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Showbiz Tonight
A Kid Dressed as a Hooker; Kate Gosselin Freaking Out; Jessica Simpson`s Reported Breast Reduction; Vienna Girardi`s Plastic Surgery Confessions; Schweddy Balls Ice Cream; Ryan O`Neal`s Beef with Oprah
Aired September 08, 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 - a child dressed as a hooker? Tonight, the "Toddlers and Tiaras" reality show shocker. Outrage over a three-year-old dressed up like Julia Roberts` prostitute character from "Pretty Woman."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here comes pretty woman!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - has "Toddlers and Tiaras" gone too far?
More big news breaking tonight - Kate Gosselin, why she says she is freaking out.
Jessica Simpson sets the record straight. Did she really make her breasts smaller?
And "Bachelor Pad" Vienna Girardi`s explosive new plastic surgery confessions. Vienna right here tonight for a headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
SHOWBIZ trending tonight - Schweddy Balls ice cream? Tonight, the bizarre debate over Ben and Jerry`s brand-new flavor based on "SNL`s" "Schweddy Balls."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No one can resist my Schweddy Balls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: 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 - too hot for tots.
An unbelievable firestorm is raging out of control tonight over the hit reality TV show ,"Toddlers and Tiaras." Now, the show is already catching heat, and it has for some time, for showing little girls in provocative gear just strutting their stuff on beauty pageant runways.
Well, tonight, the show is taking this controversy to a whole new level. I`m talking about a three-year-old girl dressed up as - wait for - it a hooker. As if that wasn`t outrageous enough, the girl`s mom doesn`t even get what the fuss is all about. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the ugly battle over a baby beauty queen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) "Toddlers and Tiaras" gets criticized all the time by those who say it sexualizes young girls -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: I want to show the judges how beautiful I am.
HAMMER: And trots them out for entertainment, sometimes against their will. But today, the TLC reality show that follows the child pageant scene is facing its biggest, angriest controversy yet for featuring a three-year- old girl dressed as a prostitute. No, we`re not exaggerating. We literally mean dressed as a hooker.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here comes pretty woman - Paisley!
HAMMER: Last night`s "Toddlers and Tiaras" included a three-year-old girl named Paisley, whose mother dressed her up like Julia Roberts` character in "Pretty Woman," a hooker named Viv.
JULIA ROBERTS, ACTRESS: Work it. Work it, baby. Work it.
HAMMER: Not that we`re not huge fans of "Pretty Woman." Julia Roberts was funny, cute and charming in it. But you`ve got to remember her character has sex for money.
ROBERTS: I appreciate this whole seduction scene you`ve got going. But let me give you a tip - I`m a sure thing.
HAMMER: And the sight of a three-year-old dressed to look like her has left TV watchdog groups furious -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s the sexualization of our young people.
HAMMER: And fellow pageant moms embarrassed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s out just like that. This gives us bad rap.
HAMMER: And this morning on "The View," Sherri Shepherd was beside herself with anger.
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": If you think pedophiles are not watching this show, I`ve got a bridge I want to sell you.
HAMMER: And the most shocking part of this explosive controversy, Paisley`s mom still doesn`t get why people are so upset.
Paisley`s mom, Wendy Dickey, tells "EW.com," "She`s three. If she was 10, I never would have considered this. But as young as she is, I thought it was very comical." She goes on to say, "It was the cutest thing ever. It was very innocent."
Innocent? Hearing this mom`s utter cluelessness brings to mind another reality show moment. And in this situation, it`s critics who are slamming their heads against the wall in disbelief and outrage.
DAN ISETT, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY, PARENTS TELEVISION COUNCIL: It`s difficult to imagine how much lower they could go.
HAMMER: Dan Isett of the Parents Television Council is slamming TLC for airing the toddler-as-hooker moment.
ISETT: There`s nothing cute or endearing about dressing a three-year-old child as a prostitute. For TLC to exploit the whole situation is absolutely outrageous.
HAMMER: Now in its fourth season, "Toddlers and Tiaras" has been criticized before for its sometimes disturbing look at the child pageants where little girls are sometimes given makeup -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: My mom does my makeup because she wants me to look pretty.
HAMMER: Spray tanned. And in last week`s episode, one mom even gave her little girl a padded rear and fake boobs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE CHILD: This goes like that.
HAMMER: But the little-girl-as-prostitute getup has taken the "Toddlers and Tiaras" bashing to a whole new level.
ISETT: We`re not talking about dressing up children and having them prance out anymore. What we`re talking about now is in fact the sexualization of young children. We`re talking about, you know, strapping prosthetic breasts at them.
We`re talking about dressing them up as prostitutes as part of a show. You know, this is not something that should happen on television or anywhere else.
HAMMER: We asked TLC for a response to this "Toddlers and Tiaras" and "Pretty Woman" hooker controversy.
RICHARD GERE, ACTOR: Why don`t we just talk for a little bit, OK?
HAMMER: But they weren`t feeling very chatty. Their response - no comment. As you can guess, that`s making critics even angrier.
ISETT: Frankly, I think it pretty pathetic. You know, they know what they`ve done here. To simply not say anything is unacceptable.
HAMMER: One final note about little Paisley`s prostitute get up, it won her top prize in the pageant. And while it got her lots of applause -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well done!
HAMMER: This is one "Pretty Woman" moment a lot of people aren`t cheering for.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Here, let me recap for you. She won the grand prize for looking like a prostitute. You can`t make this stuff up. Here`s our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - has the show gone too far or should we blame the moms?
With me in New York tonight, Jane Velez-Mitchell, the host, of course, of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL" here on HLN. In Hollywood tonight, the great Sheryl Lee Ralph, a former pageant contestant and a judge.
For me, I think there`s plenty of blame to go around here - the mom for dressing the kid up, the show for putting this stuff on TV. I think they`re all at fault for this whole debacle.
Jane, to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, has the show gone too far? Or should we be blaming this little girl`s mom?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": I say blame everybody but the three-year-old. This is absolutely outrageous. TLC, The Learning Channel, what are we learning? How to sexualize kids?
And Sherri shepherd was absolutely right. This is catnip for pedophiles. Honestly, it`s one thing to take a critical look and do a documentary about something. It`s another just to splash it out there and glamourize it.
HAMMER: Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And that`s what they`re doing.
HAMMER: And of course, people are going to watch because it really is like this train wreck thing going on here. You`re watching saying I can`t believe this stuff is on TV or that it really goes on in real life.
And the moment that we posted this controversy on our Facebook page, the wall literally exploded. We`ve got so many comments. I want to read a couple for you.
Sandra C. writing, "People will do anything to be on reality TV. Perhaps it`s time for these producers to think about the impact of what they are encouraging."
Sandra there blaming the show and producers. But this toddler`s mom actually thinks it`s OK, Sheryl Lee. Now, I know you`ve competed in pageants. You were a judge as well. I`ve got to get your take here on our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint. Who is to blame, the show or the mom?
SHERYL LEE RALPH, FORMER PAGEANT CONTESTANT AND JUDGE: You know something? I`ve got to agree with Jane on this. We are all to blame on this. How did we all miss the memo that it is all right to set up our daughters to aspire to be prostitutes? Come on!
We all know that in show business, a good prostitute with a heart of gold will win you an Oscar. But what does it get you in the reality of life? I`m telling you, prosti-tot today, prostitute tomorrow. And don`t say you didn`t know.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, let`s hope it doesn`t come to that. But get this - the mom and daughter were just on "JOY BEHAR SHOW" tonight right here on HLN. You`ve got to hear what the mom had to say about all this.
WENDY DICKEY, PAISLEY DICKEY`S MOTHER: I absolutely don`t think that this will have any impact on Paisley when she gets older. I think she`ll see the comedy in it as far as anybody would who sees the entire routine.
Had we known it would cause this much controversy, I never would have considered it. If people had got the humor in it, I don`t think it would be as big of a deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And this woman does have some support out there. Let me read another comment on our Facebook wall. This is from Christina H. who wrote this, "Have a sense of humor, people. I thought it was adorable, and I agree with her mother. If she were 10, I wouldn`t dress her in it either because a 10-year-old has a better understanding of what it means."
Jane, what do you make of that? Can you understand that point at all, that maybe it`s OK because, well, the really young kid doesn`t have any clue, a 10-year-old might? I think that`s missing the point.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. I don`t get it at all. I think that`s absurd. This is like telling a little kid a dirty joke and then having the kid repeat it, which somebody did to me once when I was a little kid. And then, when I got older, I realized, oh, that was a horrible joke.
They weren`t laughing with me. They were laughing at me. This is child exploitation. What is it going to do to these kids psychologically down the road?
HAMMER: Yes. I can`t imagine. Let me get to another comment here. This Nicole M. who wrote in saying that, basically, critics need to get a grip.
Sheryl Lee, I`m going to have you address this one. She says, "Oh, please. It was a tank top, a skirt, boots and a wig. She was showing less skin than the girl dressed as Shirley Temple. Seriously, it`s not the end of the world." Are we missing something here, Sheryl Lee?
RALPH: We are absolutely missing something. It`s not the end of the world? Well, you wait until your daughter goes to the prom dressed in two Pringles and a band-aid, then you`ll see how much it really matters.
Come on, we`ve got to do better for our children, especially our daughters. Because after 100 years of women`s rights, we seem to be marching backwards and it`s got to stop.
HAMMER: It does have to stop. And I can`t imagine how anybody couldn`t think this is just way over the top. But obviously, we are seeing both sides of it. And I appreciate you chiming in. Jane Velez-Mitchell, Sheryl Lee Ralph, thank you both.
And I want to get your take in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. "Toddlers and Tiaras" three-year-old dressed up as prostitute - has shown gone too far? You can go to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can E-mail, too. Our address is showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Moving on tonight to Ryan O`Neal taking on Oprah Winfrey. You`ve got to hear this. We`re going to tell you why Ryan is angry at Oprah, even blaming her for messing up his family again.
Also, tonight, Kate Gosselin is freaking out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE GOSSELIN, REALITY TV STAR: Why are you letting them eat our lunch at this hour? This is all we have to eat for lunch.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are like (UNINTELLIGIBLE) things of mac and cheese.
K. GOSSELIN: There are four pieces.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It wasn`t going to last anyway.
K. GOSSELIN: It was for the adults.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Why Kate is afraid she may actually not be able to put food on the table for herself or her eight kids.
"Bachelor Pad" star Vienna Girardi is right here. So what does she think of Kate`s crisis?
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to say your balls are so tender.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, there`s no beating my balls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It is SHOWBIZ trending tonight. Are you ready for Schweddy Balls ice cream? Tonight, there`s a bizarre debate over Ben and Jerry`s brand- new ice cream flavor based on "SNL`s" Schweddy Balls. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - here come more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Reese Witherspoon is OK after being hit by a car in Los Angeles while jogging. SHOWBIZ first look: Lady Gaga, Pauly D. 9/11 PSA.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LADY GAGA, POP STAR: We were in disbelief.
PAUL "PAULY D" DELVECCHIO, REALITY TV STAR, "JERSEY SHORE": You almost feel a sense of helplessness.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was mortified by what I was seeing.
LADY GAGA: We all watched the second tower fall together.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No one was ready for 9/11 when it happened.
DELVECCHIO: I will call all my family members on that day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will donate to the Red Cross.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will remember the people that we lost.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What will you do?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What will you do?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, SHOWBIZ justice - the battle over Michael.
So after all the anticipation, the trial of Michael Jackson`s doctor, who is accused of manslaughter in his death, got under way today. Jury selection began at a downtown L.A. courthouse.
And outside that courthouse Jackson fans, of course, were out in full force. I can tell you Michael`s fans may just be the most loyal on the planet. You`ve got to see what SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter is revealing all about him.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: No entertainer`s fans are more passionate. Michael Jackson admirers loved him in life and grieved when he died.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was devastated - just hurt, devastated, crushed.
WYNTER: Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you his most devoted fans will be out in force for the trial of Jackson`s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.
GOWARD HORTON, MICHAEL JACKSON FAN: I believe Michael touched my life, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) into my life. And it`s my job to try and be here and support him.
WYNTER: Fans like Goward Horton and his mother, Carolyn(ph), have tuned in for every pretrial hearing for Murray, who is accused of giving Jackson a fatal dose of the anesthetic, propofol.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For him to be honest and answer for what he did.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) I think he`s sweating right now.
WYNTER: Many fans don`t disguise their outrage at the defendant. Some use handmade signs to vent their fury. CNN`s Alan Duke has covered all the Murray proceedings. He remembers one occasion where Jackson followers were waiting in a court hallway as the doctor appeared.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were told they couldn`t say a word to him, so they didn`t. Instead, they hissed at him as if they were rattlesnakes. Murray was just looking straight ahead and I didn`t see him make any eye contact with any of the fans.
WYNTER: Michael fans were not shy about expressing their feelings during his molestation trial in 2005. They came from across the globe to be there. And Murray`s trial may be no different.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is Daniela Musco(ph) from Bismarck(ph). I`m Una(ph) from Germany.
WYNTER: This group of woman traveled from Germany to see Neverland Ranch and to watch Dr. Murray in court this week.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was the man who did such mistakes that Michael died.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We hope justice for Michael.
WYNTER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wants to know why Michael`s biggest fans are so emotional about the trial. We posed that question to doctor of psychology, Wendy Walsh.
WENDY WALSH, DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY: Many of these fans are looking at Conrad Murray as the Satan who killed their savior no less. Of course, it`s all distorted.
Michael Jackson was never their savior. Conrad Murray probably isn`t their Satan. But this is part of their fantasy.
WYNTER: Goward Horton and his mom say their motive for keeping an eye on this trial is simple.
HORTON: I`m just trying to see that the truth comes out, first of all, that they stop saying Michael was killing and Michael killed himself or Michael was a drug addict. That`s not true.
WYNTER: For these fans, seeing Michael`s name cleared in death is their way of keeping his legacy alive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter is right outside the courthouse in downtown L.A. So Kareen, what went down today?
WYNTER: Well, A.J., about 160 potential jurors filled out those information sheets that you talked about inside the courtroom today, keeping in mind that in the coming days, 12 jurors and a few alternates will be selected.
Those men and women will ultimately decide if Michael Jackson`s private physician was, indeed, responsible for the king of pop`s death. A.J.?
HAMMER: And Kareen, it`s pretty clear that Michael`s fans have already decided Dr. Murray is guilty. Are people worried they could actually get violent if the jury comes back with a not-guilty verdict?
WYNTER: Well, A.J., there`s no denying it. Jackson has some of the most passionate fans around, right? But they do believe in Jackson`s message of peace and love, so it`s quite early.
It`s unclear how things will play out toward the end. But there are a lot of security measures already in place. We`re talking about an extremely high profile case.
For example, they used to usher Conrad Murray in through this public entrance. Not anymore. He`s taken in through a private entrance, again, for his security. A.J.?
HAMMER: Well, let`s hope it does stay peaceful. Kareen, thanks so much. Remember, we`ve got the complete coverage of the Conrad Murray trial right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and HLN.
Moving on tonight, Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds - are they dating? Well, there are new reports tonight they`ve been hanging out. Tonight, Sandra sets the record straight.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATHY GRIFFIN, COMEDIENNE: How many times have you wanted to actually do this, but you just didn`t have the nerve?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Kathy Griffin, Anderson Cooper - they`ve done plenty of hanging out, especially on New Year`s Eve on CNN. Now, they`re doing something they`ve never done before. You`ve got to see this. It`s coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ trending tonight - we`re so cool. Yes, there is a brand- new survey just released by a social networking site, "BadNews.com."
And it reveals the Americans are, in fact, the coolest nationality. Cooler than the Spanish, the Italians, and way cooler than the Belgians, in fact, even our northern neighbors, Canadians.
Let me bring in the great comedian, Jim Breuer. He is a former "Saturday Night Live" cast member and his fantastic book "I`m Not High" now available in paperback.
So here`s the deal. 30,000 people voted in this poll and the reasons why Americans came on top include these - President Obama, Jay-Z, Snoop Dog, Apple`s Steve Jobs and Lady Gaga.
Jim, you`re a well-traveled man. Any argument here that we are, in fact, the coolest nationality?
JIM BREUER, COMEDIAN AND AUTHOR: No, because, apparently, African- Americans are cool. In that poll, I think, there was one white person and that one white person doesn`t count because it was Lady Gaga. We`re not sure who the white person is.
HAMMER: I see.
BREUER: We have Snoop Dog -
HAMMER: Right.
BREUER: President Obama -
HAMMER: Jay-Z -
BREUER: Jay-Z -
HAMMER: Apple`s Steve Jobs -
BREUER: Who`s Apple`s Steve? What is that?
HAMMER: Steve Jobs.
HAMMER: Steve Jobs from Apple.
BREUER: Oh, Apple. Do I look like I would pay attention to anything related to an apple? You know, I`ve traveled - we are the coolest. This is like a buffet to the world. What do you want? You want rap?
You want to dress conservative? You want to be a Mormon? You want to be a Buddha? You can be a vegan Buddha SHOWBIZ TONIGHT addict and you`re cool.
HAMMER: Yes.
BREUER: You have an array of variety here in America.
HAMMER: I`m thinking about taking of all that on as my new persona, as a matter of fact.
BREUER: And our language rocks. I just came from Germany. It makes no sense. They`re not even on the list, right?
HAMMER: Germany - I don`t see them.
BREUER: Horrible language. Scooby do is (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HAMMER: But what about Canadians? They`re in the top five for least cool. Why is that? Just a few seconds here.
BREUER: They`re way too laid back. It takes 20 minutes to say, "OK, I`ll do that, hey." They take too long for everything. Same with the Spanish. You know, Spanish - I want some eggs. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HAMMER: All right. We want folks to join the debate now. Tweet #AmericansAreCoolest and @ShowbizTonight . Stick around - I`ve never said this before - to talk about Schweddy Balls, will you?
BREUER: Schweddy Balls it is.
HAMMER: And now, it`s the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
More big news breaking tonight - Kate Gosselin. You`ve got to hear why she says she`s freaking out.
Also, Ryan O`Neal is furious with Oprah tonight. Why Ryan is blaming O for messing up his family again.
Here comes the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Neil Diamond is engaged to his manager, this will be his third marriage. ESPN and the NFL reach an eight-year deal over "Monday Night Football."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Kate Gosselin, unemployed and freaking out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
K. GOSSELIN: Why are you letting them eat our lunch at this hour?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There`s (UNINTELLIGIBLE) things like mac and cheese.
K. GOSSELIN: There were four pieces.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It wasn`t going to last anyway.
K. GOSSELIN: It was for the adults.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Kate`s run on reality TV is over and she is scared about paying the bills. Is Kate totally overreacting?
Shrinking Simpson? Tonight, Jessica Simpson sets the record straight about getting a breast reduction. "Bachelor Pad" star, Vienna Girardi, with her own plastic surgery confessions. Vienna, right here tonight for a headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
Oprah on the hot set. Tonight, why Ryan O`Neal is furious with Oprah Winfrey, blaming her for making his family fall apart again.
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 with big news breaking today - Kate Gosselin`s big freak out.
The reality mom has been forced to face the harsh reality of unemployment now. Kate`s TLC show, "Kate Plus 8," is going the way of her marriage - kaput. And now, Kate is scared for herself and how she`s going to be able to make a living for her eight kids.
Well, today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained an advanced copy of the new "People" magazine where Kate reveals she`s absolutely freaked out about being taken off TV. But is Kate really the one to blame here?
Who better to ask than reality show Vienna Girardi who stars on "Bachelor Pad" joins me now in Hollywood? Pleased to see you, Vienna. Thanks for being here.
VIENNA GIRARDI, REALITY TV STAR, "THE BACHELOR PAD": Thanks for having me.
HAMMER: Absolutely. So the headline on this new "People" magazine with Kate Gosselin on the cover reads, "Will her kids be OK"? In the interview Kate reveals she is devastated by the cancellation of her show.
Here`s what she`s telling "People," "I`m freaking out big time. My kids weren`t ready. Nobody was. I`ve never quit a job in my life without having something else lined up. This has been ended for me on a moment`s notice. I don`t know what`s next."
And look, I do get it. She`s got her eight kids to worry about. But I`m not sure if she should have put all of her eggs in the reality show basket. Look, Vienna, you`ve had great success on reality TV. Do you think Kate is overreacting here or would you be worried just like her?
GIRARDI: You know, I kind of have a good take of both sides. I understand why she is upset. She`s been doing this for years and this is what`s been paying the bills and all she knows really right now.
But she`s been making a lot of money and she should have been thinking reality TV isn`t going to last for her entire life. And I feel personally that, you know, for myself I save as much as I possibly can because there`s a life line to all of this.
You don`t see actors acting their entire lives. You don`t see reality stars on reality TV forever. You know, there comes a time when there`s an end. And I think she should have been preparing for this.
And I think she should have had, you know, a backup lined up and she should have money saved for her kids so that, you know, when this time came, she had some cushion to lean back on.
HAMMER: Yes. Absolutely a great point and it`s a sentiment echoed by Kate Gosselin`s ex, Jon Gosselin. He was speaking out today about Kate`s freak out.
Here`s what he`s telling "RumorFix.com" - he says, "Reality TV is not a career. Get back to a normal life, a simple life, provide for your family."
So Vienna, I think you have a realistic opinion about that. It really is not necessarily a career that you can count on.
GIRARDI: Yes. No, it`s not. You know, reality TV - it is fun and you enjoy it while it`s there. And you know, a lot of people in reality TV - you know, you ride the coattails as long as you can.
But you have to realize that, eventually, you have to go back to the real world. And you know, just like my boyfriend, Casey, has his own company. And people always ask, "What do you do? What do you have for real jobs?"
And you know, I`ve always been the owner of my own company also. So when I`m not on TV, I`m building my own company. And so that when all the reality TV is gone and you no longer see me on TV, I`m still making money and I still have a career.
HAMMER: Yes.
GIRARDI: I think anybody in reality TV for the majority of it, everyone that I know personally that is on reality TV, they have careers and jobs and cushions and things to fall back on because they understand that you`re not going to be doing it forever.
And eventually you`re going to have to experience the real world and go back to a normal life.
HAMMER: Yes, it`s amazing. And sometimes I think maybe she herself shot herself in the foot with some of the antics we saw.
And quite frankly, it gives me some insight as to why she looked like she was going to come unglued when she was right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT not that long ago.
But right now, I want to move on to an obsession that really doesn`t seem to go away. It`s the hope long-time friends Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are dating.
Once again, Sandra is setting the record straight as she feels she needs to. But first, let me review for you why people think they are dating in the first place.
There were reports that they comforted each other after their respective splits from Jesse James and Scarlett Johansson. They spent new years together. Then, more recently, they were spotted hiking together.
And now, reports are surfacing that she`s pregnant with Ryan`s baby. Today, Sandra Bullock is saying all of this is absolutely false. But Vienna, give me a little insight here. Why are people so obsessed about making this happen?
GIRARDI: I think that we love both of them so much that we love love stories. And we just really want them to be together. But I do understand just because you are friends with a person and you`re seen around with them or you spend New Year`s together, you can be just friends.
I mean, I remember coming off the show and every single time I was seen with somebody, it was, "She`s dating this person. She`s with that person." Just because you`re friends with them does not mean you`re dating.
And I`m so happy they did clear the record, you know, "We`re not dating. We`re friends." And good for them, but, you know, we love both of them.
We just, you know - as fans we would love to see them together. But I understand. Friends are friends and there`s no reason to have rumors.
HAMMER: Well, I`ve always said that`s the raw deal celebrities get. You can`t go out with somebody of the opposite sex without people saying, "Hey, this is something that`s going on in the dating world." But maybe they should just date to make us all happy. I`m not sure.
But right now, I do want to move on to another hot topic that you`ve been making headlines about - plastic surgery. Now, one of your "Bachelor Pad" co-stars, Ella Nolan, is appearing on the new issue of "Life and Style Weekly."
She had six surgeries. She got breast implants, liposuction on her hips, thighs and tummy and rhinoplasty. She said she did it after seeing herself on TV.
Now, Vienna, you made headlines for getting your nose done after "The Bachelor." Your were quite candid about it. What do you think of Ella`s decisions to go to these great lengths to really transform herself?
GIRARDI: It`s something I said after I had my nose done. It was something I wanted as a child. It wasn`t because of how I felt like I looked like on TV. I`d wanted that surgery for a very, very long time. That is why I did it.
I also said if it`s something that will make you feel better about yourself, then go for it. But don`t go get a million different surgeries to be a different person.
You know, I think one of the people that you can talk to is Heidi Montag. You know, she looks gorgeous, but like she said, she regrets doing that much.
And I think, with Ella, when I saw her the other day, I was a little shocked. You know, it`s - I know she didn`t like her nose and she talked about getting her boobs done and stuff. But it was just a lot to get done is where I kind of stood.
I mean, to get that many surgeries at one time I didn`t feel like anyone - I personally had never heard anyone talk negatively about, you know, her boobs or her nose or anything.
So I didn`t really understand her standpoint for it but I understood she wanted to get it done because it made her feel better. I thought it was kind of a lot to get done. That`s just my personal opinion.
HAMMER: Yes. And you can sort of understand, particularly for somebody who is new to seeing themselves on TV, how all of a sudden, you`re seeing yourself literally in a whole new light, and you can feel an awful lot of pressure.
We`ve been talking obviously lately about all the pressure that comes from reality TV after the suicide of Taylor Armstrong (sic) from "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" - "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" husband, Russell.
But speaking of plastic surgery, I want to talk about Jessica Simpson because she`s now slamming reports that she`s gotten a breast reduction to prepare for her upcoming wedding.
Let me read to you what she tweeted, "Been getting lots of questions about this alleged breast reduction. Not to worry. I love my boobies. They aren`t going anywhere."
You`ve got to love that tweet. Jess is really direct about this. She`s not getting the surgery right now. Vienna, you were very open about your nip/tuck.
What do you make of all the stars who really try to hide their cosmetic enhancements? Don`t you think this is something if you`re going to do it, be open about it?
GIRARDI: It just depends. You know, a lot of stars aren`t as open about their lives. And I understand that your life is so thrown out to the public that maybe you don`t want them to know everything about yourself.
You know, I was open because I knew there were going to be people who said stuff and realize that "I didn`t want to lie about it."
You know what, Jessica? I love Jessica and I love how honest she is. And this is how she feels. You know, she loves her boobies.
HAMMER: Yes.
GIRARDI: And if she does feel like she needs breast reduction, good for her. You know, if that`s what she needs - I have a very close friend who has had it done because it does give you back problems.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Jessica strikes me as somebody, if she were to have stuff done, she would be open and honest about it.
GIRARDI: Absolutely.
HAMMER: And Vienna Girardi, I appreciate your openness and honesty. Thank you so much for being with us.
GIRARDI: Thank you.
HAMMER: Don`t forget to watch "Bachelor Pad" Monday nights on ABC. Moving on to SHOWBIZ trending. A bizarre debate over Ben and Jerry`s news ice cream flavor, Schweddy Balls. The name is based on the classic "Saturday Night Live" sketch with Alec Baldwin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to say your balls are so tender.
ALEC BALDWIN, ACTOR: Well, there`s no beating my balls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Twitter-verse going crazy on this. But will you belly up to Schweddy Balls ice cream?
Ryan`s Oprah fury. Ryan O`Neal going off on Oprah Winfrey tonight. Is she really to blame for his latest family disaster? 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: Nick Jonas replaces Daniel Radcliffe in Broadway musical, "How to Succeed." Adele`s "Someone Like You" soars to number one on Billboard Hot 100 after VMA performance.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to say your balls are so tender.
A. BALDWIN: Well, there`s no beating my balls. They`re made from a secret Schweddy family recipe. No one can resist my Schweddy Balls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That is for sure an Alec Baldwin "Saturday Night Live" classic. But the big question tonight, can you resist Schweddy Balls? I`m not talking about Alec Baldwin`s. I`m talking about Ben and Jerry`s new ice cream flavor.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. So tonight, will this be the flavor of the month?
All right. Here`s the scoop on this. Schweddy Balls is the name of Ben and Jerry`s just revealed new ice cream flavor. It`s SHOWBIZ trending tonight. But seriously, are parents really going to let their kids order Schweddy Balls on their sugar cones? I don`t know.
Well, joining me right now in New York, Jim Breuer, a former "Saturday Night Live" cast member. Go online to find the trailer of Jim`s great new movie, "More than Me." Also in New York tonight, TV and radio host, Michael Billy.
So the reason Ben and Jerry chose the controversial name, Schweddy Balls is because they`re mixing apparently fudge-covered malted rum balls into their vanilla ice cream. Let`s face it. It is hysterical, Jim. But I have to ask you -
BREUER: Yes.
HAMMER: Not as a comedian, but as a parent of three young daughters. Would you feel good about them saying, "Hey, dad, can you bring home a pint of the Schweddy Balls tonight?" This is pretty funny, right?
BREUER: No. If I can - see, I`m a metal head. My kid got in trouble for going to school going, you know, "My dad likes this song `I`m on the Highway to Hell.`"
She can`t do that but now she`s can go, "I`m going to have some Schweddy Balls after school after we win the game." "Hey, after the soccer game, what do you say we have some Schweddy Balls?"
HAMMER: So you see the problem here with this?
BREUER: Yes, absolutely. But more of the problem, what`s it going to smell like? That`s my word.
HAMMER: OK. I`ve got to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) into that.
BREUER: I`m just saying!
HAMMER: Smelly Schweddy Balls.
BREUER: Caramel smells great. Schweddy Balls smell like - I don`t know.
HAMMER: Obviously, this is a pretty great marketing campaign. We`re here talking about it. But it is creating a potential nightmare for parents who might find themselves, Michael, in a very sticky situation regardless of how this thing goes.
I`m just saying Schweddy Balls. And I want to have a counter up to tonight to count how many times I actually said "Schweddy Balls," but I`ll avoid that. Do you see this as a problem?
MICHAEL BILLY, TV AND RADIO HOST: No, not so much a problem. This is a brilliant marketing scheme. We`re all talking about it. Everybody loves Schweddy Balls.
We`re all excited to know what it smells like, what Schweddy Balls tastes like. And if anything, I remember when I was a kid, I used to laugh at "Golden Girls," all the jokes. I didn`t get them, but I laughed at them.
So kids don`t really know. Let them enjoy their Schweddy Balls just as I would want to.
BREUER: How much can you stuff in your mouth?
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Quoting Michael Billy, let them enjoy their Schweddy Balls.
BREUER: Let them enjoy.
HAMMER: Can we move on to something - I`m still uncomfortable tonight. I want to move on to this TMZ reporting this whopper today - Paris Hilton is now training to be the most powerful deejay in the world.
Apparently, what she`s doing is traveling around the globe. She wants to become a mix master. Jim, what do you think? This reincarnation of Paris Hilton, will it work? Should she name herself "DJ D-lister" or something like that?
BREUER: I don`t even understand - how is she even still in the public? What is she - who is she? Besides, what has she done?
Seriously, I`m lost. Can you explain it me who she is? No disrespect, but besides a video -
HAMMER: In all seriousness -
BREUER: This is why I love America.
HAMMER: She runs a multimillion dollar empire, all kinds of businesses - yes, how did she get famous? Well -
(CROSS TALK)
BREUER: Here`s how you get famous in America, Schweddy Balls and all! Boom, you`re rich and famous. Be a deejay.
HAMMER: Is she on the right path, Michael?
BILLY: I would say it`s one of those weird experiences. When you`re a little kid, what do you say to your mom? You know, "I want to be a porn star when I grow up. I want to be on reality television. I want to be an empress."
I mean, there`s so many things that she`s done in her life, yet she`s done nothing to my mind.
HAMMER: Being a deejay is a very respectable position. If that sounds like a less-than-intelligent idea there, I do want to get to this.
Let`s put up this brand-new video, shall we, Charles? It`s trending big time tonight. Gumby the dummy thief. So a guy walks into a 7/11 dressed as Gumby and tries to rob the joint.
He tries to pull out a gun but he`s got these big green gloves on. Hello. So instead of the gun, he drops 26 cents and panics. He runs out of the store. Jim, this guy did not say, "I`m Gumby, damn it," like Eddie Murphy`s character used to say on "SNL." Got to be the dumbest robber of all time.
BREUER: Yes, that`s pretty dumb. Right there, it tells you he should have stuck with Batman - at least, Batman, Superman. Gumby -
HAMMER: Yes, Batman`s got an easy to use -
BREUER: Pokey. Pokey. Pokey, man. Gumby? This guy`s got problems.
HAMMER: Big problems.
BREUER: He could have walked in naked and got money quicker than that. That`s true. He could have walked in with Schweddy Balls.
HAMMER: That would have solved all his problems.
BREUER: Now, we`ve solved everything.
HAMMER: And we will leave it there. Jim Breuer, Michael Billy, thanks, guys.
BREUER: Keep those off the counter.
HAMMER: All right. Let move on to SHOWBIZ viral videos tonight. Hey, we love a good remix. You remember that can`t-get-it-out-of-your-head remix of those crazy Slap Chop commercials?
Well, the guy behind that, deejay Steve Porter (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Steve Porter is back, but this time, he`s taking on a primetime TV hit, NBC`s "Community." I love this show.
I think it`s one of the funniest, most underrated shows on TV. So deejay Steve Porter hooked up this remix. He had the buzz going for season three. Check it out.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: It`s funny. It`s already got more than 200,000 hits. Pretty cool. Moving on to Oprah Winfrey on the hot seat tonight. Oprah in the middle of a brand-new firestorm.
Tonight, why Ryan O`Neal is furious with Oprah, blaming her for making his family fall apart again. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Mary Tyler Moore to get lifetime achievement honor at Screen Actors Guild awards. A sequel is reportedly in the works for 1988 cult classic "Beetlejuice."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL KEATON, ACTOR: Sand worms. You hate them, right? I hate them myself. Watch this. What do I have to do to strike a deal with you two, huh? I always hate it when it happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, Ryan O`Neal takes on Oprah Winfrey. Here`s the deal with this. Oprah`s network, OWN, aired a reality series all about Ryan O`Neal and his daughter, Tatum.
The two had about estranged for some 25 years. And on the show, they appeared to reconcile. But we learned today Ryan is saying the whole series was a fraud manipulated to just look good for TV. And Ryan O`Neal is forever blaming Oprah.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, actress and activist, Sheryl Lee Ralph.
So this show was called "Ryan and Tatum: The O`Neals." And it made it seem very clear that they had made their peace. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN O`NEAL, ACTOR: It not a perfect picture, but it`s not over yet. Hello, I`m looking for Miss Tatum O`Neal.
TATUM O`NEAL, ACTRESS: That`s my name. Don`t wear it out.
R. O`NEAL: I`m picking up Tatum and taking her to Palm Springs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This has got to be a special night for you guys.
R. O`NEAL: The last time we saw it together was years ago.
T. O`NEAL: It`s a time for us to try to find peace within our family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Come on. I`m looking at this and I`m thinking, you know, Ryan O`Neal is no stranger to cameras. He`s been around them for all of his life. Do you really think he could have been duped here?
RALPH: Absolutely not. Look, it`s reality TV. And what better way to end the first season than to say, "It was all a fraud. It was just set up by Oprah`s company." Even if that was the case, Oprah is wonderful. We are guaranteed. What a second season.
HAMMER: So I`m guessing you`re thinking not fair to blame Oprah Winfrey here.
RALPH: Not fair at all to blame her. But everybody is set up for what? More. And we love a good train wreck.
HAMMER: We sure do. All right. Sheryl Lee Ralph, thank you so much. Well, they`ve spent the past few New Year`s Eves together.
And now, Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin are doing something they`ve never done together, at least not on camera.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: How many times have you actually wanted to ask me to do this but never had the nerve?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. You`ve got to see this. This is pretty hilarious. It`s how Kathy is helping Anderson kick off his brand-new talk show. And that is coming up next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: All right. Anderson Cooper is shacking up with Kathy Griffin. Before the launch of his new talk show called "Anderson," the CNN anchor spent time at a summer home with his hilarious pal.
Kathy made herself at home and, well, got a little too comfortable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER 360": (UNINTELLIGIBLE) today and they`ve asked me like I sent her the key, which I was a little worried about, because the idea of Kathy Griffin just kind of let loose in my house was a little concerning to me.
The first night that she was here, she was here by herself. She was sending me naked pictures of herself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Perfect. Kathy Griffin is one of Anderson`s first guests. Well, "Anderson" debuts on Monday. Check your local listings for details.
That`s it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively Monday through Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on HLN.
Stay right here for "DR. DREW" coming up next. And tonight, the Coronado Mansion death mystery. Is this troubling case really closed? "DR. DREW" on HLN starts right now.
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