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Showbiz Tonight
Potential Jurors in the Conrad Murray Trial Being Asked if They Watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT; Dancing with Nancy Grace; Casey Anthony`s Life in Hiding; "Real Housewives of New York" Confessions on Getting Canned; Taylor Armstrong`s Dramatic Confessions About Husband Russell
Aired September 21, 2011 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Tonight, why are the potential jurors in the trial for the doctor accused of killing Michael Jackson being asked if they watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT? And how could it affect the death trial? I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
More big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - dancing with Nancy. The heart-stopping Nancy Grace "Dancing with the Stars" nail biter. HLN`s own Nancy Grace not guilty of bad dancing. Did she think she was going home?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANCY GRACE, HOST, "NANCY GRACE": "Nancy and Tristan, you`re going home. That`s what I thought I heard. My whole self got hot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Nancy is right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for a not-to-be- missed headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
Inside Casey Anthony`s life in hiding. Startling new revelations today about Casey feeling trapped in therapy. And why she may move out of the country. Tonight, the secrets of Casey Anthony`s life in hiding revealed.
The unbelievable "Real Housewives" confessions on getting fired.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nobody likes to not be asked back to the party. Everybody was not getting along.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
The "Real Housewives of New York" tell the real story behind them getting canned. Fired housewife Cindy Barshop is right here in a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. We`ve got big news breaking tonight - dancing with Nancy.
Yes, tonight, HLN`s Nancy Grace is revealing to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exactly how she survived the first round of competition on "Dancing with the Stars."
Let me tell you, Nancy did some pretty fancy dancing to do it and she and her partner, Tristan MacManus, pulled it off big time. We`re really proud of you, Nancy. Way to go.
But exactly how did she and Tristan managed to pull it off? Well, late today, Nancy and Tristan stepped out of rehearsal to share with me the untold story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(on camera) All right, Nancy, Tristan - MacGrace. Good to see you, guys. Congratulations. Nancy, by the way, I want you to know -
GRACE: Hi, A.J.
HAMMER: Hi. I want you to know I voted for you, not because you essentially threatened me, but because I thought you were terrific. And I need to know how it feels to have made it through the first round of "Dancing with the Stars."
GRACE: OK. Number one, before you throw any more questions at me, A.J., I want to know one thing. Did you vote one time or did you vote 12 times?
HAMMER: It said could I vote 12 times?
GRACE: Listening, not hearing.
HAMMER: Of course, I voted 12 times.
GRACE: Yes, you can vote 12 times.
HAMMER: Of course, I did.
GRACE: OK. Well, now that we`ve gotten that straightened out, what`s your question?
HAMMER: I want to know how it feels to have made it through.
GRACE: Oh, what did I feel?
HAMMER: I`m so excited for you.
GRACE: A.J., A.J., listen, the drama. My mother and father were on the front row. My father thought he was going to have a heart attack. A.J., my hands have not shaken since my first jury trial, which was an attempted shoplifting.
I mean, you know the deal. I tried serial killers, great killers, rapists, child molesters, drug lords. Never have my hands shaken again until last night when I was in jeopardy. Was what necessary?
HAMMER: I mean, that was pretty intense. I was sitting at home. I actually started biting my nails and I never bite my nails. I want to back up, though, and I want to take a look now at what I thought was a simply spectacular performance by the two of you. Nancy, I`ve got to say I particularly love how you kind of included HLN in your routine. Let`s watch that right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Dancing the cha cha cha, Nancy Grace and her partner, Tristan MacManus.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Whoo! You tore it off, Nancy, and you had arrived. Now, I thought did you an incredible job with the dance. But here`s my question - which was more nerve-wracking to you? Was it doing the performance or was it standing there at the very end last night, waiting to find out if you were getting booted from the show?
GRACE: Really? The performance was more nerve-wracking to me. And I`ll tell you what happened, A.J., and you`re the first one I`ve told other than Tristan.
I was so nervous the whole day I couldn`t eat. And right before I went on, I wanted something to drink. Somebody gave me a Red Bull, which I`ve never had in my whole life.
All of a sudden, I couldn`t think. I was jittery. I thought I couldn`t breathe. I don`t know if it was the Red Bull or the corset they had me cinched into.
But everything just - you know, if he hadn`t dragged me through it, I would still be out in the middle of the dance floor right now, wondering what happened. It was the Red Bull and the corset.
HAMMER: See, now, the thing is, Nancy, you`re going to have to have a little Red Bull before each performance because, you know, it`s what you know before you go on stage.
GRACE: No. Never again, A.J. And hey, you know that move where I rip my jacket off? I do that every night when I get off the set.
HAMMER: I`ve seen you do that here at HLN, Nancy. So I want to take a look now at that nail-biting moment when we were all waiting to see if you guys made it through the first round. It`s you and Meta World Peace with his partner PETA. Let`s watch that, Charles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nancy and Tristan - Nancy, last night the judges said you need to remember your choreography and believe in yourself. Do the viewers believe in you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Meta and PETA. Nancy and Tristan. On this first week of competition, the couple with the lowest overall combined total and therefore leaving right now is - Meta and PETA.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know, Nancy, I don`t know if you`ve watched that back. But I could almost see the moment where if Tom Bergeron had said something different, your head just would have exploded.
GRACE: Just listening to it. Listen, this is what happened. I misunderstood what they said and I thought they said, "Nancy and Tristan," and they were all looking at me like, "oh, poor you."
He said, "Nancy, Tristan, somebody`s got to go home." And I thought they said, "You have to go home." And my whole - if he hadn`t been holding me up, I think I would have fallen over.
HAMMER: You didn`t break a sweat, Nancy. I can tell that you having watched the clip a few times now. So now that you have moved on, I want you to tell me who you may see as your biggest competition in the show.
GRACE: I don`t know. I think about the competition all the time. Tristan doesn`t. So what do you think?
TRISTAN MACMANUS, NANCY GRACE`S DANCE PARTNER: I mean, there was a lot of good competition there. Everyone`s done great. Chynna really surprised me. J.R., in a way, didn`t surprise me because he was always going to be entertaining, because he`s just that type of person.
I guess it surprised a little bit that that I didn`t think he was going to be that good. I mean, it was super. So is David. Carson was very entertaining. Chaz was -
GRACE: Oh, I loved Carson.
MACMANUS: I mean, I thought everyone`s done great. So at the minute, everyone`s a competition.
GRACE: You did what? Could you understand that?
HAMMER: No. That`s the thing. I mean -
GRACE: You`re speaking Gaelic.
HAMMER: Honestly, it`s been a great pleasure to watch, not only Tristan speaking and you having trouble interpreting speaking on top of everything else.
But Nancy, here`s the deal. You told me that you were going to be open to the judges` criticism. Still even though that was your plan, I have to imagine it`s pretty tough standing there listening to what they have to say. Let`s watch their take on your very first performance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had no idea you were so lavishly gifted. How are the twins by the way, my darling?
GRACE: Right over there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They should be proud because, I tell you, Nancy, you`ve got the moves.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think you might be the happiest contestant I`ve seen when you`re out there dancing. You have spunk and you`ve got sass, but you have to work on remembering your choreography.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`ve got to get balance. And you were neat and precise, but you didn`t have any flair and attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Nancy, I`m thinking that might be the first time anyone accused of you not having flair and attack. So tell me what you thought about the judges` critiques, which, overall, I thought were pretty positive.
GRACE: Well, actually, as you recall, A.J., I`ve actually been held in contempt in court for having too much flair and attack and threatened with jail and handcuffs for having too much flair and attack during a trial.
Really, I was very humbled by what the judges said. A lot of what they were saying stem from - some of the things Tristan has been trying to teach me all along, and I`m trying to get the hang of it.
But FYI, we have just come out of seven straight hours of practice and I`m trying to implement what the judges said. I`m really trying.
HAMMER: Well, Nancy, I think you`re doing a great job. I can`t wait to see your next performance. Nancy, Tristan - MacGrace, great to see you both and best of luck.
GRACE: Bye, A.J.
MACMANUS: Thank you, mate.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Moving on now to bombshell new "Real Housewives" confessions tonight. Taylor Armstrong`s dramatic revelations to "Entertainment Tonight," claiming she was beaten by her husband, who, of course, committed suicide last month.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAYLOR ARMSTRONG, CAST MEMBER, "THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS": The first time he ever really harmed me physically - I was pregnant with Kennedy and he grabbed me by the throat and held me up against a wall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Taylor Armstrong`s emotional "Housewives" confessions. Also a bizarre new development in the trial for the doctor accused of killing Michael Jackson. So why exactly are potential jurors being asked if they watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT?
SHOWBIZ trending tonight. The heart-tugging viral video of a military airman revealing to his father that he`s gay.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dad, can I tell you something?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will you love me? Serious?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like you`ll always love me, as long as I live?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dad, I`m gay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You have got to hear what happens next. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
It is time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Paris Hilton finishes year-long probation for drug arrest in Las Vegas. Chaz Bono says, mom, Cher, cried after he was on "Dancing with the Stars."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHAZ BONO, CONTESTANT, "DANCING WITH THE STARS": I mean, my mom called, my grandmother, everybody. You know, my family called, my friends called, everybody.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were really shocked how good you did.
BONO: Yes. My mom was really shocked and excited. And you know, she told me she cried. So it was good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dad, I`m gay.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gay?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like always have been, I`ve known since forever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A very personal moment that`s touching people all over the world today. A young U.S. Military serviceman serving overseas called home to tell his dad that he`s gay on the very same day "Don`t Ask, Don`t Tell" ends.
And he shared the experience with the world on YouTube. And if you think that`s emotional, just wait until you see how his dad responds.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. So in just over 24 hours, that YouTube clip has racked up more than one million views.
Twenty-one-year-old air force airman, Randy Phillips, who is based in Germany, had a camera rolling as he made that emotional call just moments after the military`s "Don`t Ask, Don`t Tell" policy officially ended, allowing gays, of course, to serve openly.
Randy used the occasion to finally tell his father back home in Alabama that he`s gay. It is a super-tense moment that turns into a super- emotional one. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY PHILLIPS, GAY U.S. AIR FORCE SERVICEMAN: Dad, can I tell you something?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Will you love me? Serious?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Like you`ll always love me, as long as I live?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
PHILLIPS: dad, I`m gay.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gay?
PHILLIPS: Like always have been. I`ve known since forever. And I know I haven`t seen you in like a year and I don`t know when is the next time I`ll be able to see you. And I didn`t want to do it over the phone. I wanted to tell you in person, but I didn`t want you to find out any other way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
PHILLIPS: Do you still love me?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I still love you, son. Yes, I still love you.
PHILLIPS: You OK, Dad?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It doesn`t change our relationship. I still love you, OK?
PHILLIPS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I always will no matter what. OK?
PHILLIPS: Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re my son and I`m very proud of you. OK?
PHILLIPS: Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will always love you.
PHILLIPS: All right. I love you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Love you, too.
PHILLIPS: All right. Bye. Oh, my lord.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: TV and radio host, Michael Billy, joining me now in New York. I mean, it`s unbelievable, Michael. You can see the tension in his face. You can almost feel it through the computer screen and TV screen.
And then the same with the relief that comes at the end. What goes through your mind when you see this video?
MICHAEL BILLY, TV AND RADIO HOST: I`m not ashamed to admit I really cried this morning when I saw it. You know what? It honestly reminded me of when I came out to my own father, my own parents in Teaneck, New Jersey years and years ago and how honest and liberating it is.
People need to understand that when you`re hiding that about yourself and your life, it can build up so much emotion thinking that your parents are going to leave you forever.
And in just a few words somebody lets you know it doesn`t matter. My father said, "Hey, you`re my son no matter what and I love you." Changed my life.
HAMMER: And now, you go around the country trying to help kids and students learn how to come out and tell them your story. Do you think this video can actually be a teaching tool to that end? What can people learn from watching this?
BILLY: Oh, absolutely. I mean, YouTube is an amazing tool when it comes to gay advocacy and coming out, and people understanding what students are really going through, and what adults are going through, even servicemen are going through.
You said a million and plus. That`s a million plus people that understand the emotion and how heavy it is to be honest and authentic about your life to your loved ones.
HAMMER: Yes, because, again, keep in mind this isn`t something that was just a phone call that he was taping and putting on YouTube -
BILLY: Yes.
HAMMER: Hoping that maybe a few people would see it. Now, it`s out there for everyone and the entire world. So he really - I think, in his mind, he felt like he was taking a risk and he saw that, in the end, he really wasn`t.
BILLY: Yes, I think the message to so many other gay, lesbian, GLBT people out there is that sometimes we really have to trust our loved ones and the people in our lives to have a good reaction to keep us in their lives. That fear often is our own.
HAMMER: I encourage people also to just go online and find that video to watch the entire seven and a half minutes, because you`ll really get a sense of tension. Michael Billy, thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Moving on now, the "Showbiz on Call" have been burning up ever since Ashton Kutcher made his big debut on "Two and a Half Men." Now, we`ve got a lot of people calling in with good reviews. Some others - not so good.
This one from Beth in New Jersey who says that "Men" is just not the same without Charlie Sheen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
BETH, CALLER FROM NEW JERSEY: It was the first night of the first show with Ashton Kutcher, so everybody tuned in, including me, just to watch part of it. He just isn`t going to make it. You`re going to have to bring Charlie Sheen back.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Thank you, Beth. We also heard from Lisa calling in from Nevada. She called "Showbiz on Call" to say that she`s surprised she liked Ashton so much.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
LISA, CALLER FROM NEVADA: I just got finished watching the new show, "Two and a Half Men." I really didn`t expect anything good.
But you know something? I was really impressed and I was surprised it was delightful. I really don`t like that Ashton Kutcher. But after seeing him acting tonight, it turned my whole thinking around. So I think it`s going to be a hit.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: I agree with you, Lisa. I`m a fan now of "Two and a Half Men" and Ashton Kutcher.
Well, tonight, we`re taking inside Casey Anthony`s life in hiding. Wait until you see the startling revelations today about what Casey Anthony`s life has been like after being acquitted in the death of her two- year-old daughter. The big question tonight is, is Casey really moving out of the country?
Also, comedienne Roseanne Barr slams Sarah Palin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSANNE BARR, COMEDIENNE: She stole, not just my act, but she stole my look, too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, why Roseanne is going off on Sarah Palin. Seriously. Plus, the big star defending Sarah Palin tonight. This is SHOWBIZ on HLN news and views.
And now, it`s the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Robert Pattinson not recording solo album despite online reports. Former Oscar co-host Steve Martin offers tips to Eddie Murphy in open letter!
TEXT: "Start slimming down now, you looked kinda paunchy in "Norbit." If you feel tired midway through, give Neil Patrick Harris a Red Bull and throw some sheet music at him." - Steve Martin
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Feels good that we got through week one. And you know - but at the end of the day, there`s another week after this one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You really never know what America`s going to vote, so it`s nice to know that they had faith in us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right there at "Dancing with the Stars" as scoreboard leaders J.R. Martinez and Chynna Phillips breathed a sigh of relief. They didn`t get the boot this week. But will they be the last two standing as they compete for this year`s mirror ball trophy?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, "Dancing" prediction. Nancy Grace, J.R. Martinez, Chynna Phillips - they all danced their way away from elimination last night on the show. But who is going to dance all the way to the top?
Well, tonight, I`m figuring who better to ask than the very first "Dancing with the Stars" champ and "General Hospital" star, Kelly Monaco. Kelly is also getting ready to debut her great new docu-soap. It`s called "Dirty Soap" on E! You`ve got to check that out.
Kelly, I`m thrilled to have you here. Thank you so much. Really, I figured who better. You were there right at the beginning.
KELLY MONACO, FORMER "DANCING WITH THE STARS" CHAMPION: I was. I know what it feels like.
HAMMER: We watched you raise that mirror ball trophy above your head.
MONACO: I don`t know how that happened, anyway.
HAMMER: Well, you, obviously, were well deserved in winning that.
MONACO: Thank you.
HAMMER: But here we are, season 13 already.
MONACO: Unbelievable.
HAMMER: It`s unbelievable and I`m wondering even though we`re only into the first round, if you can see (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(CROSS TALK)
MONACO: I`ve got to tell you. I had my - I interviewed the cast for "E! News" before they even started dancing and I already made my predictions then.
HAMMER: OK.
MONACO: So just going from like the heart and soul of it without seeing anybody move, David Arquette was on my top. I just think he`s in it for the right reasons, you know. He`s like challenging himself, stepping outside of his comfort zone, like all those hoping -
HAMMER: Nobody will accuse him of not having a lot of heart and will power.
MONACO: Tell me about it. I also love Ricki Lake. I think that she`s going to be somebody that learns a lot through the process and journey. And she might be able to bring Broadway to the ballroom. I`d love to see that.
HAMMER: Did Chaz Bono surprise you?
MONACO: Loved him.
HAMMER: He was great, right?
MONACO: Fantastic.
HAMMER: And it`s much ado about nothing, all the nonsense, right?
MONACO: He`s so courageous to come out there and to be the face of trans -
HAMMER: Yes, transgendered people.
MONACO: Transgender -
HAMMER: I think it`s a great and bold move by ABC.
MONACO: No. I mean, it`s huge. It`s huge for him to kind of take that responsibility on for a whole community.
HAMMER: I agree. Will you stick around for me?
MONACO: Yes.
HAMMER: All right. Kelly Monaco, thank you so much. And make sure you turn into Kelly`s new show, "Dirty Soap" debuting on E! this weekend.
Moving now to the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
The trial, of course, for the doctor accused of killing Michael Jackson is heating up. Why are potential jurors in the Jackson trial actually being asked if they watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT?
New "Real Housewives" confessions today. Taylor Armstrong`s dramatic revelations to "Entertainment Tonight" claiming she was beaten by her husband who later committed suicide.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
T. ARMSTRONG: The first time he ever really harmed me physically - I was pregnant with Kennedy. And he grabbed me by the throat and held me up against a wall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: 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: Illusionist Criss Angel gets engaged!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - a SHOWBIZ shocker. Why the jurors in the wrongful death trial of Michael Jackson are being asked if they watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Tonight, secrets from inside the Conrad Murray trial jury.
The secrets of Casey Anthony`s new life in hiding. Feeling trapped, dealing with therapy and why Casey Anthony may move out of country.
Brand-new "Real Housewives" confessions today. Taylor Armstrong`s dramatic claims to "Entertainment Tonight" about being beaten by her husband who committed suicide. What she claims really went on behind those mansion doors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
T. ARMSTRONG: The first time he ever really harmed me physically - I was pregnant with Kennedy. He grabbed me by the throat and held me up against a wall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Taylor`s real-life housewife confessions.
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 tonight - Casey Anthony`s secret life revealed.
Yes, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s got brand-new details today about what life in hiding is like for America`s most hated woman three months after she was acquitted of killing her daughter Caylee. The extreme isolation. Startling new information was revealed today in the brand-new issue of "People" magazine.
And joining me in New York, Sunny Hostin. Sunny, of course, is a legal contributor for "In Session" on Tru TV. And also radio and TV host Michael Billy is here with me in New York.
So "People" reported today that it has spoken with several people who are in touch with Casey Anthony who claim that Casey is making plans to get the heck out of the country after her probation ends next year.
You know, Sunny, I`m thinking with the Casey hate factor showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, this is perhaps the best decision or thought that she`s had in a long time.
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION" ON TRU TV: It is but I don`t know that she can run from infamy. This trial was covered in Japan.
So you know - and I said this when the verdict came down, A.J., and so many people were so upset about it, she is going to be in a virtual prison for the rest of her life. It doesn`t matter where she goes.
She can go probably to outer space and people are still going to know her. They`re going to hate her.
HAMMER: Yes, up there at the space shuttle, you know they`re talking about it. Michael Billy, I mean, I think Sunny makes a terrific point. Can she really run away?
We live in this global world - this global world. Bad choice of words. But we live in this world now where everything that happens here happens everywhere. Everybody around the world knows about Casey Anthony.
BILLY: Yes. You know, what I`m not too concerned because if this woman wants to live her life in another country, I think she`s going to be able to do that.
One thing we can count on, like social media, is people`s ability to move on. And I think she will have that opportunity. Remember O.J.?
HAMMER: Yes.
BILLY: Don`t forget O.J. who lived amongst us for many, many, many years.
HAMMER: I think she`ll be better off abroad than she is here. I think that can certainly be said, especially if she`s living perhaps in another nation where they don`t speak the language.
I don`t know. I just feel like she`ll be better off because here, she`s certainly a pariah. I do want to get to another big headline from "People" magazine today.
Now, Casey is in therapy. I think that`s a good thing. She`s getting counseling to deal with her estrangement from her parents and, of course, with three years in jail.
You know, given, Sunny, that she was locked up in virtual isolation for three years, I have to imagine she has serious issues to overcome with.
HOSTIN: Oh, no question. She had issues to begin with. Let`s face it.
HAMMER: Well, there`s that.
HOSTIN: And I`ve been to prison, because I`m a former federal prosecutor, and I visited prisons many times. A prison for one day is too much.
And I can only imagine the sort of psychological issues that she has, just stemming from the fact that she was in isolation 23 hours a day in a very small cell for almost three years.
HAMMER: Yes. The isolation, the food - let`s not forget about the food.
HOSTIN: The isolation.
HAMMER: But also, I have to think that Casey is not the least bit comforted by the fact that her parents just went on "Dr. Phil`s Show." And they`re saying that they think she, in some way, is responsible for the death of her daughter, Caylee. Watch when her father, George, said to Dr. Phil.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. PHIL MCGRAW, HOST, "THE DR. PHIL SHOW": You wanted them to find something against her?
GEORGE ANTHONY, FATHER OF CASEY ANTHONY: I did. That`s being truthful. That`s being honest.
MCGRAW: So as you sat there in the courtroom, you wanted to hear a guilty to one of those first three?
G. ANTHONY: I did. I didn`t want to see my daughter put to death.
MCGRAW: Of course.
G. ANTHONY: But I wanted her to be held responsible for my granddaughter. I did and I still do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Michael, let me go to you on this. I know you`re no psychiatrist. But I have to imagine hearing this from your own parents - that obviously has to just pile on to the issues that this woman is already dealing with.
BILLY: Oh, sure, absolutely. What we`re finding out here is that she was thinking about what she`s going to do to survive after she gets off of probation, after she gets out of jail.
And she has every right to do that. It`s the only thing you can think about when you`re locked up, especially when you`re dealing with a family that`s letting you go, a society that`s letting you go.
The only thing can you do in order to live day to day is to think about survival, so I`m not surprised about that.
HAMMER: Well, wherever in the world she winds up, she`ll be in therapy, I imagine, the rest of her life or at least should be.
All right. I do want to move on to the next big trial that the world is watching, the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, who, of course, is accused of being responsible for Michael Jackson`s death.
And this is just fascinating to me. I didn`t see this coming at all. Today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained the questionnaire that potential jurors are filling out. These are questions from his attorneys.
And I flipped over to page 24 and I see the shows that they want to know if potential jurors are watching. And look at that highlighted right there - SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Sunny, what are they concerned about?
HOSTIN: You made the list! You made the list!
HAMMER: They don`t like how I go on and on about Michael Jackson and Conrad Murray?
HOSTIN: Well, you know, it`s really important, as an attorney, to make sure that you find that stealth juror, the juror that really loves Michael Jackson, that juror that wants to pay retribution and wants to get Conrad Murray.
I mean, no defense attorney wants that juror and that juror would be someone that would watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. The prosecution also doesn`t want a big SHOWBIZ TONIGHT watcher because, again, they don`t want that person that`s a celebrity seeker.
They don`t want that person that wants to get that reality show and does want to write that book. They just want someone that`s going to listen to the evidence and be fair and honest. But I say kudos to you, A.J. I think it`s great.
HAMMER: And look, you know - yes. It`s so interesting we`re on here to me. But it also just has nightly news programs. It has our entire network on this.
HOSTIN: Yes, it does.
HAMMER: Does this surprise you at all?
HOSTIN: It does not surprise me. It`s actually surprising to me that these jurors are not going to be sequestered, because - I don`t know.
I do trust the jury system and I do trust jurors. But really, everyone is going to be talking about this trial and it`s going to be on social media.
HAMMER: Everybody`s going to be watching. Everybody wants to know what`s going to happen.
HOSTIN: It`s going to be on the Internet. It`s going to be on everywhere.
HAMMER: All right. Well, Sunny and Michael, I appreciate you both being here. And of course, speaking of this, you can watch wall-to-wall coverage of the Conrad Murray trial right here on HLN. Opening arguments start on September 27th.
So as opening arguments get underway next week, tonight, there is actually serious concern about what`s being called the "CSI" effect. That is when jurors tap into what they see on TV shows like "CSI" and use it to make real-life decisions.
Talk about timing. Earlier tonight "CSI" began its 12th season. Hey, there`s no doubt that shows like "CSI" have changed the way that we all look at life in the courtroom and all of the drama surrounding it.
And the Michael Jackson case is probably not going to be any different. You`ve got to see what CNN`s Ted Rowlands found out for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jurors in the Conrad Murray case will hear testimony from crime scene investigators and from the coroner, but it won`t be like an episode of "CSI."
Many attorneys believe that shows like "CSI" can have an effect on real jury trials. They say some jurors who watch the shows expect to be shown the same kind of clear evidence that they see on TV.
ROBERT DAVID HALL, ACTOR: Let`s take a look at this.
Our show has impacted the culture, I guess you`d say, to the point where people expect "CSI" type of evidence.
MARY HONG, SENIOR FORENSIC SCIENTIST, ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA: It`s really frustration because it`s unrealistic.
ROWLANDS: Mary Hong is a senior forensic scientist in Orange County, California. She says the good thing about the "CSI" effect is that now, when she takes the stand in a criminal trial, jurors know what she does and she says they`re usually riveted to her testimony. The problem is that sometimes they expect too much.
HONG: I think they do understand that we don`t have fancy cars to go out on a crime scene and that we can`t solve a case within hours. But I think a lot of people feel that when what they see on TV is realistic.
ROWLANDS: The "CSI" effect usually works to a defendant`s advantage. Jurors are reluctant to convict without some clear scientific evidence. One of the jurors from the Casey Anthony trial said there wasn`t enough physical evidence to find her guilty.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There`s no solid evidence that there was a crime.
ROWLANDS: On the juror questionnaire, potential jurors in the Dr. Conrad Murray case were asked if they watched "CSI." The prosecution case against Murray will include crime scene evidence taken from Michael Jackson`s bedroom.
But jurors aren`t expected to get any of that "CSI" type of "aha" evidence that clearly shows exactly what caused Jackson`s death.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: We are all eagerly waiting to see how this all plays out. And you`ll see it right here on HLN and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, covering the Conrad Murray trial like no one else.
Everyone on HLN is part of this - Nancy Grace, of course, Jane Velez- Mitchell, Dr. Drew, Joy Behar, Vinnie Politan and me. It`s justice for Michael. Keep it right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and HLN.
And as we move on tonight, Roseanne Barr - I love her. She`s done it all in Hollywood. And she definitely plays by her own rules, one of the reasons I love her.
Well, tonight, she`s got a new mission - to run the free world. Yes, she wants to be president of the United States, and she`s already picking a fight with would-be candidate Sarah Palin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARR: She stole not just my act, but she stole my look, too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Tonight, Roseanne`s wild new war with Sarah Palin.
New "Real Housewives" confessions. Taylor Armstrong`s dramatic claims to "Entertainment Tonight" about being beaten by her husband, who, of course, committed suicide. Well, tonight, what the "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" co-star claims really went on behind those mansion doors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
T. ARMSTRONG: The first time he ever really harmed me physically - I was pregnant with Kennedy. And he grabbed me by the throat and held me up against a wall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Taylor`s real-life "Housewives" confessions are coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: "South Park" creators have no plans to make movie of musical, "Book of Mormon." Brad Pitt tells Ellen DeGeneres when he plans to marry Angelina Jolie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRAD PITT, ACTOR: I said that we would not be getting married until everyone in this country has the right to get married.
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": And I love that.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with the chilling words from "Real Housewives" star, Taylor Armstrong, "I will kill you."
In a brand-new exclusive interview with "Entertainment Tonight," Taylor claims that`s what her now dead husband, Russell Armstrong, said to her the first time he abused her.
And for the first time tonight, we`re hearing Taylor Armstrong speak about the abuse that she claims went on behind closed doors in the years before he committed suicide.
With me in New York, Cindy Barshop, who, until very recently, was part of the cast of "The Real Housewives of New York."
Also with me in New York, Kelly Monaco, who was the first season winner of "Dancing with the Stars." Kelly now stars in a terrific new show. It`s a reality show on E! premiering this Sunday. You`ve got to check it out. It`s called "dirty soap."
I`ve got to tell you guys I was absolutely startled and surprised to hear in such detail these claims that Taylor makes this her interview with "E.T."
I want you to watch how Taylor describes what she claims went down right before Russell Armstrong allegedly threatened to kill her. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
T. ARMSTRONG: The first time he ever really harmed me physically - I was pregnant with Kennedy. And he grabbed me by the throat and held me up against a wall.
Nothing had really happened to set him off so I saw his ability to go to just zero to 60 that quickly. I had made pizza for his children before he got home from work. And he came into the master bedroom and grabbed me by the neck and shoved me up against the wall.
And he said, "If you ever make my children a pizza without a vegetable again, I`ll kill you."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And that`s just heartbreaking when you hear those claims by Taylor. Cindy, are you surprised Taylor is coming forward with these abuse claims about Russell so soon after his suicide?
CINDY BARSHOP, FORMER CAST MEMBER, "THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK": You know what? I think she`s probably getting healthier and this is probably on the process of her getting healthier.
But also, you know, she empowering other women. It`s a very, very sad situation out there. And she needs to do something to help other people.
HAMMER: I`m actually not surprised and I`m happy for her if, again, it`s, to your point, easing the burden also. She`s setting the record straight because there`s been a lot of misinformation floating around out there.
Taylor also talked about those pictures of her bruised and battered face that have been flying around. I`m sure she wanted to set the record straight on those.
Taylor claims in order to protect Russell, she actually lied to the doctor about what happened and used her daughter, Kennedy, as her excuse. Watch what she told "Entertainment Tonight" about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
T. ARMSTRONG: I told him that Kennedy had kicked me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why?
T. ARMSTRONG: Because Russell told me to tell him that. And Russell went with me to the appointment and sat in the chair with me the whole time.
He immediately came into the recovery room with me and stayed there until I left. And I didn`t want him to go to jail, so I guess that was all right with me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know, I hear these incredible claims and I can`t help but, number one, to feel terrible for her, but also think maybe she needs to get off "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" and out of the public eye for a while. Kelly, what do you think?
MONACO: I don`t know. It`s devastating, but as Cindy was saying, I think it might be a part of the healing process. And she does have a platform to where she can use her experience to affect other people.
I mean it can be done in a positive way. I just - I don`t know. It is so soon after such a tragic event. Watching it chokes me up. I can`t imagine going through that publicly.
HAMMER: But yes, I guess now is the time and strike while the iron is hot, so to speak and get the information out there and help people.
I do want to move from one of the housewives` confession to another. I`ve got to move on to "The Real Housewives of New York" star Jill Zarin`s shocking claims today about starring on the reality show.
Now, Cindy, like you, Jill was just let go from the show. In her brand-new interview seen this morning on "GMA," with ABC`s Andrea Canning, Jill describes how the show`s producers perpetuated the fighting. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JILL ZARIN, FORMER CAST MEMBER, "THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK": There`s no question there was fighting going on. But I believe that the format of the show encourages that. I mean, the ratings encourage that and especially watching other shows, other cities.
Even if someone doesn`t say to have "have a fight" or whatever, you feel like you`re supposed to bring it. It is a toxic environment. You`ve watched the show. It`s toxic. It took me months to come down from it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Cindy, that does fall in line with what you told me the other day here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It got pretty bad, huh?
BARSHOP: It does. It`s a negative environment. And usually, I personally dealt with a negative environment, so it`s difficult to be in.
HAMMER: And that`s the stuff that reality shows go for. It`s the stuff that soap operas go for. You`ve got your new reality show, "Dirty Soap." Do you actually have to have everything dirty and nasty to be interesting, Kelly?
MONACO: I don`t think so. I think if you set your own boundaries and you stay true to yourself and be aware at all times. Yes, I`ve been asked many times, like, do the cameras just disappear? No, they`re there.
HAMMER: No, it`s part of the deal.
MONACO: Know your audience.
HAMMER: All right. Kelly, Cindy, thank you so much. And Kelly, best of luck on your new show, "Dirty Soap," on E!
Moving on, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT breaks news with John Travolta. We`ve got details about his high-flying new gig and sadly the heart break of losing one of his pricey rides. That and more in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) John Travolta`s new act, airplane ambassador. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there as Travolta prepared to take off as brand-new ambassador for bombardier jets.
A pilot himself, Travolta owns one of the brand`s models along with other aircraft. John is revealing to us that his new job has him flying high.
But he`s feeling low because he`s just lost a different kind of ride. His beloved vintage Mercedes was just stolen.
JOHN TRAVOLTA, ACTOR: My wife gave it to me 20 years ago. Sorry, I`m really sad about that, you know, part of it. I try not to get too attached to material things.
But that, in particular, was different because she gave it to me as a gift. And I don`t like to lose gifts that mean something to me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Moving on now to Roseanne`s Sarah slam. Sarah Palin`s been accused of a lot of things. But tonight, Roseanne Barr is kicking it up a notch calling Sarah Palin a thief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARR: She stole not, just my act, but she stole my look, too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, clearly. Find out why Roseanne thinks Sarah swiped her style, next. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey gets new reality show making over hotels called "Hotel Hell." R.E.M. breaks up after 15 albums and more than three decades together.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY WILLIAMS, HOST, "THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW": Is it true that you`re running for president, Roseanne?
BARR: It`s absolutely true.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
WILLIAMS: What`s your platform going to be?
BARR: Well, I`ve got a lot of platforms and I`ve got lot of solutions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: There you saw it, and your ears aren`t deceiving you. Comedian and former sitcom star, Roseanne Barr telling talk show host Wendy Williams that she`s running for president. And she`s running for prime minister of Israel, too.
Roseanne outlines her entire plan in colorful detail on her blog. Roseanne says her first order of business, outlawing B.S. You got my vote for that, Roseanne.
And Roseanne didn`t stop there this morning. She claims former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin stole her comedy act and her fashion statement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARR: She stole, not just my act, but she stole my look, too. I had to change.
WILLIAMS: Yes, you changed it up. Oh, that is your look.
BARR: Right?
WILLIAMS: Right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Roseanne may not be a fan of Sarah Palin. But rapper, producer and former Haitian presidential candidate Wyclef Jean is. Wyclef recently called Sarah Palin rad and he says he digs her because she wants to step up to the plate to help Americans.
Well, that sparked massive outrage on blogs and on Clef`s Twitter feed. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just caught up with Wyclef to set the record straight about all that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WYCLEF JEAN, RAPPER AND PRODUCER: My Twitter is over two million people, you know? And all of a sudden, people are like, "Yo, Wyclef`s supporting Sarah Palin, what is going on?"
Listen, this is the United States of America, right? What is wrong with liking someone? That`s all I - that`s one of my fans, "She`s an idiot!" I didn`t say that.
That`s one of my fans, you know. If we`re talking politics, right, I clearly told you where - I have a stance in politics. I can have an opinion.
Wyclef tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that opinion is President Obama deserves another term in office.
Speaking of Palin, Levi lets loose. Levi Johnston claims that Bristol Palin`s story of how she lost her virginity is pure fiction. Levi goes on the record to clear his good name, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Levi lashes out. Levi Johnston says Bristol Palin`s losing her virgin story - it`s a bunch of baloney. Bristol wrote in her book that Levi stole her virginity after a few wine coolers.
But Levi just told Dr. Phil that his new tell-all reveals the real deal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCGRAW: How did you feel about that?
LEVI JOHNSTON, FATHER OF FMR. GOV. SARAH PALIN`S GRANDSON: That was actually about the only hurtful thing she`s called me so far.
You know, for someone to come and say, you know, obviously, she`s not using the date rape thing. But you know, that`s horrifying for someone to date for four years and go back and say that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, that`s not all Levi has to say about the Palin clan and his wild life in the spotlight. Levi Johnston is going to be right here tomorrow for the must-see SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer. You can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively Monday through Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific here on HLN.
Stay right here for Dr. Drew coming up next. And tonight, Dr. Drew tackling the explosive abuse allegations by Beverly Hills housewife, Taylor Armstrong, starting right now.
END
