Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
"Toddlers and Tiaras" Mom Defends Julia Roberts Costume; Interview With Stephen Baldwin; Interview with Howard Gordon; Muslims Struggle for Accurate Hollywood Portrayal; Cougars Attempt to Recruit Madonna; Clooney`s Ex Tells All; Brad and George at Toronto Film Festival
Aired September 09, 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. Defending "Toddlers and Tiaras." Tonight, the mom who dressed her 3-year- old daughter as Julia Roberts`s hooker character in "Pretty Woman" speaks out to HLN`s Joy Behar and defends what she did.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY DICKEY, "TODDLERS AND TIARAS": It was very, very comical.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Our "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint" tonight: Should "Toddlers and Tiaras" be canceled?
Madonna`s big cougar offer. Tonight, the unbelievable, bizarre million-dollar offer to Madonna to be on a dating site for older women who love younger guys. Should Madonna take the cougar cash?
George Clooney`s "ex file," startling confessions. Tonight for the very first time, Clooney`s ex-girlfriend reveals why they broke up. But who`s to blame?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with big news breaking tonight. Mama madness. For the very first time, the mother who dressed up her 3- year-old daughter as a prostitute for a reality show is speaking out, and she`s defending herself. That did nothing to calm the outrage today. And even our good friend, Khloe Kardashian, got furious after she saw the story on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and she tweeted everybody about it.
But wait, there`s more! SHOWBIZ TONIGHT learned today that the mother now wants to auction off the hooker costume her child wore to help an anti- abortion group. Tonight, we`ve the latest developments breaking in this tussle over "Toddlers and Tiaras."
It`s the most talked about scandal in the country this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here comes pretty woman, Paisley!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A little 3-year-old girl competing in a pageant featured on the TLC reality show "Toddlers and Tiaras" was dressed as a prostitute, Julia Roberts`s character in "Pretty Woman."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Work it! Work it, baby! Work it!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And the costume was picked by the girl`s own mother. People everywhere are furious, including "The View`s" Sherri Shepherd...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, "THE VIEW": When are we going to stop sexualizing our children?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: ... and TV watchdog groups.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN ISETT, PARENTS TELEVISION COUNCIL: There`s nothing cute or endearing about dressing up a 3-year-old child as a prostitute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And today, even Khloe Kardashian is expressing her outrage about the story, which she saw right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Khloe tweets, quote, "Watching SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and just learned about "Toddlers and Tiaras" where a 3-year-old dressed up as a prostitute? OK, this is going too far."
And now the woman at the center of this heated controversy is speaking out for the very first time. What are this divisive national figure`s first words on this earth-shattering topic?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAISLEY DICKEY, "TODDLERS AND TIARAS": Miss Julia Roberts.
WENDY DICKEY: Miss Julia Roberts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Three-year-old Paisley Dickey, who wore the controversial hooker costume, appeared last night on HLN`s Joy Behar`s show. She brought along her spokesperson, her mother, Wendy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY DICKEY: Do you know what kind of outfit you had on?
PAISLEY DICKEY: (INAUDIBLE)
WENDY DICKEY: OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Little Paisley showed little interest in gotcha questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY DICKEY: None of the other kids there at the pageant did, either. OK, you need put your baby down, OK? But it was meant to be comical.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And she had no use for her microphone. And under intense questioning from Joy, little Paisley got fed up and actually stormed out of the interview.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW": It`s a little girl dressed as an adult, as a woman. I mean, we`ve seen a lot of stuff on "Toddlers and Tiaras" where the girls are all parading...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: But while Paisley wasn`t that excited about her cable news debut, her mother, Wendy, presented three main reasons why she thinks the "Toddlers and Tiaras" hooker controversy is not that big a deal. Reason one, the little girl had no idea she was dressing as a prostitute.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY DICKEY: When you take your children to movies, there`s always adult humor in the movies that the children don`t get, you hope they don`t get, they should not know what it`s talking about. And this was along the same lines.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The second reason Wendy thinks the "Toddlers and Tiaras" hooker controversy is not that big a deal, the hooker costume wasn`t the only "Pretty Woman" outfit little Paisley wore at the pageant.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY DICKEY: We did a really, really quick change of outfit and she put on the reformed Julia Roberts in the brown-and-white polka dots, and came back out and did the rest of her pageant.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And the third reason Wendy thinks the "Toddlers and Tiaras" hooker controversy is not that big a deal, she thinks it was funny.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY DICKEY: It was meant to be and actually was hilarious. It was the funniest thing I`ve ever seen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: But now in the wake of nationwide criticism, critical headlines and angry Kardashian tweets, Wendy Dickey reveals to Joy Behar that the hooker costume has officially been retired.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY DICKEY: No, we will not be using it again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: But is this pageant mom planning to trade one controversy for another? Well, Dickey tells "E" she wants to auction off the infamous little hooker get-up and give the proceeds to an anti-abortion group, as if this whole costume thing wasn`t controversial enough. But Dickey tells Joy Behar she could have done without any controversy at all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY DICKEY: Had we known it would have caused this much controversy, I never would have considered it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So for little Paisley`s next pageant, it looks like they`ll be going with another costume. And maybe they could throw in some media training for little Paisley. Lesson one, don`t bring your doll to TV interviews.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY DICKEY: You need to put your baby down, OK?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, there you have it, mom not backing down. She thought the whole thing was funny. Clearly, the outrage is spreading. Even Khloe Kardashian is infuriated. And today our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT FaceBook page -- it lit up with your comments.
So here`s our "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint." Should "Toddlers and Tiaras" be canceled?
With me right now in New York, Sunny Hostin, who`s a legal contributor to "In Session" on truTV, and (INAUDIBLE) Wendy Walsh, who`s a psychologist. And Wendy is one of the new co-hosts on "The Doctors."
Look, I think there are a lot of reality shows that have no redeeming value, but they`re entertaining nonetheless to watch. This show seems to take things to a whole new level that I have to imagine is dangerous.
And I got to read to you what Tina M. wrote on our FaceBook page today when we asked if the show should be canceled. Here`s what she wrote on our wall. "If this was YouTube and not a TV show, child protective services would have come in and taken that girl from her mother. The show is like porno to child molesters. Cancel it."
Sunny, to our "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint," should they cancel the show?
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION": I don`t think they should cancel the show, but they certainly need to cancel that mom, right, because bottom line is it`s up to the parents to determine what`s in the best interests of the child. That`s the legal standard and that`s the common sense standard. What mother would do something like this?
HAMMER: Well, they`re treating their kids -- I mean, beyond this costume, they`re treating the kids like toys!
HOSTIN: Exactly. Exactly. And I think, really, it goes to show you that you probably need some sort of license to be a parent, right? It`s the one thing that you can do without any regulation whatsoever. And she loses.
HAMMER: Yes, that and drive a boat, for some reason.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: They let people do that without a license. Well, in her interview, the mom, Wendy, defended her choice and she answered all the critics who are saying that all of this is providing catnip to pedophiles, you know, dressing up her daughter like this. Listen to what she had to say about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY DICKEY: As far as pedophiles, you know, people go to the beach and they put their girls in bikinis, their little girls, their 10-year- olds, their 15-year-olds. And you know, I think there would be a possibility of more pedophiles at the beach than at a pageant.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Wendy Walsh, let me go to you on this because I think she`s missing the point. It doesn`t matter if pedophiles are at the pageant, aren`t at the pageant. All they have to do is flip on their TV to watch this show. So I want to get your take on our "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint." Do you think the show should be canceled?
WENDY WALSH, PSYCHOLOGIST, "THE DOCTORS" CO-HOST: I absolutely do. And the fact that it hasn`t been canceled tells me that it`s fostering a community of pedophiles and uneducated people who don`t understand how sexualizing a little girl can be damaging because, obviously, they`re getting enough ratings to stay on the air, A.J.
But the truth is, if these kinds of videos and photographs were found on the computer of a 40-year-old man, he`d likely be arrested.
HAMMER: Right!
WALSH: Yet it`s OK to watch it on mainstream television?
HAMMER: Yes, that`s what I don`t get at all.
I would love to hear what you have to say about this. Weigh in on the debate with our SHOWBIZ exclusive "Flashpoint" poll. Keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight.
All right, Sunny Hostin, Wendy Walsh, we`ll leave it there. Thank you both.
We move on tonight to Madonna`s big cougar offer, the unbelievable, bizarre million-dollar offer to Madonna -- check this! -- to be on a dating site for older women who love younger guys. Perfect! Should Madonna take the cougar cash?
Did you see this, "Jersey Shore`s" Vinny and Pauly D playing the role of Guidos. What a stretch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) until my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) falls off! (INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, this is certainly coming to a playhouse near you soon. Trust me on that.
And Hollywood remembers 9/11. Tonight, I got one of the guys who was behind "24," a show that was obviously born out of the ashes of 9/11. I`ve got him right here. He`s got a brand-new series about the war on terror. So how does he think Hollywood has changed after 9/11?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN News and Views.
Tonight Hollywood remembers September 11 then and now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNNY DEPP, ACTOR: We all feel so deeply for the victims, for the -- and for the victims` families and feel so helpless.
BEN STILLER, ACTOR: We need to, as our leaders have said, try to continue on and to, you know, get back to our normal lives, those of us who can. You know, I think it`s going to be tougher for some of us than others.
BARBARA WALTERS, "THE VIEW": I was covering Windows of the World at that time, where there were so many deaths. It`s very vivid in my mind. There isn`t enough that we can do to commemorate them and to thank God that we`re still safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT DAMON, ACTOR: I happened to be there. I was in, you know, my apartment. You know, where I lived before I got married was in lower Manhattan, so -- I just remember walking out and looking and seeing the building, and then going back in and watching CNN. And then when they came down, I just -- it just -- I just couldn`t believe it. I just -- I literally couldn`t believe it.
And you know, walking down there afterwards and -- I mean, it was just incredible. People wanted to go just stand there. They needed to go stand there. And I just remember that feeling because I knew that I needed to do it, too, not even for any purpose but just because it`s -- it helps process what had happened. But no, I don`t think it`s something that -- that we`re -- that we`ll ever- that we`ll ever get over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`m right there with you, Matt. Tonight, days before the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Matt Damon one of the many stars remembering that horrific day.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And tonight, Hollywood remembers 9/11, Stephen Baldwin just one of the many celebrities affected in a major way by that terrible day. And tonight, just two days before the 10th anniversary of the terror attacks, Baldwin is marking the anniversary by participating in a play called "110 Stories" by playwright Sarah Tuft. This is a play based on first-person accounts of 9/11 and the aftermath. Proceeds are benefiting the New York Says Thank You Foundation.
Stephen joins me in New York tonight for this "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview. It is always good to see you. What a solemn occasion, though. It is unbelievable to me, and especially hearing Matt Damon speak and remembering myself what I experienced on that day. Here we are, 10 years later.
STEPHEN BALDWIN, ACTOR: Yes.
HAMMER: I know -- and you and I had talked a bit about this before. You were trapped in Los Angeles at the time. You couldn`t get to your family for five days. And you spoke with your brother, Billy, who rushed as soon as he could down to the rubble after the buildings came down. Tell me about the first time you spoke with Billy.
BALDWIN: Well, I just remember talking to my wife, Honey, go get some cash, get some stuff, get some groceries. You know, you start go into, like, kind of crazy mode.
HAMMER: Right.
BALDWIN: And then I heard, Oh, Billy`s down at Ground Zero because he did "Backdraft" and he knows a lot of the firemen. And he`s down there, like, helping look for bodies and stuff, which was amazing, you know, because we`re still always going to be from Massapequa and whatever we can do to help and lend a hand.
So I just remember the pause during the call when I said, Are you OK? And he goes, yes, I`m great. And I just said, you know, What`s it like? And there was this unbelievable pause in the phone call, where he just said, We make movies, and this is beyond any...
HAMMER: Oh!
BALDWIN: ... anything that any movie maker could ever wildly imagine. And you know, now it`s 10 years later, and I`m excited to be doing "110 Stories" and honoring the memory of it all.
HAMMER: And the "110 Stories" is really cool not only because of the great cast, but because you`re having these first-person accounts of what happened on September 11. Let me just run down, though, a few of the stars in this thing with you. Samuel L. Jackson, Cynthia Nixon, Jeremy Piven, Kathleen Turner, Melissa Leo. Out of all the stories you guys are telling, is there one that haunts you most?
BALDWIN: No. They`re all pretty equally spooky. I play an iron worker named Tony Esola, big guy. And it`s really -- it`s more of an expression in "110 Stories" of trying to just remember that one line that strands us all together and how 9/11 exposed that, and now in the memory of all that, how we should just do our best, you know, in our hearts to try to remember that.
You know, it doesn`t matter what side of the aisle you`re on, or this or that or faith or whatever -- you know, or our differences. It`s -- you know, "110 Stories" is about, Let`s remember the spirit that is what makes us great as human beings, you know? And it`s just been a powerful experience doing the play.
HAMMER: Yes, I imagine all of those reasons that you just said, showing what really binds us together despite our differences, was one of the important reasons for you to do this. And here we are 10 years later, and today we hear this disturbing news about a credible terror threat on our nation.
BALDWIN: Yes.
HAMMER: You know, it reminds me -- you know, we`re New Yorkers. We grew up here. I think everybody feels it, but it reminds me, as a New Yorker, that we`re always in danger. What goes through your mind when you see that kind of news?
BALDWIN: Well, I think that -- you know, again, back to, you know, whatever creates our differences. You know, if you look at this president, he got in and there was not a whole lot he did to change certain dynamics within the war against terror because I think he got in and they kind of said, OK, well, look, this is kind of really what`s going on, and you don`t get to know that until you get in, you know?
And again, regardless of our differences, you know, if it`s real, we got to do what we got to do to defend ourselves and keep our country safe.
HAMMER: But don`t you feel safer?
BALDWIN: I do.
HAMMER: Yes.
BALDWIN: I absolutely do. And you know, everybody`s, like, you know, Oh, you know, kill bin Laden, you know what I mean? And it`s the 10 laptops we got after we killed him that really help us more than anything else, you know?
But this was a life-changing event for me. I`m real excited. Anybody can go to NewYorksaysthankyou.org to understand more about "110 Stories." There`s a song I produced, a 9/11...
HAMMER: Oh, excellent.
BALDWIN: ... memorial song written by a former New York City cop name Mike Coffey (ph). And that`ll be on NewYorksaysthankyou.org, as well.
HAMMER: All right, Stephen, I hope the weekend goes well for you. It`s good to see you.
BALDWIN: You, too.
HAMMER: And I want to let everybody know the proceeds from the play "110 Stories" do benefit the non-profit organization New York Says Thank You, as well as Action America.
We move on now tonight to George Clooney and his "ex file." First, startling confessions tonight, for the very first time, Clooney`s ex- girlfriend revealing why they broke up. But who`s to blame?
Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie -- are they already fighting on their new show? It hasn`t even aired yet. Well, Nicole setting the record straight on that next.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN News and Views.
Tonight, Hollywood remembers September 11, then and now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDIE FALCO, ACTRESS: A lot of people have questioned what to (ph) do (ph) with their life -- what they`re doing with their lives, you know? Certainly, I have and my friends have. And the idea that I was a television actress scared the hell out of me for a few days there.
JOE JONAS, MUSICIAN/ACTOR: I actually grew up in New York when (ph) it happened, New Jersey area. And you know, I think it was one of those times where (INAUDIBLE) and scary. You know, I mean, it`s one of those real (ph) things that I feel like, you know, we`re going to remember (INAUDIBLE) lives forever.
And coming up on 10 years, it seems like yesterday. So you know, and to know that there`s still people remembering and seeing (INAUDIBLE) time to take out of everyone`s crazy busy lives to stop and think about the ones that were lost and the loved ones that are still protecting our country. It`s going to be a special day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Michael J. Fox`s sneakers are going back to the future. The woman who hit Reese Witherspoon with her car gets her punishment. And Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie at war? All this making big news in "The Buzz Today."
Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie reality rift? N-O, says Nicole. Richie just smacked down tabloid reports about a war between them on their new reality show, "Fashion Star." During a visit to Ryan Seacrest`s radio show, Richie blasted rumors that they`re feuding on the set, Richie saying, "That couldn`t be further from the truth. I actually love and adore Jessica. I`ve known her for years. She is someone who`s very kind, very sweet and extremely smart."
Nicole and Jessica are two of the mentors on NBC`s upcoming "Fashion Star," which has aspiring designers competing for their own brand.
Reese`s accident aftermath. The 84-year-old woman who hit Reese Witherspoon with her car has just been ordered back to the DMV. According to TMZ, police in Santa Monica want the unidentified woman to retake her driving test. She`ll also have to provide a list of all medications she`s on and take an eye exam. After hitting Reese, the driver was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
McFly`s high-tech hightops send Nike back to the future. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there as the brand-new shoe, called the Nike Mag, was revealed. The futuristic sneaks that glow for up to five hours were worn by Michael J. Fox in "Back to the Future." Now they`re being replicated for auction on eBay. Limited pairs of the Mag will be available on eBay until September 18th, with proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
And according to TMZ, (INAUDIBLE) pair of these Air McFlys went for 37,000 bucks at an auction in LA. Holy mackerel! For that price, I hope you can run 88 miles an hour in them.
All right, here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We are naming the "Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week." Who is it going to be, the mom of 3-year-old "Toddlers and Tiaras" star, Paisley, for dressing her up in the "Pretty Woman" hooker costume, maybe Madonna for dissing hydrangeas -- she loathes hydrangeas -- or "All My Children`s" Susan Lucci for slamming her ABC bosses. And Hollywood 9/11. Tonight, one of the guys behind "24," a show that was born out of the ashes of 9/11, is right here. He has got a ground-breaking new series about the war on terror.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN News and Views.
Tonight, Hollywood remembers September 11 then and now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY HOPKINS, ACTOR: (INAUDIBLE) appalling (ph) (INAUDIBLE) tragedy (INAUDIBLE) (INAUDIBLE) to be thankful (ph) in some way that we are pulling together.
BILLY BOB THORNTON, ACTOR: I think we`ve all been so shocked by the fact that this can happen here, and now we`re kind of waking up to this whole world of stuff. And it`s good to see Americans coming together like they are.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, "THE VIEW": The thing that stays, I think, with me about September 11 is that it was -- it was like B.C., you know, before Christ, after Christ. It`s like before September 11 and after September 11. The world changed. I mean, the entire world changed. Children suddenly discovered that their parents might not have all the answers and that some things you just -- we have to do together. We have to learn together.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Hollywood remembers 9/11. Back then, a controversial new show called "24" was born out of the ashes of that terrible day. Well, tonight one of the guys behind "24" reveals how he thinks Hollywood has changed since 9/11.
Madonna`s million-dollar cougar offer. Tonight, the bizarre offer for Madonna to be the face of a dating site for older women who love younger guys.
"Masterpiece Theater" "Jersey Shore" style. Vinny and Pauly test their acting chops playing Guidos.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) until my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) falls off!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just go like this, Louie!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, wait until you see the latest "Jersey Shore" stars, Louie and Tony.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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 tonight.
Hollywood remembers. So here we are, just two days before the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and tonight the nation is under high alert because of a new terrorist threat. The chilling new warning is bringing back all kinds of memories of what happened on 9/11, and of course, what happened after.
Who can forget how Hollywood rallied to the support of the victims of the September 11 attack? And who can forget that less than two months after 9/11, the TV show "24" launched and it created all kinds of controversy because of its terrorism plot line, which many thought was too soon for a nation whose nerves were still so raw.
Howard Gordon is the Emmy-winning executive producer of the spectacular "24," and he`s with us from Hollywood for a "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview. And now, just a few weeks after the 10th anniversary of 9/11, (INAUDIBLE) show, and it is also about terrorism. This is called "Homeland," and it stars one of my favorite actresses, Claire Danes. She plays a CIA agent fighting terrorism here at home. I can tell you it is fantastic, and it debuts October 2nd on Showtime.
Howard, it`s a real pleasure having you here tonight.
HOWARD GORDON, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "HOMELAND": Thank you. Thanks for having me, A.J.
HAMMER: Absolutely. So tonight, Howard, we have this terror warning from officials saying they have credible specific information about an al Qaeda plot to explode bombs in New York or Washington. I got to tell you, I`m hearing this news today and really feeling some of that anxious energy that we all felt in those days right after 9/11.
Howard, can you believe we`re actually under this brand-new terror alert here a decade later?
GORDON: Well, in a way, it`s sort of predictable and understandable that we would be. I don`t think anyone is surprised that this is where we find ourselves. I think our response to that threat, however, has changed. I think we are a much more sober population. I think we understand some of the complexities and some of the challenges of the new normal that 9/11 brought.
HAMMER: Yes, as much anxiety it brings, we certainly are not shocked when we hear a terror threat because, quite frankly, we`ve been dealing with this now for a decade.
September 11, obviously, a day that changed everything in America. And that, of course, included Hollywood. You know, "24," one of my favorite shows of all time, was born from the ashes of 9/11. It played a big part in transforming Hollywood after the attacks.
So Howard, I got to ask you because no one knows better than you, just how has 9/11 changed Hollywood?
GORDON: Well, I think 9/11 changed Hollywood in the way it changed all of us. Those of us who watch television, the fictional characters we write, the actors who play those characters, you -- even the broadest comedy right now, an old lady can`t pass through -- board a plane without having her knitting needles taken away. So the world really has changed, and our perception of this world and everything we do in it is informed by what happened 10 years ago.
HAMMER: And you are still...
GORDON: I think also the -- I think...
HAMMER: Go ahead.
GORDON: No, I was going to say I think the world is still a much -- we`ve learned that the world is a lot smaller than we thought it was 10 years ago. I think a lot of Hollywood has reached out and tried to understand -- answer the question that I think we asked ourselves, which I think was a basically naive question, which is, Why do they hate us?
HAMMER: Right.
GORDON: And it`s been the job of Hollywood filmmakers and television producers to try to answer some of those questions, and in the course of it, maybe not answer those questions because they are terribly complex, but maybe make people think about what it means to be an American.
HAMMER: And you`re still working to that end. This new show looks terrific. It`s called "Homeland." It`s about to debut on Showtime. It stars Claire Danes. She`s a CIA agent trying to prove that a returning war hero is actually plotting a terrorist attack on the U.S.
Let`s take a little look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: An American prisoner of war has been turned.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s not her resume I have a problem with, it`s her temperament.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I missed something once before. I can`t let that happen again!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell me I`m not out here risking federal prison on behalf of a crazy person.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He`s making (ph) contact. He`s sending a message somebody, a sleeper cell, somebody.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We should explore this further.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Our eyes are so open to these types of things now, and it`s scary to see, to me, because we see that it can be so real. So Howard, will people be watching "Homeland" and finding it disturbing because the threat is so real?
GORDON: Well, I hope they -- I hope people are disturbed. And more importantly, I hope they`re challenged by it because Alex Gansa and I, who created the show together, asked ourselves this very central question, What do we have to be afraid of? And do the things that we fear -- are the things that we fear -- should they be the same now 10 years later after 9/11?
In many ways, Jack Bauer was a more reflexive, visceral fear-based response to that. And now the questions have become a lot more complex. We`ve been in and continue to be in two wars abroad. We conduct those wars very differently with the advent of drones and -- and many more questions have been asked. Our own privacy, our own constitutionally guaranteed rights have been challenged by -- in the name of national security. And you know, I`m really glad it`s not my job to have to make those calls, but I think...
(CROSSTALK)
GORDON: ... hopefully, helps us ask those questions.
HAMMER: Well, Howard, if it touches the greatness of "24," it`s going to be amazing, and it looks that way. Howard Gordon, thank you so much.
You can catch "Homeland" on Showtime when it debuts on October 2nd.
And as Howard Gordon shapes our view with his work behind the camera, Muslim actors in front of the camera continue to struggle to find the right balance between fact and fiction. 9/11 really made an indelible impact on Hollywood, and tonight in a "SHOWBIZ Special Report," we investigate the ways that the tragic events of that day have changed Hollywood`s portrayal of Muslims and Islam and how far it still needs to go.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FARAN TAHIR, ACTOR: Do I create some negative roles for some bad guys? Of course I do. But I also have to make sure I also put out enough content which does not show me always as a bad guy.
HAMMER: You may not know Faran Tahir`s name, but chances are you`ve seen him. The Pakistani-American actor seems to move from big-budget movies to TV and back again brilliantly. But with each role change, he finds the challenge is not just the part, but also Hollywood`s idea of what an Arab-looking character should be.
TAHIR: Right after 9/11, there were probably more storylines which were portraying Muslims in a negative light.
HAMMER (voice-over): And while trying to sidestep that stereotype, he`s noticed a change.
TAHIR: Over this decade, things have shifted. It is bringing in a whole other kind of voice to the Muslim experience.
MARIUM MOHIUDDIN, MUSLIM PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL: If you wanted to grade it, I`d probably give Hollywood a C-plus, maybe a B-minus. It`s getting so much better.
HAMMER (on camera): That`s from the Muslim Public Affairs Council, where members in its Hollywood bureau work with writers and producers on scripts in an effort to keep the depiction of Islam honest and away from the kinds of characters that Hollywood cranked out in the years just before September 2001.
MOHIUDDIN: "True Lies," "Besieged," "Executive Decision" -- those were just straight (INAUDIBLE) portrayal of Muslims being the bad guys being terrorists. And there wasn`t any nuance to them, nothing. They`re not just people who say "Allah-u Akbar" and then cut off someone`s head. It`s gotten much more accurate. It`s gotten so much more -- there`s much more depth to the characters.
HAMMER (voice-over): Yes, provided by the actors themselves, in some cases.
TAHIR: When I was in "Iron Man," we were given the freedom to actually engage the writers and the producers and the director. We made very sure that none of the intentions of the subtext of the characters was driven by a religious ideology. We can`t let other people define us.
HAMMER: So they are defining themselves on "All-American Muslim," a reality show premiering on TLC this fall, for instance, and in a new documentary opening in theaters this weekend. "Fordson: Faith, Fasting, Football" tells the story of an all-American high school football team in Dearborn, Michigan, whose members practice Islam.
RASHID OMAZI, DIRECTOR, "FAITH, FASTING, FOOTBALL": As a Muslim, I thought it was important for us at this time in our history start creating content that`s engaging and entertaining but also is educational.
HAMMER: Educational and lucrative. The entertainment industry has begun to embrace the value of marketing to Muslims.
MOHIUDDIN: Hollywood is not stupid. It is a money-making machine. And I think they`re finally seeing that there`s a completely untapped, hidden market there of people that have not been addressed, stories that have not been told.
TAHIR: The profit is not just based on what the box office that we make in the U.S. It is also based on Europe. It`s based on Asia. It`s also based on Africa. It`s also based on the Middle East. So we have to look at all those markets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And Hollywood is listening. Thankfully, views of Muslims are changing on the big screen. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, 10 years later, Americans are still not that comfortable with 9/11-related movies. Remember "United 93," "World Trade Center," both released in 2006, both not huge box office draws.
Moving now tonight to Madonna. Queen of the cougars? Tonight, it`s the bizarre million-dollar offer to Madonna to be on a cougar dating Web site. She knows a thing or two about dating younger men. Her current guy, 24. She`s 53. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, Should Madonna take the cougar cash?
George Clooney (INAUDIBLE) and tell all. You got to hear this. Tonight, for the very first time, Clooney`s ex-girlfriend reveals why they broke up and who she`s blaming for the split.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN News and Views.
It time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITCH WINEHOUSE, AMY WINEHOUSE`S FATHER: One of her greatest wishes was to have children of her own, and that`s not to be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight Clooney splits secrets. George Clooney`s ex, Elisabetta Canalis, may be dishing out saucy dance moves on this season`s "Dancing With the Stars," but you know that`s not the only thing this Italian bombshell is dishing on. Tonight, she is spilling the beans on pretty intimate details of their relationship. Here`s the big question today. Could Elisabetta actually be blaming herself for the demise of the relationship?
Joining me right now from Hollywood, we`ve got Darren McMullen, host of "Love in the Wild," a hit adventure dating reality TV series on NBC. All right, Darren, let`s have at it. And we`re going to get to Clooney`s ex in just a minute, but first, could Madonna, Darren, actually become the face, the new face of cougars everywhere?
Here`s the deal. She was offered a million bucks to write a hit song and shoot a music video for a new cougar dating site. Let`s fact it, Madonna`s over 50. She`s still gorgeous. She dates a lot of young men. Seems like the perfect fit. Quite frankly, I can`t imagine Madonna actually doing it, but Darren, should Madonna consider this offer?
DARREN MCMULLEN, "LOVE IN THE WILD" HOST: Well, you`ve called me a love expert before, A.J., but I watch a lot of "Mad Men," as well, so I also consider myself an advertising expert. And this is what they would refer to in the business as a marketing ploy. Basically, they have no intention of getting Madonna. I doubt in a million years she would actually do this, but look at the press that this is generating. Everybody`s -- we`re talking about it right now. It`s abuzz all over the Internet.
I`ve never heard of this Web site before, but you can be damn sure a lot of people are hooking onto this cougars Web site now to check it out.
HAMMER: Yes.
MCMULLEN: It`s a very, very clever marketing ploy.
HAMMER: But if you`re paying close attention, I`m not mentioning the name of the cougars Web site because I know that that`s exactly what they`re doing. You think Madonna`s going to write a song for you for a million bucks? Really? Not going to happen. So let`s move on now to...
MCMULLEN: And do you think Madonna`s going to write a song that`s a hit anymore? Come on. Not going to happen.
HAMMER: Well, it`s possible. Hey, she`s got a new album coming out in February. I still hold out hope for Madonna.
But we got to move on right now, Darren, to an incredible brand-new story, Elisabetta Canalis really surprising everyone when she revealed some, quite frankly, pretty intimate details about her relationship with her old flame, George Clooney. She did this to the Italian magazine "Chi," and here`s what she said, "I`m a bit of a tomboy, but when it comes to love, I am a doormat. I am looking for men who can give me security."
Sounds to me like she`s actually taking part of the blame for the demise of the relationship, if not full blame, Darren. Again, you`re a marketing and dating expert, what kind of confession does that sound like to you?
MCMULLEN: Well, I take two things from that, A.J. The first thing is she says that she doesn`t want to be a doormat. I think she`s actually having a little dig at him, saying that he was kind of walking all over her.
HAMMER: I think when she says she`s a doormat when it comes to love, she`s saying that`s how she is. She`s not saying that`s how she was treated.
MCMULLEN: I don`t know. I mean, I hope to God that George Clooney is gay because I tell you what, he is the most charming, charismatic, amazing man I have ever met. And he would be great for the cause. I tell you what. If he is, I would turn gay for him. I think he`s fantastic.
HAMMER: Well, I`m not going to have you -- I`m not going to have you feed these rumors anymore because that`s all it is. And George is one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. He has been very clear on the fact that he doesn`t want to get married again. Elisabetta didn`t say it outright, but she did take a little dig at George when she said, "I have always seen cold and controlled men as the right ones for me. You have to accept that Prince Charming -- that the Prince Charming who is coming to save you is not going to happen."
I think perhaps, Darren, maybe she had some unrealistic expectations.
MCMULLEN: Yes. Quite -- I mean, quite possibly. I mean, I`m flabbergasted. I think most people in the female world would imagine that George Clooney was the antithesis -- like, the quintessential -- sorry -- Prince Charming. And if he`s not even Prince Charming, what hope do the rest of us have?
HAMMER: He is, as I`ve said before, one of the nicest men in Hollywood, and I believe it`s not just what you see when you meet him. I believe it is how he carries out his life. And Darren McMullen, I think you, my friend. Good to see you.
MCMULLEN: Thank you.
HAMMER: Moving on right now: Elisabetta may be bummed over her break- up, but tonight people are swooning over Clooney in Toronto. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT producer J.D. Cargill is right there at the Toronto Film Festival to witness the Clooney lovefest that`s going on.
All right, J.D., let me bring you in. We understand the town is now swarming with A-listers. You got Brad Pitt there, too. I`m thinking they got to have, I don`t know, some kind of smelling salts on hand to revive all of the fans swooning over these two stars. What are you seeing?
J.D. CARGILL, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT PRODUCER (via telephone): That`s right, A.J. It`s just a sea of people passing out left and right here in Toronto. But as you mentioned -- actually, all your stories -- Madonna -- she`s here with a movie, Brad, George, they`re here with movies.
Actually, George is here with two movies. His first one is called "The Ides of March," and it`s a political thriller, and it`s kind of about the seedy underbelly of politics. It stars Ryan Gosling. And I`ll tell you, I`ve seen it and Ryan Gosling shines. I would not be surprised if come this Oscar season, we hear his name thrown about quite a bit.
Now, speaking of Oscars, as you know, A.J., the Toronto Film Festival is positioned just right in the calendar year, in September, right before all the big movies come out for (INAUDIBLE) consideration.
And George`s other movie, "The Descendants," is getting all the buzz right now. I know we throw that word around a lot in Hollywood, the "buzz." But I think this time, it`s probably right. He plays a father, and it`s not a role that we`re used to him in real life and it`s not a role that we`re used to seeing him do on the big screen. So he`s desperate to reconnect with his two daughters after their mother sort of tragically gets hurt in a boating accident. So look out for that one come Oscar season. And as we said before, Brad Pitt -- I might as well call it "Oceans 14" out here in Toronto.
HAMMER: Well, J.D., I know you have drink plans with both George and with Brad tonight, so I`m going to let you go. But thank you for joining us from the Toronto Film Festival. Appreciate it, J.D.
Moving on now, we`re just moments away from naming the "Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week." Who`s it going to be? Possibly Paisley`s mom from "Toddlers and Tiaras"? She dressed up her 3-year-old like a prostitute on that show. Will it be Madonna for her snarky caught- on-tape comments after getting hydrangeas from a fan? Or maybe we`ll name Susan Lucci for bashing her ABC boss, blaming him for the death of "All My Children." Who`s it going to be? The big reveal is next.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN News and Views.
It`s time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker," more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHTON KUTCHER, ACTOR: Whatever I`m doing, I`m just going to do it nude.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Right now, it is time once again to name SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s "Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week." Who`s it going to be, Paisley`s mom from "Toddlers and Tiaras" perhaps? Wendy Dickey thought it was a great idea to dress her 3-year-old like a hooker. Madonna perhaps for her loathsome caught-on-tape moment after someone had the audacity to give her hydrangeas? Or will we name soap legend Susan Lucci the "Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week"? She trashed her ABC boss and then refused to star in the on-line version of "All My Children."
Back with me in New York, Sunny Hostin. Got to say, 3-year-old Paisley dressed like Julia Roberts`s character from "Pretty Woman," pretty inappropriate. But of course, these people new to the so-called "fame game."
Madonna, on the other hand, no sympathy from me. She says such a mean thing when someone was nice enough to give her hydrangeas, she said, Sunny, "I loathe hydrangeas." What`d they ever do to her?
HOSTIN: I know.
HAMMER: Is Madonna getting your vote?
HOSTIN: She`s getting my vote. I`m really hating on Madonna. You know, Paisley`s mom isn`t really a celebrity. She is very new to the television game. Madonna is somewhat of a has-been. I know I`m going to get some e-mails about that. But her fans are everything. You got somebody standing on line to see you, bringing you a lovely set of hydrangeas, which I happen to love -- people, please send them to me! -- and she said these nasty things.
HAMMER: Yes, I think it showed her true colors. But I have to tell you...
HOSTIN: It did.
HAMMER: ... you could be a "Most Provocative" nominee for calling Madonna a has-been.
HOSTIN: I know. I know.
(CROSSTALK)
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: ... on Friday night. Nice going, Sunny! The thing is, I`m not sure we went the same way. We tossed this around quite a bit. May I have a drumroll, please? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT naming the "Most Provocative Celebrity of the Week" as Paisley`s mom.
It`s pretty hideous what she did, dressing up her 3-year-old as a hooker...
HOSTIN: It is.
HAMMER: ... and she is a reality show star.
HOSTIN: It is. That is true. And I was really conflicted over it, but I`m still hating on Madonna. I`m hating on Madonna.
HAMMER: You loathe Madonna!
HOSTIN: I loathe her!
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: ... some hydrangeas!
HOSTIN: ... some hydrangeas for my garden! And I have them.
HAMMER: Sunny Hostin, lovely to see you. Have a good weekend.
HOSTIN: You, too.
HAMMER: Could it be a preview of the first "Jersey Shore" spinoff, the adventures of Louise and Tony?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m going to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) until my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) falls off!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: (INAUDIBLE) Vinny and Pauly D from "Jersey Shore" flexing their acting muscles, taking on their roughest roles yet, playing Guidos.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Inside the Actors Studio now with "Jersey Shore." Did you see this? Vinny and Pauly D go deep, taking on perhaps their most challenging role of their lifetimes, acting like Guidos. You got to see this take (INAUDIBLE) Roll it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) do I got enough Chapstick on, Louie?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dude, do I have enough Chapstick on, Tony?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) a lot of Chapstick, bro.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh (EXPLETIVE DELETED)! Oh (EXPLETIVE DELETED)!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Louie! Louie! Louise, you`re going to get all the girls!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m going to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) fist pump until my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) arm falls off!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fist pump like this, Louie!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oh, they toned it down a bit. "Masterpiece Theater" at its finest right there.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively Monday to Friday at 11:00 PM Eastern and Pacific right here on HLN.
And stay right here for "DR. DREW" next. Tonight, remembering 9/11. "DR. DREW" on HLN starts right now.
END
