suicide?
Late this afternoon, I spoke with his attorney, Ronald Richards as SHOWBIZ breaks more news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RONALD RICHARDS, RUSSELL ARMSTRONG`S ATTORNEY: I`m 100 percent convinced, and based on facts, that this show led to his depression on a couple different grounds.
One is that the show characterized him as someone that abused his spouse. It highlighted ancient financial negatives in his past and put him in a spotlight that he wasn`t coped to deal with.
HAMMER (on camera): And we saw on the first season of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" the ups and downs in their marriage playing out right there on the show. I hear you saying you think the show absolutely played a part in his depression.
Do you know if Russell thought that the show played a part in their splitting up as a couple?
RICHARDS: Well, the show did split them up as a couple because a celebrity has certain needs. And when that sort of stardom attacks a marriage sort of overnight like in the case of a reality TV star, it`s not like an actor that progressively moves up the ladder, and the couple deals with this in stages.
A reality show takes an average person that has no stardom and throws them into a public spotlight literally within a couple episodes and a lot of couples are not prepared for that and this is a very unfortunate consequence.
HAMMER: Do you think that the show or the network that airs the show, Bravo, needs to be held accountable in some way here?
RICHARDS: A network can`t be held accountable for people`s voluntary opening of their doors to their private lives. The adults that allowed this to happen to them are responsible.
However, adults need to go into these things with their eyes wide open, that if you`re going to have a network cover your private life, you become a public figure. People can comment about you.
And there`s a high degree that your marriage will end up in shambles as a result of this newfound scrutiny by the public and by the TV network that is covering your private lives.
HAMMER: Yes. We certainly have seen it play out like that many times before. Moving forward, and I realize all this is very fresh. The news is still very shocking. But part of the upcoming second season of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" reportedly shot Russell and Taylor trying to make things work, going to counseling.
Some decisions are going to have to be made here. Do you think that that all should still be shown?
RICHARDS: I don`t think anybody should sort of tinker with the content of the network. I would hope that they would not publish some statements that other housewives said about what Taylor told them about Russell`s alleged physical abuse because he strongly disputed that and was upset about that.
They were going to counseling. This was all true. But that ended and the marriage was going to end.
HAMMER: Is there anything you feel important that the public knows about Russell that may be getting lost in either the show`s portrayal of him or in the coverage of his death at this time?
RICHARDS: Yes. I think the public should know that Russell Armstrong was a good dad and a nice man and cared about his family. This show just became a runaway train.
But unfortunately, Russell was still Russell and still was the nice person that he was. And I think he just felt very disappointed that somehow he was not along for the same ride that now his wife is enjoying from her newfound success. And I think that caused him to become secretly more depressed than any of us knew.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Just a sad and tragic story. The new season of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" is set to premiere on September 5th. At this point, it`s still unclear whether the show is going to be edited to, in any way, reflect what has happened.
All right. As we move on tonight, the millionaire matchmaker is breaking news to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. What does Patti Stanger think about Jessica Simpson and her fiance? How about Jennifer Aniston?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STANGER: I don`t know if she did it like Angelina and stole him from the movie set. You know, sometimes when a guy sees a woman, he knows, and that`s what happens. And they will leave a mate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Does Patti think that Jennifer is heading for heartache again with Justin Theroux?
"American Idol" - homophobic? Tonight, why "The Voice" judge, Adam Levine, is accusing "Idol" about being too skittish about gays on stage.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The level of curiosity, I think, that`s just inherent in people that you think that something and you just would never say it out loud. The Kardashians don`t seem to have that filter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: We`re just days away from Kim Kardashian`s wedding. So next, we`re asking, does this family have any limits on what they`ll put on TV? 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: George and Cindy Anthony to appear on season premiere of "Dr. Phil." Report: Instead of another movie, "Sex and the City" may return to TV!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, a dramatic Michael Jackson kiss off. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned that the promoters of the big Michael Jackson tribute show have dis-invited the rock band, Kiss.
Jackson fans were outraged after Kiss was invited to perform at the show because Kiss lead singer, Gene Simmons, accused Michael of being a pedophile.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And now, caution - Kardashians ahead. Yes. We are just a few days away from the big Kim Kardashian wedding. And of course, we will all get to see the TV special soon enough.
It will probably actually be pretty tame compared to some of what we`ve seen on "Keeping up with the Kardashians," you know, butts, bladder problems, plenty of blowups.
But tonight, I have to ask, aren`t there any limits to what this family will do? Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From reality shows to red carpets to endorsement deals and social media, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that, these days, it`s almost impossible not to keep up with the Kardashians.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, jiggly butts.
WYNTER: And the racy personal details they seem ever so happy to reveal in the media and on television.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My mom has a bladder of like a pregnant person.
WYNTER: Take the family hit reality show, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" where it seems there`s no such thing as TMI from Mama Kris` well-documented bladder problem to Kim`s unflattering skin condition.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, Kimberly, I think you have ringworm.
WYNTER: And of course, the famous x-ray to prove her most famous asset is the real deal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s a shocker.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kim -
MAGGIE FURLONG, AOL TELEVISION: They think it. They say it. And then, they just do it.
WYNTER: AOL Television`s Maggie Furlong tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it`s the "nothing`s off limits" policy that`s helping build the Kardashian empire.
FURLONG: There`s a level of curiosity, I think, that`s just inherent in people that you think of something and you just would never say it out loud. The Kardashians don`t seem to have that filter.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m starving.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I bet your booty is, too.
FURLONG: There`s something about it that`s very endearing, that sucks people in and keeps them coming back for more. And the Kardashians know it. They`re just playing the game.
WYNTER: And the game has worked for the Kardashian sisters, but also for mom and dad, Bruce and Kris Jenner.
KRIS JENNER, REALITY TV STAR, "KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS": She`s not sexually active, Bruce.
BRUCE JENNER, REALITY TV STAR, "KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS": How am I supposed to know she`s not sexually active?
WYNTER: They`re both very active on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" with Kris serving as executive producer.
(on camera): Is there anything that`s off limits when it comes to the Kardashians?
K. JENNER: I don`t know. I think -
B. JENNER: I want to come to the fashion. I`m Kardashian.
K. JENNER: I know. I know. We`re having a good time.
WYNTER (voice-over): Actually, it`s more than just fashion that`s fair game for the cameras. Sometimes, it`s intimate family talks like when Bruce and Khloe had the birds and bees chat with his teenage daughters, Kendall and Kylie.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you guys know what condoms are?
WYNTER: Or last year`s Kardashian Twitter shocker when Khloe tweeted that older sis, Kourtney, tasted her own breast milk. Sounds more like the stunt we`d see on "Jackass."
But as "Us Weekly`s" Dina Sansing tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, it`s this outrageous behavior that makes this reality family so unique.
DINA SANSING, "US WEEKLY": Some of these celebrities we see these days are so controlled. But that`s not the case with the Kardashians. They just let it all hang out there. They did more of the things that people love, which really pretty much played into their success.
WYNTER: And that success has parlayed into yet another Kardashian TV extravaganza, a two-part behind-the-scenes special documenting Kim`s wedding to NBA star, Kris Humphries, set to air in October. Sansing says this has become one of the most-hyped celebrity weddings in a long time.
(on camera) Will there be more details coming out as we get closer to the big day?
SANSING: You`re going to see a lot of details come out. With the Kardashians, they`re really not hiding anything. They like to put it out there. People want to see every detail every step of the way.
WYNTER (voice-over): But as Maggie Furlong explains, we shouldn`t be surprised.
FURLONG: When you`re a family that shared everything, why not share your entire wedding? I definitely think they`re pushing to make it royal wedding level, which is so bizarre. But I honestly think they consider themselves the royal family of reality TV.
WYNTER: And as long as the Kardashians stick to their "nothing is off limits" policy, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you they`ll sit atop the TV reality throne long after Kim ties the knot.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, that was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. And I`ve got to tell you that all this week, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has Kim Kardashian`s wedding covered like no other entertainment news show.
On Wednesday, we are rolling like a Kardashian. That`s right. We are hanging with the car service that is shuttling VIPs on Kim`s big day. Thursday, the hottest trends that could very well come out of Kim`s big wedding.
On Friday, it`s dress day. Yes. We`ve got the secrets of Kim`s Vera Wang wedding dress. We`ll also be all over the actual wedding, which is all going down this Saturday.
Well, as we move on tonight, Simon wants Pippa? Tonight, why Simon Cowell says he`d love to sign Pippa Middleton to a music contract, even if she can`t sing.
HAMMER: The millionaire matchmaker breaks news to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. So does Patti Stanger think Jennifer Aniston could be headed for heartache again? What about Jessica Simpson and her fiance?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STANGER: He doesn`t have a job. That`s the worst thing. And he went to Ivy League. So it`s like, what`s the deal here? Seriously, get a job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oh, that doesn`t sound good. 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: Prince Harry splits from lingerie model girlfriend. SHOWBIZ first look: Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in biopic.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ trending tonight, the shocking results of two surveys. Now, one says nice guys and girls do finish last when it comes to money. And the other, one in three Americans would rather give up sex than their smart phone.
You can join our Twitter debate right now. Tweet @ShowbizTonight with #NiceGuysFinishLast and #SexOrSmartPhones. Love to hear what you think.
But let me bring in Lisa G. She`s an on-air reporter for Howard Stern`s "Howard 100 News" on Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
Here`s the smart phone survey. Now, Americans were asked what would they rather give up, smart phones or other stuff? The results, half said they`ve give up caffeine, coffee or exercise instead of their smart phones. And get this, a third said, "Hello, iPhone. Sayonara, sex." Lisa G., what gives?
LISA GLASBERG, ON-AIR REPORTER, "HOWARD 100 NEWS": Yes. Well, let`s see. With a smart phone, you don`t have to brush your teeth first. You don`t have to talk to anybody. It vibrates. You get an immediate response. I can see why they said that.
HAMMER: All right. Makes perfect sense to you. I won`t ask what your personal take is on that. And by the way, 22 percent would rather give up their toothbrushes, speaking of brushing your teeth, instead of their smart phones.
I bet those 22 percent not really getting much of the sex, anyway. Also, SHOWBIZ trending tonight, nice guys and girls do finish last when it comes to making money.
Brand-new survey about to published in "The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology," and it shows that mean people earn more. Men and women who rate themselves as being highly agreeable tend to pull in less cash than those who are less cooperative.
Lisa, do you think this applies in the real world only? Because, look, Oprah, Lady Gaga, your boss, Howard Stern - all of them nice people, make a ton of money.
GLASBERG: Well, I think you don`t want to be a doormat. I think you can be nice and you can be a little bit aggressive. If you have self-worth and you speak the right way to your boss, you will get the raise.
I think that`s more about being a doormat. Yes, you don`t want to be too nice. You have to do a good job. You have to do it very well and you have to prove that to your boss when you go in and you ask for raise. You can`t be too timid.
HAMMER: But you don`t have to be a jerk.
GLASBERG: No.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: I don`t understand. Everybody says - yes, if you`re a jerk, you`ll go further in life. That doesn`t make sense to me.
GLASBERG: No. There are more male bosses, though, so they speak the speak to one another.
HAMMER: Well, Lisa G., I thank you very much. And by the way, you are super-nice and I`ll bet you do just fine, so that survey can`t possibly be right.
Moving on now to the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
"American Idol," homophobic? Tonight, some shocking claims by one of "Idol`s" biggest competitors. Why "The Voice," Adam Levine judge is actually accusing "Idol" of being too skittish about gays on stage. Here`s the question - is Adam out of line or dead-on?
Kate Gosselin, canceled. Tonight, "Kate Plus 8" done. What should she do next? And will Kate`s kids ever recover from being on all those shows? 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: Joe Jonas and Jay Sean to tour together this fall. John Mellencamp`s divorce from wife of 18 years has been finalized.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - "Millionaire Matchmaker" mayhem. Patti Stanger breaks news on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Does she think both Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Aniston are headed for heartbreak? Plus, what does Patti really think about Jen who started dating Justin Theroux?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STANGER: I don`t know if she did it like Angelina and stole him from the movie set. You know, sometimes when a guy sees a woman, he knows, and that`s what happened. They will leave a mate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Is Jen`s relationship doomed? The millionaire matchmaker`s two cents on Hollywood`s hottest hookups.
The "American Idol"-"Voice" smack-down. "Voice" judge, Adam Levine, accuses "Idol" of being homophobic. Tonight, is Adam out of line, or on the money?
And "Kate Plus 8" cancelled. Kate`s now divorced and jobless. What will she do next?
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. We`ve got big news breaking tonight - the millionaire matchmaker on fire.
Yes, the matchmaker to the rich is now tackling the famous right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Patti Stanger breaks news to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, why did she tell us Jessica Simpson`s relationship is doomed? And why does she this Justin Theroux is the one for Jennifer Aniston?
With me tonight for his take on the matchmaker on fire, love expert Darren McMullen, who is the host of NBC`s "Love in the Wild." Good to see you, Darren.
DARREN MCMULLEN, HOST, "LOVE IN THE WILD": Hello.
HAMMER: So Jennifer Aniston -
MCMULLEN: You, too. I missed you.
HAMMER: Thank you and we missed you as well. Listen to this - Jen Aniston reportedly just back from a two-week vacation with her boyfriend. There are reports they are planning on living together.
But the millionaire matchmaker isn`t thrilled Justin left his girlfriend of 14 years for Aniston. Watch what she just told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STANGER: I like him for her. I just doesn`t like the way it went down. Now, do I know what went down behind closed doors? No. But this girl was left at the gate for 16 years. I said to her, "Call me because I`ll fix you up when you`ve gotten over grieving."
And I just think that even though - I don`t know if she did it like Angelina and stole him from the movie set. You know, sometimes when a guy sees a woman, he knows. And that`s what happens and they will leave a mate as you saw with Tori and Dean. You know, they left their mates.
And so soul mates do happen when you`re with somebody else. I just felt bad for the girl. But I do think he`s good for her because he`s kind of like the guy that`s on the A-team but not really an A-lister, meaning he produces really great movies, you know, and he make great movies and he`s in and writes and he`s this.
And he can let her shine because he doesn`t need the spotlight 24/7. You know, the Marc Anthonys of the world need the spotlight all the time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: She calls it like she sees it. Darren, does Patti have a point to you? Should we be worried about how these two got together?
MCMULLEN: Well, you know how much I like Jennifer Aniston. You know, I think she does have a point, but what she`s missing is he is in the industry and he is technically an A-lister.
And people in the entertainment industry are egotistical and narcissistic. I know because I`m one of them. It`s all about grabbing the spotlight whenever you can. And the reason behind that - this is an industry you have to be crazy to get into.
You know, only five percent of this industry is ever working at any one time. Only 2.5 of that five percent working are actually the ones making some serious dollars and making the movies that are hosting or doing whatever.
So it takes so long to get to that point in your career and you`ve worked so hard to get there and clamored over so many people that it takes a lot of compromise to work in a relationship.
And if you`ve got two people at the top of their game and they`re both on different paths and wanting to go in different directions, one of them, at some point, is going to compromise to come down and live a normal life with the other.
And what often happens is one person is not prepared to do that after the hard work they`ve put in to get to that point.
HAMMER: It`s going to be interesting to see what happens. I do wish them all the best. I do want to bring in Lisa G. right now, on-air reporter for "The Howard Stern Show" on Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
So Jen and Justin have been going strong for about three months together. And now, Lisa, there`s talk that they`re planning to cohabitate. Do you think it`s too soon?
GLASBERG: I think it`s a little quick. But you know, you get to a certain age, A.J.
HAMMER: Yes.
GLASBERG: And you know when it`s right. You don`t know when Cupid`s arrow is going to strike you, and that`s what happened. He was with this other woman for 16 years. They didn`t get married. They`re telling you something. It just clicked. It`s right. Go for it.
HAMMER: And obviously, he knew what he was getting with all the scrutiny Jen has always faced over her love life. Everybody wants to know every detail. So look, again, I wish them all the best. Maybe it will work out.
But I`ve got to tell you the millionaire matchmaker was not as hard on Jennifer Aniston, not nearly as hard as she was on Jessica Simpson. She`s breaking news to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that she thinks Jessica`s relationship with her fiance, former NFL star, Eric Johnson. It`s got the writing on the wall. Listen to what she tells us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STANGER: He doesn`t have a job. That`s the worst thing. And he went to Ivy League. And so it`s like, what`s the deal here? Seriously, get a job.
I`m sure Joe`s not thrilled with that because Joe built an empire for his kids. And I do think there`s going to be trouble in paradise at some point. A woman eventually dries up when she`s doing everything.
She`s the mother. She`s the wife, and then she becomes, you know, the father, too, the whole prosperity consciousness thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. I don`t think Jessica signed up to be the father here. She and Eric have now been together for over a year, and all I`ve heard is how much they`re in love.
But Darren, to Patti`s point, is love enough? Should Jessica be worried she`s going to be the one bringing home the bacon in this relationship and not him?
MCMULLEN: No. I mean, I think it`s a bit rough to say that it`s doomed because of that reason. Let`s be honest. Fifty-three percent of marriages are doomed before they even start. That`s the statistics. They`re out there.
Whether you meet somebody on television or in a local bar or cafe, you know, we just don`t know what works. And maybe that`s just the way life is now. You know, we`re not meant to be in monogamous relationships for our whole life.
I don`t think there`s anything wrong with riding the wave while it`s good. You know, if they`re madly in love, go with that. And you know, if they bring up beautiful kids together, fantastic.
But if it comes to one point in their life where they`re not having fun with each other anymore, then move on and split up and go with different people and leave that beautiful memory in the past. There`s nothing wrong with, you know, riding the wave. So I would say, go for it, you know.
HAMMER: Well, we certainly have seen plenty of relationships in Hollywood and, obviously, in real life breaking up over the fact that women make more money - that the woman makes more money than the man. What do you think, Lisa G.?
GLASBERG: Oh, boy.
HAMMER: Jessica`s fame and fortune going to get in the way in this particular situation?
GLASBERG: After a while, A.J., you don`t want some guy sticking to you like Velcro. Have Joe put him to work in the family business. He`s got do something.
Look, if he`s a stay at home dad once they have kids, that`s fine. That happens in many relationships. But right now, I mean, go out and do something.
HAMMER: Do you think it`s going to be a problem for him? You know what I`m saying? That`s where it`s often an issue in real-life relationships, is after a while, the man - you know, it`s not as much that she feels like, "I`m supporting you." It`s like, "I should be the one." You know, it`s the machismo thing, which is all nonsense, if you ask me.
GLASBERG: The alpha male. If that were a problem right now, I think he would be working somewhere, doing something. You don`t want to sit home and play Scrabble all day, do you?
HAMMER: Maybe some people do. All right. Let`s move on now -
MCMULLEN: I know Scrabble -
HAMMER: Let`s move on now to a marriage that no one saw coming until the moment it happened. I`m talking about Tara Reid. Now, Tara just married her boyfriend, Zach, two hours after they got engaged.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just obtained a first look at the wedding photos. I can`t believe they were able to get a photographer there in time. This comes from "Life and Style Weekly" today. So does the millionaire matchmaker think this could possibly work? Here`s what she told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STANGER: Tara Reid, the other day - what, she got engaged on Friday and got married on Saturday? Whatever. How long does she really know this guy? Everybody time you turn the paper, she`s dating someone else.
So when you make these decisions, I think you need to spend at least a year with someone, getting to know them. And that does not mean moving in, you know, like when Justin moved to L.A. for Jennifer.
He can get a place. He can afford it. Does he need to move in with her? Because they`re rushing. I think he`s rushing. Where`s the fire?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Where is the fire? So many people are asking the same question today. Darren, let me get your take on Tara Reid`s two-hour turnaround. Love at first sight or just a bad move here. Come on. What do you think?
MCMULLEN: I think it`s an incredibly bad move. I was engaged once, A.J. I made the mistake of getting caught up in that hysteria and thinking I was madly in love. I was madly in love with girl, and this was like nothing I`d ever experienced before.
I proposed within eight months. We did live together for eight months though. And we realized, after two years, it`s like, hey, we love each other so much, but there`s more to a relationship than that. There`s timing and we both have to have the same goals for each other.
So we both compromised to the point where we weren`t even the same people anymore, which is very dangerous. So I think Patti is undershooting it a bit. I really don`t think you know somebody well until three years.
You know, I`ve dated girls for three and a half, four years before and we`ve split up, you know. So I mean -
HAMMER: The ugly came out, Darren. But let me get Lisa`s take on this.
(CROSS TALK)
GLASBERG: Three years? Three years? Every girl is going, "Oh!"
HAMMER: Very quickly, can this work? I`m a romantic. I want to believe it can.
GLASBERG: Yes.
HAMMER: But two hours?
GLASBERG: No. I mean, you have to look at her track record, A.J. It`s not so good. What is the rush? I agree with Patti.
HAMMER: All right. Lisa G., I appreciate your opinion. I appreciate Patti`s opinion. And Darren McMullen, good to see you as always, my friend.
MCMULLEN: You, too. Thank you.
HAMMER: Thank you. And as we move on tonight, here`s the question - is "American Idol" homophobic? There`s a shocking claim coming from "Voice`s" Adam Levine. You have to stick around to hear why he says "Idol" wants its gay contestants to hide their true selves.
And does former "Idol" judge, Simon Cowell, really want to sign Pippa Middleton? Yes, sure, she`s famous, but can Duchess Catherine`s sister even sing? That is next. 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: Sugarland planning private memorial for fans killed in Indiana stage collapse. Lady Gaga debuts new music video for "You and I."
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Did you see this? Taylor Swift`s Marilyn Monroe moment. So a wind machine kicks up her dress at a concert. Taylor handles the potentially embarrassing moment with total grace.
Look at her. She just keeps on singing and brushes down her skirt. What a class act. Total professional, that Taylor Swift.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with more big news breaking tonight - too gay for "Idol"?
Maroon 5`s Adam Levine, who was a judge in "American Idol`s" competitor, "The Voice," is slamming "American Idol" for not embracing openly gay contestants.
In a blunt and controversial interview revealed today, Adam Levine basically is calling the most successful reality show on TV homophobic. So is there any truth to that, or is Adam dead wrong?
I want to bring in TV and radio host, Michael Billy, and "Life and Style Weekly" editor-at-large, Dawn Yanek. They`re with me in New York tonight.
So claims of homophobia go back to when "American Idol" runner-up, Adam Lambert, said that he wanted to come out while he was on the show. But Fox put the kibosh on that. Let me take a look at what Adam Levine just told "Out Magazine."
He said, "What`s always pissed me off about `Idol` is wanting to mask the sexuality of contestants for that to go unspoken. Come on. You can`t be publicly gay at this point on a singing competition? Give me a break. You can`t hide basic components of these people`s lives."
That leads us to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint tonight, Adam Levine`s "Idol" homophobic claim, dead-on or dead wrong? Michael Billy, what do you think?
MICHAEL BILLY, TV AND RADIO HOST: Dead on. There is nothing scandalous or wrong about being gay. My goodness. I remember watching "The Voice" and watching Beverly McClellan`s story. And I thought, why doesn`t "Idol" do this? Let`s be honest. Live it out loud.
HAMMER: Do you think they intentionally ignore it -
BILLY: Absolutely, they do.
HAMMER: When they have contestants that are gay?
BILLY: Yes. And I think it`s a shame.
HAMMER: And we all know that they`ve had plenty throughout the years.
BILLY: Yes, going all the way back. Of course. Anywhere you turn. Just be honest about it. It`s a matter of fact. It`s a fact of life.
HAMMER: Fact of life. Well, Adam wasn`t the first on "The Voice" to tout the show`s inclusiveness and slam "American Idol." In fact, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT spoke with "The Voice" contestant, Nakia. Nakia`s openly gay, and you`ve got to watch what he told us back when the show debuted.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAKIA, "THE VOICE" CONTESTANT: And we`re also representing just a fact that we`re human and we don`t necessarily look the part of a regular pop star, you know. And we`re just boys and girls who like to sing and who happen to also like boys and girls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And I think that`s one of the things that make "The Voice" a terrific show. It`s about what matters. So Dawn, what about our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint and Adam Levine`s "Idol" homophobic claim? Dead-on or dead wrong?
DAWN YANEK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "LIFE AND STYLE WEEKLY": I think he`s dead- on. I think definitely he has a point. I mean, when you are ignoring somebody`s sexuality, you`re ignoring a big part of their lives.
We see "Idol" all the time, focusing on these heterosexual romances, but they don`t even mention when a contestant is gay. Now, granted "American Idol" is a huge success and they have really paved the way for other shows like "The Voice" to kind of take this next logical step. So it`s either "Idol" is going to get with the times or they`re going to become obsolete.
HAMMER: Yes. But you really hope, in the big picture, that it`s not because they think their audience will diminish if, in fact, they do start following storylines of gay contestants.
YANEK: Absolutely.
HAMMER: And there`s a piece of me that thinks maybe that`s what they`re thinking, and that would be sad.
YANEK: Yes.
HAMMER: Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did reach out to Fox today and "American Idol" to respond to Adam Levine. And we got a "no comment" from both.
But right now - oh, goody, here`s something I haven`t had the opportunity to say in a while. I`ve got to move on to breaking Kate Gosselin news. Kate`s been canned. That`s right. TLC just cancelled "Kate Plus 8" after just one season spin-off from, of course, the very wildly popular "Jon & Kate Plus 8."
It was a total bomb. Michael Billy, I`m thinking that, at this point, Kate Gosselin is done, not only as a reality star. I don`t think she has a TV career ahead of her.
BILLY: None, and you want to know why? She`s not interesting. She`s not entertaining. The whole idea behind her reality show was the concept of the children and the family and the back and forth between the husband - she`s not an interesting person. She should be off the air. I`m glad they canned her.
HAMMER: And I`ve got to tell you, I spoke with Kate no that long ago right here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. She was absolutely miserable when she was here. I mean, really, it`s like she was promoting the show and she barely wanted to speak.
But here`s the thing. When I spoke with her, no matter how hard she got slammed by her critics, she`s always stuck to her guns about why she kept her kids on TV. And here`s what she told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR: Again, it comes back to the opportunities and the quality of life that my kids get to enjoy with a family of eight kids. I mean, we`ve traveled the world and seen and done so many things. And I wouldn`t change it and neither would they.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So Dawn, what do you think Kate should do next? I mean, she`s had some degree of success as an author and doing some other things. But she really wants to be a TV star. She says this is the greatest gig in the world.
YANEK: Oh, yes. And this is definitely not the last we`re going to be seeing of her on TV. I`m sorry, guys. She`s going to be scratching and clawing her way back into the spotlight.
HAMMER: But do you think she`ll make it? Or are you with Michael that maybe not as much as she wants to?
YANEK: I think maybe not as much as she wants to, but she`s going to have to change it up, whether that be some sort of a dating show or some other aspect of her life she`s going to put out there.
I think, eventually, it may come back to that. But yes, in the meantime, I think she`s going to brand in other ways, maybe more as an author, maybe more as some sort of a parenting expert, though I don`t know if anybody would buy it at this point, especially since she seems to be spending more time on her platinum highlights than on her kids.
HAMMER: Yes. And that`s what a lot of people were saying. I was looking online today.
The chatter that is out there, the venomous chatter of so many people chiming in and saying that they`re absolutely thrilled that the show is canned because, to your point, they found her uninteresting and, to your point, she`s spending too much money on herself and not enough on her kids. I think people seem to be happy to see the show go.
BILLY: She`s a real housewife with eight kids now.
HAMMER: Yes. There it is.
YANEK: Yes.
HAMMER: All right. Michael Billy, Dawn Yanek, I thank you both. Well, as we move on tonight, is Simon Cowell crushing on Pippa Middleton?
Well, Cowell does think that the Duchess of Cambridge`s sister has the X factor. He hasn`t even heard her sing, but he says he would sign her on the spot. So why is Simon so hot on Pippa?
It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Bridesmaids` dresses for Kim Kardashian`s wedding will be green. Courteney Cox will direct upcoming episode of "Cougar Town."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COURTENEY COX, ACTRESS: I`m going to do something I have not done in years. I told my husband that I hated it, but I don`t hate it. I love it.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: So what are you going to -
COX: Just watch.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Mom?
COX: Oh there`s my boy!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It is time now for the SHOWBIZ buzz list. Here`s what the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff cannot stop buzzing about this week.
"Country Crooner" - we are loving Jeff Bridges` brand-new country music album.
Fall fashion. Can`t get enough of the big new September issues of the fashion magazines.
Hungry for the "Hunger Games." We are buzzing about the new "Hunger Games" book, and also the upcoming movie that stars the great Jennifer Lawrence. Ratings strike - Cinemax`s new action series, "Strike Back," is too good to miss and they`ve got the ratings to prove it.
What not to miss. The new season of "What Not to Wear" premieres tonight on TLC. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Glorious!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So chic and professional.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So chic.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Be more presentable. I think that I`ll have more opportunity at work. I`ll feel good going to the office.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news tonight about White House party crashers, Michaele and Tareq Salahi. Will they get a TV gig? And Paris Hilton`s stalker about to pay the piper. All that in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Paris` stalker scare. Just in to the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom, the man accused of talking Paris Hilton will have to stand trial.
"E! Online" reports that James Rainford was just told by a California judge that there is enough evidence for a trial. Rainford will have to stand trial on two felony counts and three misdemeanor counts.
Sorry, Salahis. Michaele and Tareq Salahi may have just been banned from Beverly Hills, the "Housewives" version.
TMZ is reporting that the one-time stars of "The Real Housewives of D.C." and accused White House party crashers are moving to the posh Los Angeles suburb and wanted in on the Beverly Hills version of the Bravo franchise. But they`ve been rejected. A Bravo exec said, "We are not interested."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, the Salahis, they are so over. But could Pippa Middleton become the next big thing on TV? Simon says yes. Simon Cowell, who, of course, judges "X-Factor" on both sides of the pond reportedly says, who cares if Pippa can`t carry a tune in a bucket?
He would sign her in a heartbeat for a singing career and a TV gig. It sounds like it doesn`t matter.
"Life and Style" just broke the story. Dawn Yanek is the magazine`s editor-at-large. But Pippa has become this international sensation.
But a pop star or a TV star? In your mind, is Simon Cowell out of his mind? Or is he brilliant and crazy like a fox?
YANEK: Brilliant and crazy like a fox. I mean, this would be some coup. I mean, you might say, OK< Pippa might not be able to sing. Well, yes, neither can half of the celebs turned singers out there, and it hasn`t hurt them.
But I tend to think Simon would find another venue in the spotlight for her, if she couldn`t sing. Just people are mesmerized by her. They want to see more of her. They would make millions off of this.
HAMMER: Yes. And I`m thinking so many people have cashed in on her, the butt lifts, you know, bridesmaid dress.
YANEK: Yes.
HAMMER: She should cash in herself on Pippa mania. All right. Dawn Yanek, thank you so much.
YANEK: Thank you.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, Lindsay Lohan`s photo shocker. Why is she posing with a bloody knife? Come on, Lindsay. How the heck are you going to explain this one to your court-appointed counsel? I`m trying to figure out that, and we will, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, Lindsay Lohan`s shocking new vampirish look. Take a look at this. Don`t worry. Lindsay`s not out on a killing spree. She`s just passing time doing a provocative photo shoot instead of finishing up her court-ordered community service.
Yes. That is Lindsay, drenched in blood, swinging around a kitchen knife. Her killer look was put together by Tyler Shields who is one of Hollywood`s hottest photographers. He has sold pictures like this for more than $20,000.
But I`ve got to wonder, Lindsay, is this really the image you want to present right after you finish up house arrest? I`m just saying.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively Monday to Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and pacific right here on HLN.
And right now stay right here for "DR. DREW," coming up next. Tonight, reaction to the tragic "Real Housewives" suicide. Former "Real Housewives of D.C." stars, Michaele and Tareq with an insider`s perspective. "DR. DREW" on HLN starts right now.
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