Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Kardashian Ceremony Chaos; Russell Armstrong`s Mother Speaks Out; Is Being Skinny Better Than Being Awarded an Oscar?
Aired August 19, 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: More big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at the Kardashian wedding. Inside, Kim`s pricey ride in a rolls and brand new jaw-dropping details of her one of a kind wedding dress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think Kim is looking at a dress probably over $20,000.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT breaks news about the Kardashian wedding event of the year.
Big breaking news about the future of the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Russell Armstrong`s mother speaks out after his tragic suicide.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don`t want my son in even in one frame on that show again.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Showbiz flash point. Should the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" be cancelled?
Former "Real Housewives" star Danielle Staub is here for a must-see headline-making showbiz newsmaker interviews.
Jennifer Hudson`s ultimate accomplishment, is she really more proud of her slim down body than her Oscar?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York in big news breaking tonight.
Does it got bigger than this? The Kardashian chaos. Tonight, the Kardashians have really taken over a small California town.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, of course, right there on the ground in Montecito. Tonight, the night before Kim Kardashian marries her NBA star fiance, Kris Humphries. We have got exclusive new details from inside the Kardashian compound from security, either than one of Kim`s firm hugging dresses, to the extreme, over the top star-studded details of what is certainly expected to be the most profitable star wedding of all time.
First up, we`re getting an exclusive look at the majestic mansion where Kim will get hitched.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter is in Montecito, California, with eye- popping new details about the swank location.
Hi, Kareen.
KAREEN WYNTER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Hi there, A.J. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT got access to the luxurious $29 million estate where, yes, Kim and Kris will be tying the knot tomorrow. And let me tell you, A.J., it is bustling with activity. When we got there, the catering trucks were pulling up, starting the massive, massive undertaking of transforming the Montecito home into a -- well, wedding wonderland.
As for the security that is not just on the grounds of the 11-acre estate, but airspace around the property -- get this, A.J. -- is going to be patrolled by security helicopters.
HAMMER: Yes, I`m not surprised by that at all.
Kareen, Montecito, I`ve been there, it`s not an exclusive but it`s kind of a sleepy town.
WYNTER: Beautiful.
HAMMER: Folks who are really used to star power all around. They have to wonder how they are dealing with all of the Kardashians, the whole invasion there this weekend.
WYNTER: Well, Kevin Costner, Michael Douglas, Oprah Winfrey, are just a few of the stars who live here in Montecito. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that everyone here in the neighborhood, A.J., well, they`re just stop bracing and really wondering what`s going to happen just like the rest of us are bracing for the worst. And they`re hoping that this epic extravaganza ends with very, very little drama.
But right now, a showbiz exclusive rolling with the Kardashians tonight. We take you inside the car service that will be shuttling all of those VIPs for Kim`s big day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER: What is going on behind the scenes as we gear up for Kim`s big day?
SAM TELIKYAN, PLATINUM MOTORSPORT: There`s a lot going on. As you know, we`re the official ground transportation company for the wedding.
WYNTER (voice-over): Sam Telikyan runs Platinum Motorsport in Hollywood and he`s polishing off more than two dozen cars for Kim Kardashian`s big day.
TELIKYAN: As you see, there`s -- some of the cars that we`re using that day, it actually starts the night before, it`s where we are going to transport the family from L.A. to Santa Barbara. So, that`s when we actually started getting busy.
WYNTER (on camera): You`re really close to the Kardashian family. This is really a special assignment for you?
TELIKYAN: It is. We`ve been friends for about the decade. So, it`s an honor to be part of this thing, and it`s more like a family atmosphere rather than just a job.
WYNTER (voice-over): A job with a mighty tall order from Hollywood`s biggest reality star.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal some of the tricked out rides Kim has requested, from outrageous Rolls Royce Phantoms to customized Mercedes Jetline Sprinters and Mercedes Maybachs that cost $500,000 each. The car that will take him on the ride to the wedding ceremony to say her "I dos" to Kris Humphries and hopefully live happily ever after.
(on camera): Sam, everyone is dying to see what Kim will be picked up in her big day.
TELIKYAN: Let me show you.
WYNTER: All right. Let`s go.
TELIKYAN: This is Maybach 62S. It`s a very unique vehicle. You`re not going to see it around too much.
WYNTER: And more legroom than you need. You can take the whole Kardashian family in here. This is just for Kim and Kris?
TELIKYAN: Absolutely yes.
But one of the unique things about this car is the roof. As you can see, there is a switch here. You turn it on and it brightens up like the sky.
WYNTER: Kind of romantic.
TELIKYAN: Very romantic.
The other perfect day for this event is the curtain here, away from the paparazzi, so they have control over opening and closing it.
WYNTER: All right. We`ve seen Kim and Kris` ride. What about the other family members?
TELIKYAN: Let me show you our exclusive Jetline Sprinter.
WYNTER: It feels like we`re on a private jet.
TELIKYAN: It actually does. This vehicle has a lot of features.
I can show you the roof. It`s very similar to what I just showed you. You have an iPad there.
WYNTER: Oh, this is perfect.
TELIKYAN: Yes. That actually controls that plasma you`re looking at.
WYNTER (voice-over): SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can also reveal one more luxury ride, the Rolls Royce that Kim`s sister Khloe rolled in on her special day, her wedding to Lamar Odom nearly two years ago.
Lenalisa Barseghian from Platinum Motorsport is also working on getting ready for Kim`s big day.
LENALISA BARSEGHIAN, PLATINUM MOTORSPORT: This is actually Khloe`s vehicle for her wedding. Three sisters were picked up in this vehicle and we`re taking it to the ceremony.
WYNTER: And this time around, the family members will be taken. The fact that you provided cars for Khloe`s wedding, does it make planning Kim`s big day a little bit easier?
BARSEGHIAN: A little bit. We did have some paparazzi runs for Khloe`s wedding. So, we can only imagine what to expect for Kim`s, lots of guests, lots of paparazzi. That`s what I think scares us. For the fact that is compared to the royal wedding.
WYNTER (voice-over): A spectacular summer extravaganza for a real Hollywood royal couples, and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT couldn`t leave without one final request.
(on camera): How about one quick spin around the block.
TELIKYAN: Just one.
WYNTER: Just once. She`ll never know. OK. Let`s go.
What a ride, with more amenities that you can think, including, most importantly, the bubblies. Kim and Kris will definitely be able to relax on their big day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Which is interesting, if you`ve been working, though, that car has got (INAUDIBLE).
We have covered the location and the rides. But what is it like to live right next to this Kardashian wedding chaos?
"Montecito Journal" columnist Richard Mineards lives near Kim`s wedding central. He`s there right now.
It`s great to see you, Richard.
And as we mention, this is already a star-studded neighborhood. But what does everybody make of these epic ideas because this is rather unprecedented, I imagine.
RICHARD MINEARDS, MONTECITO JOURNAL: Well, quite frankly, I`m amused by it all, because, as you said earlier, we have such a lot of boldface names here, billionaire`s galore. And to have this (INAUDIBLE) epic nuptial is very unusual. Many people are amused by it all.
But everyone is rather enjoying the hoopla surrounding it. We`ve had the helicopters overhead and we`ve had the trucks delivering the party essentials to this, and I do not know that Wolfgang Puck is going to be cooking it all up.
They are having special made crystal champagne floats for this event and there are 300 star to look after the 500 guests.
So this is going to be a major spectacular -- the security is very tight. The rod iron gates that you can see the Spanish Mediterranean villa from have now being covered on top, security guards are all over the place and it`s going to be really quite something. It`s going to be a major thing for us because we`ve never had this kind of size and number of people coming in. We`ve had a lot of weddings in this rare enclave, but nothing of this size and magnitude. As I say, it`s spectacular spectacular and everyone is just looking back quite frankly agog.
HAMMER: I have to say, Richard, just hearing you speak makes the event that much more classy.
But it`s nice to hear that Montecito is not some uptight community and people aren`t freaking out and pooh-poohing the wedding, that`s a good thing, because there`s been so much anticipation, really since the moment that Kim and Kris got engaged, just three months ago. Keep in mind, it hasn`t been a long time.
Now that the day is here, we wanted to know what will be the real stealer at Kim`s wedding. That`s why we`re asking our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s exclusive poll, this question that we got the results to moments ago.
Kim Kardashian`s wedding is just a few days away. What are you looking forward to the most? Forty-two percent say time to see the dress, 10 percent say they want to see the guest list, not surprisingly, the majority, 48 percent say, they can`t wait to see the drama.
Jen Garcia, an assistant editor for "People" magazine, is joining me now.
Jen, you`re covering the wedding, too. What are you looking forward to most?
JEN GARCIA, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: I`m looking forward to the dress. It`s all about the dress all the time.
HAMMER: Fantastic. Richard, quickly, let me get your take on it as somebody who is right there.
MINEARDS: Well, I just think everybody is looking forward to everybody surrounding this. I covered the royal wedding. And obviously, everybody wanted it to see what Kate was wearing and I think this also goes for Kim. And I think that`s going to be the centerpiece. Plus all of this frenzied interest in this wedding globally. It`s really quite spectacular.
HAMMER: It is quite spectacular and I`m hearing that she doesn`t even have pre-wedding jitters and that`s probably because she`s going to get a massive paycheck out of this entire endeavor.
All right. Richard Mineards, Jen Garcia, thank you so much.
But we still have burning Kardashian questions tonight: Will Kim really change her name? How will she spend her last night as a single woman? Kim answers those big, burning questions tonight.
The mother of "Real Housewives" star Russell Armstrong says she doesn`t want footage of her son used in the show. Can the show actually wind up being canceled?
Former "Real Housewives" star Danielle Staub tells us what she thinks. She is right here in a must-see showbiz newsmaker interview.
And Jennifer Hudson, more proud of her weight loss than her Oscar? Really?
This is tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
Here comes the showbiz news ticker. More stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
(SHOWBIZ NEWS TICKER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And tonight, it`s time for the big spin. Now, a story that everybody has been talking about this week, Gerard Depardieu who just couldn`t hold it anymore after his Air France flight from Paris to Dublin was delayed. So, he proceeded to pee on the floor.
Well, this little incident has everybody laughing this week, including our CNN buddy Anderson Cooper laughing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: All I can say, they should thank their lucky stars it wasn`t depar-two. Sorry. It made me giggled after I read it. Depar-two. I know you got it. But -- all right. Sorry.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Sounds like a dolphin there.
Now, Gerard Depardieu is apologizing for the incident. But do we really need an apology?
With me tonight, here in New York, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s resident spin doctor and P.R. guru, Howard Bragman, the founder, of course, of 15 Minutes Public Relations.
Always great to have you here, Howard.
Now, Depardieu`s friend and fellow actor Edward Bear (ph) was traveling with him at the time and he is offering an apology on behalf of his friend.
And here`s what he said in a statement to the BBC. He said, "Gerard was upset at this and has offered to clean up the mess. He has prostate problems and it was very worrying and humiliating for him."
Yes, I`m certain it was very humiliating for him. What a terrible expense for him to have to go to. But I`m sure, Howard, that Gerard Depardieu wants the story to go away. I`m thinking maybe he shouldn`t have apologized.
What`s that the right spin? Go ahead, spin it within a minute.
HOWARD BRAGMAN, SPIN DOCTOR: I think celebrities come up with these bizarre apologies that call more attention to the story and nobody believes them. The spin doctor diagnosis, the very fluids that made him have to go to the bathroom are the same fluids that relaxed his inhibitions.
So, bad move on the apology. The second time in two weeks, the celebrity has taken a pee in public on an airplane.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Obviously, maybe somebody mark the spot, and then, well. Anyway, what is the bottom line on the spin for Gerard Depardieu?
BRAGMAN: Well, Mr. Depardieu, all that glitter is certainly not gold in this case.
HAMMER: OK. Thanks so much.
Can I change that now, please? Get that out of here.
Let`s talk about "American Idol" creator Nigel Lythgoe. He`s trying to spin his way out of criticism from "The Voice" judge Adam Levine. Levine suggested in "Out" magazine he doesn`t think "American Idol" is OK with having its gay contestants be open about their sexuality.
But Lythgoe didn`t like what he said. He struck back at Levine, giving a brand new interview to "Entertainment Weekly," saying this, "To be frank, I didn`t understand why we`re talking about contestants being gay or not gay. I don`t to go into my dentist and say, `Are you gay?` I don`t go into contestants on, `So You Think You Can Dance,` `Are you gay?` What does that have anything to do with singing talent?"
OK. Here`s the thing in my mind. I don`t think Levine in any way was saying that "Idol" judged its contestants based on their sexuality. He`s saying it`s part of their life that "Idol" chooses not to focus on where Adam Levine`s show, "The Voice," will focus on it if it`s OK with the contestants. So, I personally think Lythgoe`s defense is completely flawed here.
What do you make of Lythgoe spin? Go ahead. Spin it within a minute.
BRAGMAN: Well, let me tell you. This round goes to Adam Levine. Adam did three very smart things. He made them equals.
When "Idol" is compared to "The Voice," "The Voice," which doesn`t have as many people watching, wins.
Number two, he got to show case that his show is about diversity, which is a great thing for the show. And number three, gets on the soap box about gay rights, which he has been very upfront about it. So, he wins that.
Lythgoe, you know, we`ve all watched the show and we know Adam Lambert comes on, he`s got a boyfriend. We never somehow see that in the back story. We`ve always sort of felt like, Nigel, where is this guy`s back story? We all know that he is gay.
And, you know, you understand it`s FOX, they have 11-year-old girls watching, so they are trying to play it low key. It`s not working for him.
HAMMER: All right. Quickly, bottom line it for -- let`s go spin?
BRAGMAN: Nigel, baby, you missed the boat on that.
HAMMER: Howard Bragman, P.R. guru, thank you as always.
BRAGMAN: Thanks, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, Christine O`Donnell is coming out swinging at Piers Morgan today after the shocking walkout from his show. Why she`s comparing herself to Bill Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE O`DONNELL, FORMER SENATE CANDIDATE: Then he goes into a personal nature and starts prying. Imagine if Bill Clinton were there. Would he ask him, do you still hang out with Monica Lewinsky?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Really? Christine O`Donnell goes off on Piers Morgan. You`ve got to see her shocking new slam today.
The mother of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Russell Armstrong is speaking out about his suicide. Now, she doesn`t him featured in the show at all. The showbiz flash point tonight: Should the show be canceled?
Former "Real Housewives" star Danielle Staub right here to tell us what she thinks for a must-see headline making showbiz newsmaker interview.
This is "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on HLN, news and views.
It`s time now for the showbiz news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
(SHOWBIZ NEWS TICKER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Well, tonight, people are still buzzing about former Senate candidate Christine O`Donnell`s headline-making TV walk out on CNN`s Piers Morgan.
And now, O`Donnell is making more news tonight, slamming Piers during a brand-new interview today.
Now, the whole thing started when O`Donnell suddenly walked off CNN`s "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT" when Piers had the audacity to ask her about gay marriage. Oh, let`s watch it again, shall we?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: I`m not running for office. Ask Michele Bachmann what she thinks. Ask the candidates who are running for office what they think.
PIERS MORGAN, CNN`S PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT: Why are being so weird about this?
O`DONNELL: I`m not being weird. You`re being a little rude. Have you read the book?
MORGAN: Yes. But these issues are in your book. That`s my point. You did talk about them.
O`DONNELL: OK. All right. Are we off?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Bye-bye. And she walked off.
Well, O`Donnell actually tweeted Piers after the whole issue and said no hard feelings. But if you ask me, it appears that she`s still pretty mad at Piers because on the "Today" show this morning, O`Donnell blamed the whole thing squarely on Piers. Watch what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O`DONNELL: And Piers, for whatever reason, perhaps desperate for ratings, was not letting up in his creepy line of questioning.
Imagine if Bill Clinton were there. Would he -- would he ask him, do you still hang out with Monica Lewinsky? Come on, we talked about it in `90s? Do you still have that fascination with cigar, Bill? Come on? What`s wrong with this?
No. And if he did ask a male former candidate that, the outcry would be that it belonged on pay-per-view, not supposedly a reputable network like CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I got to tell you. I think that Piers asked perfectly appropriate questions with perfect professionalism. And I`m not just saying that because I work with the guy. I think she was way out of line.
And O`Donnell didn`t stop there with her Piers slam today. Oh, no, she even compared Piers` line of questioning to borderline sexual harassment. Really?
And proof that Piers is a real pro, he says his invitation for her to come back on his show still stands.
I think she should do it and work it all out.
All right. Time now for the showbiz line. Here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at the bottom of the hour.
Big burning questions, right before the big Kardashian wedding: is Kim freaking out? Will she change her name?
Who will we name the most provocative celebrity of the week? Will it be Gerard Depardieu for wee-weeing on the plane or Christine O`Donnell for walking off CNN`s "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT," or "The Voice`s" Adam Levine for accusing "American Idol" of being anti-gay?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
Time for the showbiz news ticker, with more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONGHT newsroom, making news tonight.
(SHOWBIZ NEWS TICKER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: News breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Big, burning questions about the Kardashian wedding. With less than 24 hours to go: is Kim nervous?
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KIM KARDASHIAN: I think I had my freak out moment like a week ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what did you freak out about then?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Kim answers the burning questions.
Plus, brand-new questions about Kim`s dress. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT breaks news about the Kardashian wedding events of the year.
The Jennifer Hudson weight debate. Why did the "Dreamgirls" star say that she`s more proud of slimming down than winning an Oscar? Can losing 80 pounds really be Hudson`s ultimate accomplishment?
J.Lo`s "American Idol" confession. She nearly walked away from a reported $20 million. But was it really because she was tired?
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. We got big news breaking today.
Kardashian burning questions. Yes, just hours before Kim`s big day and there are still so many unanswered big questions about her wedding. Will she keep her name? Will she freak out? And how will she spend her last night as a single woman?
Joining me right now from Hollywood, Jen Garcia, who`s an assistant editor for "People" magazine.
And right now, right there at the site of the big wedding in Montecito, California, Richard Mineards, who is a columnist for the "Montecito Journal."
Also right here in Montecito, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s own Kareen Wynter with brand new information on Kim`s wedding dress.
Hang on, Kareen, we`re going to get to that in a just a moment. But, first, we`ve got to get straight to our big burning question, how about Kim Kardashian`s wedding.
Here`s what we want to know. Will Kim freak out at the last minute? I mean, let`s face it -- she`s in this family`s quite frankly known for being knee-high in the drama most of the time. Why wouldn`t Kim have a big old freak out in front of the cameras?
Let me go to Jen Garcia.
What do you think, Jen?
GARCIA: You know what? She`s been cool as a cucumber this entire time. I mean, I`ve been in touched with her over the past few days and she`s really just looking forward to it, everything has been taken care of. And I think it`s her mom, Chris Jenner who may have more stress to deal with.
HAMMER: You think? And in fact, Kim is telling Ryan Seacrest on his radio show on air with Ryan Seacrest that she already had her freak-out. Listen to what she said.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KARDASHIAN: I think I had my freak out moment like a week ago.
RYAN SEACREST, RADIO HOST: What did you freak out about then?
KARDASHIAN: Everything and anything, from Kris` dog in my space to his shirts on the floor to going over budget, you know -- everything you could possibly think of.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: See, she got everything out of the way.
But that begs the next big Kim Kardashian burning question. I want to know how is she going to spend her last night as a single woman?
Richard, you`re right there on the scene. What do you think?
MINEARDS: Well, I think she`s going to spend it in the house on the estate here because it`s very secure and she`s getting set up. I don`t think she has any pre-wedding nerves because obviously she`s a pro in front of the camera. I think they are going to spend it very quietly at home where the wedding is taking place and then let the games begin in earnest tomorrow.
HAMMER: See, I figured she would be out walking the red carpet introducing a red product like. But I guess that`s just me. It is, of course, her last night as a single woman. Kim tells Ryan Seacrest what she will be doing.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KARDASHIAN: Probably spray tanning, nails, Anastasia midnight call to do my eyebrows.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, stuff to take care of.
We do have a big burning question tonight. Will Kim keep her last name?
Jen, I`ve got to tell you, I`m thinking there is no way that she`s going to let go of this golden last name. She`s got to keep it as long as possible.
GARCIA: And that was a good guess. Kim has become a brand. So, publicly she`s planning on keeping Kardashian. But privately and legally, she actually will now be Mrs. Humphries.
So, I get a hold of her driver`s license, it`s actually going to stay Kim Humphries. I want that driver`s license.
All right. But let`s talk about the dress because, really, this is what everybody is waiting to see. We do know very little about the dress except that Vera Wang designed it.
So, the big burning question today is: will the dress top Kate Middleton`s dress?
Richard, you even sound like royalty. Do you think Kim Kardashian`s dress could actually rival royalty?
MINEARDS: Well, I did cover the royal wedding for a network and I think it`s certainly a Vera Wang behind it, it could eclipse Kate`s dress. But, of course, it will be the focal point. I`m told it`s actually going to be ivory rather than white and obviously we`ll have a lot of detail.
As we know, last week, Kim did a jet set trip to New York to have a final fitting. She stayed just three hours in Manhattan and then was back on a plane, back to L.A. So, it should fit it perfectly and we also know that she`s been exercising like crazy to make sure she improves on that already life figure.
HAMMER: Yes, I think there`s no question that she`s going to look absolutely stunning and it`s amazing to me, quite frankly, as a guy, that there`s such fascination with the dress, Jen. But do you think it will eclipse the royal dress?
GARCIA: I mean, everyone is comparing it to the royal wedding. I think it`s our own Hollywood royal wedding. But the dress will be quite impressive, although Kim has said that instead of her usual slinky, sexy gown that she would go for, she`s going to go the traditional route.
HAMMER: Right.
GARCIA: So, I would expect to see her and it`s something very feminine and classic. But we can also expect a few dresses throughout the evening which will all, of course, be Vera Wang.
HAMMER: Oh, count on that.
Here`s what I`m wondering, though -- how much did that fancy Vera Wang wedding dress cost and will it be as grand as other celebrity gowns that Vera has designed?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Here comes the dress. Stunning and sophisticated. The woman behind all these gorgeous gowns is bridal designer extraordinaire, Vera Wang. Vera is the go-to gown gal to celebrity bride like Chelsea Clinton, Ivanka Trump and now, Kim Kardashian.
JULIE RAIMONDI, EDITOR IN CHIEF, BRIDES.COM: There have been a real amazing number of celebrities that gone to Vera Wang. And every time a celebrity gets married, we think we`re going to be able to predict who she`s going to wear. It turns out, they always just wear Vera Wang.
HAMMER: So, is it Vera`s cutting edge designs that attracts so many stars? Or her ability to keep a secret?
RAIMONDI: You know Vera Wang is not going to release the details of your wedding gown to a tabloid newspaper. She can be trusted, her staff can be trusted, and you know that you can work with her, much like a couturier who is really designing a dress from scratch for you specifically.
HAMMER: No specific clues have been revealed on Kim`s wedding dress yet. But no doubt Vera and Kim will be setting bridal trends.
RAIMONDI: I think someone who is right in the cusp, in the middle of the cultural milieu like Kim Kardashian is going to want a dress until this moment of time. I think for her that`s going to be a mermaid shape. I think we`re going to see a little bit cleaner lines.
I don`t know that it will be covered with bling. It`s possible but this could also be an opportunity for her to some really exquisite jewelry and keep the gown calm. I think we`re going to se a second dress at the reception. Maybe something short.
HAMMER: So what is a one of a kind dress going to run Kim?
RAIMONDI: I think Kim is looking at a dress probably over $20,000.
HAMMER: What`s 20K to Kim K when you`re rocking a 20-carat engagement ring? And after all, the gown is perhaps the most telling choice Kim will make for her wedding other than choosing her groom, Kris Humphries, of course.
RAIMONDI: I don`t envy Kim`s situation as a bride. I think that regular girls getting married feel a tremendous amount of pressure to look more fabulous on this day than they`ve ever looked that their entire life. Now, add celebrity to that and everybody is just waiting to see what you`re going to wear. That`s a lot of stress for an outfit choice.
And this isn`t like going to the Oscar`s. This isn`t like a price event where you picking a style based on a number of factors. This is really a reflection of who she is as a person.
HAMMER: A highly anticipated dress for undeniably beautiful bride.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Now I`m starting to stress out for Kim. But what the heck is this dress going to look like? What is Kim`s inspiration?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s own Kareen Wynter, she`s right there in Montecito with some late-breaking developments in the great Kim Kardashian dress mystery -- Kareen.
WYNTER: Hi, A.J. Well, you know, can I just say -- I cannot believe the outrageous buzz surrounding Kim Kardashian`s wedding dress. Will it be strapless? Will it be dazzled?
Well, People.com, they wasted no time getting an incredible team of designers to basically give their take on the ultimate stunning Kim Kardashian wedding dress.
Check out these incredible, incredible designs -- so romantic, so super glamorous. All 100 percent completely unique. And get this, A.J., you know, Kim, she`s keeping mum, no, not giving away any details on that dress. But today she did share a juicy revelation with none other than Ryan Seacrest on his radio show "On Air with Ryan Seacrest." Listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KARDASHIAN: I had this one vision of what I wanted my dress to look like and Nicole Richie called me and said, I have this vision for your gown. Please hear me out. Please, please, please. I think you should go super classic. Really old Hollywood. Think like museum.
So, it completely changed what I thought I was going to go with.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
WYNTER: And, A.J., I for one cannot wait to see what Kim, what Vera, what the whole gang came up with. It`s going to be mind blowing.
HAMMER: Oh, it is, Kareen. Thanks so much. And please go grab one tier of that 10-tier cake and bring back to New York for me.
Go to move now to "Housewives" suicide fall out. Big news about the future of the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Could the show be canceled forever?
Plus, former "Real Housewives" star Danielle Staub is right here for a showbiz newsmaker interview about her own reality struggle suicide.
J. Lo`s "American Idol" confession. How the show`s relentless demands nearly drove her away.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
It`s time now for the showbiz news ticker. These are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
(SHOWBIZ NEWS TICKER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, housewives suicide fallout. Bravo is just struggling to try to figure out how to deal with the suicide of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Russell Armstrong earlier this week. And tonight, the network is getting a stern warning from Russell`s grieving family.
Here`s the newest developments tonight, members of Russell`s family are warning Bravo to not to show any footage of Russell in the upcoming season of the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."
And "The Hollywood Reporter" says Bravo has decided to delay the show September 5th season premiere by at least a week. Ever since Russell Armstrong`s suicide, we`re hearing about how "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" really strain Russell and Taylor Armstrong`s marriage and left Russell depressed about how he was depicted on the show.
Well, tonight, we have someone with us who says she knows all about what Russell was going through.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
HAMMER: Well, like Russell, Danielle Staub was a controversial real housewives figure. She spent two seasons on "The Real Housewives of New Jersey." Now, the ex-"Housewives" is saying her time on the show left her so depressed it almost drove her to suicide.
Danielle Staub joins me in New York for showbiz newsmaker interview.
First of all, it`s good to see. I`m sorry it`s under these circumstances. I can`t even imagine how difficult a week this has been and what it has brought for you.
And to that end, what was it about your time on "Real Housewives of New Jersey" that made you feel so depressed that actually thought about killing yourself?
DANIELLE STAUB, EX "HOUSEWIFE" REALITY STAR: First of all, I want to clarify. It has nothing to do with the network. It has nothing to do with the producers. It was the cast of characters that I was cast with, and what they were throwing at me, and by digging up my past of nearly 30 years gone by, when I was yet a child still, younger than some of their children --
HAMMER: Sure.
STAUB: -- just to I felt hide behind what is going on in their presence lives, and using me as an instrument to make themselves look better when their lives are really not all that pretty.
HAMMER: So it was less as how you were depicted it and what the show made you out to be?
STAUB: Yes.
HAMMER: And, in fact, I want to take a listen to what Russell`s mother told HLN`s Jane Velez-Mitchell about how the show put such a strain on his life. Let`s watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ANN HOTCHKISS, RUSSELL ARMSTRONG`S MOTHER (via telephone): I don`t want to see my son, and even -- or hear of him being seen in even one frame of the "Housewives of Beverly Hills." He`s dead now. And it`s a lot of it because of the pressures, financial, emotional, et cetera, caused by trying to keep up, you know, the old saying, keep up with the Jones.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. And, Danielle, some people do agree, that Russell`s -- you know, with Russell`s mother, Bravo should not include the Armstrongs at all in the upcoming season. Some people are saying the whole thing should be canceled altogether.
What`s your take having been a part of that Bravo machine and "The Real Housewives" machine? What do you think they should do?
STAUB: I think they should respect the family`s wishes and pull his images and likeness off of the show. Just -- I mean, I`m a mother. Her son came to her much like my mom did before she passed, telling me how hard it was. And I hope they don`t show this and I hope they don`t show that. And that they`re going to dig up next. It puts a strain on you.
I never tried to keep up, like they did. Mine was not he financial realm. I never pretended to have something I didn`t. However, he was the man of the family. It emasculated him. And it made him feel a lot of stress, I`m sure.
I don`t know how to address the domestic violence issues that I`m hearing about because that to me is just something I stand (INAUDIBLE) domestic violence. I just relate to all of them and everything that the family is going through on all ends of it -- even Russell in his final moments.
HAMMER: And I have to imagine people are going to be pretty upset if they put Russell on the show as it`s currently edited, not making him to look very good. I think that would be in poor taste.
But I was a bit surprise. I mean, I know you`ve been doing this VH1`s "Famous Food," but then to have just learned that you got so depressed about killing yourself and even though it didn`t have something directly portrayed when you were doing "Real housewives." I`m surprised that you took on another reality-type show even though it`s a totally different show.
STAUB: Right. And I`m sure that`s a question in everybody`s mind and I appreciate you bringing this up. This is a job to me. I am entertaining.
I do love what I do. I`ve been part of this business since I was 17 years old. I`m now 49. I`m not going to live because of, you know, the way I was treated on the "Housewives." I was on all my children. I`ve been on primetime shows.
HAMMER: This is your life?
STAUB: This is like why would anyone on the "Real Housewives" quit their daytime jobs. They`re not doing that.
HAMMER: I look forward to having you back when there is not drama surrounding what is going on.
STAUB: Thank you.
HAMMER: It`s great to see you, Danielle. It`s good to have you here.
STAUB: Please watch my new show, "Famous Food."
HAMMER: "Famous Food" on VH1. It is terrific.
STAUB: Wednesday night`s at 8:00. Thank you so much.
HAMMER: Thank you.
We`ve got to move on to J. Lo`s "Idol" exhaustion. The brand new details on why J. Lo nearly pulled the plug on "Idol."
Also, Kat and Jesse`s engagement, it`s back on. What`s is going on with Kat`s show.
All of that in the buzz today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Kat and Jesse, engagement on. Kat show, off.
Kat Von D and Jesse James just announced, yes, they are on again. And Jesse revealed to People.com that Kat is wearing her ring again. They revealed they`re reuniting on the same day TLC announced it`s canceling Kat`s reality show "L.A. Ink." Kat has just fired back at TLC telling People.com that she quit the reality show because she was angry with the editing, saying, "In an effort to capitalize on my recent breakup, the network has decided to focus their energy on reediting events that didn`t happen while filming. In my opinion, any attempt to compromise the honesty of that would be an insult to fans and viewers."
J. Lo worn down? Jennifer Lopez revealing that she nearly jumped ship on judging "American Idol" for a second season because the new job and her marriage drama were wearing her out. According to People.com, she confessed at an "American Idol" press conference, "I got a little tired at the end with everything going on in my life at the time." Lopez added that the show was "one of the best things I`ve ever been involved with." So, she wanted to stick around.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: "Dreamgirls" Jennifer Hudson`s weight confession. Is she really more proud of losing 80 pounds than winning an Oscar?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views.
Here comes the showbiz ticker. These are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, Jennifer Hudson`s explosive confession about her huge weight loss. She went from a size 16 to an eight. She shed 80 pounds. And now, Hudson is saying, quote, "I`m prouder of my weight loss than my Oscar." Really?
A lot of people are saying that that`s just nuts.
Let me go to Kim Serafin from Hollywood. She`s the senior editor of "In Touch Weekly."
Look, I think it is terrific, obviously, that Hudson lost all of that weight and she`s feeling so good, especially because she says she did it to be healthy for her kid. It is hard to argue with that, Kim.
But is it just ridiculous to say you are more proud of losing weight than winning an Academy Award? Keep in mind, she`s a spokesperson for weight watchers and some people might look at this as some kind of a P.R. stunt.
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, IN TOUCH WEEKLY: Right, but I think singing obviously becomes very naturally to her. Obviously, she had to work a little bit harder to lose weight.
And I think that`s great for all of us because it`s something that we can actually all attain. Everyone can get into shape and get healthy, everyone can lose some weight. We all can`t really win an Oscar. So, I think it certainly plays into the weight watchers spokesperson, but also very inspiration I think for all of us.
HAMMER: Yes, I think it`s certainly something to be admired. No question about that.
You know, I remember speaking with Jennifer so many times and her telling me about how comfortable she was with her more curvaceous self. And now that she`s slimmer, there are a lot of her fans out there giving her a bunch of grief, which is such a strange backlash to me.
But Kim, I can`t imagine that Jennifer saying that losing weight was better than an Oscar is actually going to help smooth things over with them.
SERAFIN: Right. Obviously, she is going to get some backslash from her fans because we always praise celebrities who say, oh, I embrace my curves -- we love to hear that. In Hollywood, you can`t win. If you gain a pound, people talk about it, if you lose a pound, people talk about it.
But I think what`s important with Jennifer is that she didn`t lose weight. She said that the first time she realized she was plus size was when an interviewer asked her on the red carpet about it. But she didn`t lose weight until she was pregnant with her son and people didn`t know she was pregnant. So, that`s why she got into shape.
HAMMER: Well, my hats off to her. Kim Serafin, thank you so much.
Coming up next: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week, Gerard Depardieu on flight`s wee-wee., Christine O`Donnell for interview walk out on Piers Morgan or Adam Levine for calling "American Idol" anti-gay.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: It`s time for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to name the most provocative celebrity of the week. Will we name Gerard Depardieu for as our friend Anderson Cooper put it, creating his own jet stream on that Air France flight, will it be former Senate contender Christine O`Donnell for walking off the set of CNN`s Piers Morgan because he asked about her views on gay marriage, or how about "The Voice`s" Adam Levine, he`s accusing "American Idol" of being anti-gay?
May I have a drum roll, please?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT does name Gerard Depardieu the most provocative celebrity of the week. I think we got it right, guys. I mean, how can we not? It`s Gerard Depardieu. Wee-wee!
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I am A.J. Hammer in New York. Remember, you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively, Monday through Friday, at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific here on HLN.
Stay tuned for "DR. DREW" coming up next. Tonight, more dramatic details on "the Real Housewives" suicide inside the mind of Russell Armstrong.
"DR. DREW" on HLN starts right now.
END
