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Showbiz Tonight
Devastating Developments in the Michael Jackson Death Trial; Is Demi Done with Ashton?; Furious George; Showbiz Special Report: Child Star, Lost Star
Aired September 29, 2011 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARLOS DIAZ, GUEST HOST: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - what about the kids? Tonight brand-new emotional and devastating developments in the Michael Jackson death trial. The heartbreaking new revelations about Michael`s kids by his lifeless body right after he died.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Paris was a little bit grim, balled up, crying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: So what happened next? Is Demi done with Ashton? Tonight, the mysterious clue from Demi Moore about her marriage to Ashton Kutcher. Her strange tweet after brand-new tabloid reports that Ashton is cheating on her. The great mystery today - are Ashton and Demi finished?
Furious George. What George just told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about a strange story involving his ex-girlfriend, Elisabetta, and his new girlfriend, Stacy. Why did George decide to go public and take a stand?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello, I`m Carlos Diaz with big news breaking tonight - what about the kids?
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you disturbing new revelations about what Michael Jackson`s kids went through the night their father died. All kinds of never-heard-before stories are spilling out at the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, who is accused of causing Michael Jackson`s death.
And today was no different. On the witness stand, Michael`s director of logistics, Alberto Alvarez - he described the reaction of Michael`s young daughter, Paris, when she realized her father was dead. Watch how it all played out today, seen here on HLN is carrying the entire trial live.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALBERTO ALVAREZ, MICHAEL JACKSON`S DIRECTOR OF LOGISTICS: Paris screamed out, "Daddy!"
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you heard Paris scream out, "Daddy," was she crying?
ALVAREZ: Yes, sir.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: And you`re also about to hear the chilling 911 call that Alvarez made to police that terrible day. The call was played in court today.
With me from the L.A. courthouse is HLN`s Vinnie Politan. Vinnie is the host of "HLN SPECIAL REPORT," weekdays at 5:00 p.m. Eastern, followed by "PRIME NEWS." Also with me tonight in New York is Atty. Lauren Lake.
All right. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT monitored every moment of the trial today. And we were just floored when we heard the dramatic brand-new details about Paris breaking down as her dad died.
Jackson`s director of logistics, Alberto Alvarez, was in the room as it happened. Today, on the witness stand, he revealed that heartbreaking moment. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALVAREZ: Dr. Conrad Murray said, "Don`t let them - don`t let them see their dad like this. Don`t let them see their dad like this."
And I proceeded to turn around to the children and kind of ushered them out and said, "Kids, don`t worry. We`ll take care of it. Everything is going to be OK." And so I walked them out towards the landing area towards the front door of the suite.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: Wow. That is so heart-wrenching to hear that. I have to wonder why these kids were allowed in the room in the first place.
And Vinnie, that leads us to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint. With all the disturbing details come together surface, do you think this trial is going to have a devastating impact on Michael`s kids?
VINNIE POLITAN, HOST, "HLN SPECIAL REPORT": Well, here`s the thing - they`re not here, you know? And obviously, they`re going to hear the details about it. They`re going to remember what happened that day, that morning.
But with them not in the courtroom, with them not testifying, with them not listening to all this testimony, I think they`re going to be OK. And I say that because of Katherine Jackson, the mother who is doing a fantastic job raising them and protecting them at the same time.
DIAZ: Yes. Vinnie, you bring up some good points. Lauren, what do you think about our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint? Is the trial going to have a terrible impact on Michael`s kids?
LAUREN LAKE, ATTORNEY: Oh, I think it`s going to be really tough for them, Carlos. Let`s be honest. Even though they`re not in the courtroom, we`ve got social media all over the place, replaying the details, talking about, analyzing it.
The kids at school, their friends, people that they know may drop a line and say the wrong thing. Pictures of their father being flashed all over the media, dead on a gurney.
Come on. I lost my mother and I could not imagine having to see or hear those kinds of details even coming from third parties. It would be devastating.
DIAZ: Well, the drama in the courtroom was just nonstop today. You could hear a pin drop when the prosecution played the 911 call that Michael`s logistics director made to try to save his life. Listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: Did anybody witness what happened?
ALVAREZ: No, just the doctor, sir. The doctor`s been the only one here.
911 OPERATOR: OK, so doctor, did the doctor see what happened?
ALVAREZ: Doctor, did you see what happened, sir? Sir, if you just - if you can, please -
911 OPERATOR: We`re on our way. We`re on our way. I`m just passing these questions on to our paramedics while they are on their way, sir.
ALVAREZ: Thank you, sir. He`s pumping - he`s pumping his chest but he`s not responding to anything, sir. Please -
911 OPERATOR: OK. OK. We`re on our way.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: The prosecution is claiming that before the 911 call was made, Dr. Murray asked Alvarez to clean up the drug vials scattered around the room.
Alvarez testified today he taught Dr. Murray wanted the vials cleaned up so he could take them to the hospital. Vinnie, does it seem to you this that 911 tape could be a smoking gun of sorts?
POLITAN: It absolutely can, and it does cover things. Number one, it shows that Dr. Murray doesn`t know how to do CPR. He`s got Michael Jackson up on the bed. And then, the testimony about the clean-up of the room - why are you cleaning up the room?
Your patient is in distress on the floor. Michael Jackson is dying, and you`re worrying about gathering up the evidence and making sure no one can see it? It makes Dr. Murray look awfully bad.
HAMMER: All right, guys. We have to leave it right there. Vinnie, Lauren, thank you, guys, so much for joining us. All of the testimony in court today had to be difficult for the Jackson family to listen to.
They`ve been in court every day. Let`s go back to the L.A. courthouse to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. Kareen, what do you have?
KAREEN WYNTER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carlos, I can tell you that the family has really shown a united front here at the trial. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can also reveal that they`re not seeing eye-to-eye on everything.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) No strangers to the spotlight and chaotic camera scenes, the Jacksons have been one of America`s most famous families for more than 40 years.
United in their grief for the loss of Michael Jackson and the justice they seek for his tragic death, Jackson family members tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT they plan to attend each day of the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray.
KATHERINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S MOTHER: Oh, yes, I will. I will be attending it.
JERMAINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S BROTHER: We will definitely be there, because we`re a family and we have to be there.
WYNTER: The Jacksons together in court are a strong visual reminder of a family suffering the joint loss of a beloved son and brother. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the Jackson family appears divided on how to best honor Michael`s legacy.
A tribute concert to Michael will take place in Wales on October 8th with the support of Michael`s mothers Katherine, his sister La Toya and his brothers, Jackie, Tito and Marlon. But other family members tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT they are boycotting.
WYNTER: You love your brother, but you`re not on board with this because of the timing the trial.
J. JACKSON: Tributes are wonderful. I mean, that`s our job. That`s going to be our ongoing thing, to pay homage to Michael and to keep the legacy alive as well as the family`s and the Jackson 5, too.
But the timing - the timing is the most important, because once they start saying all these horrible things that they`re going to say - the defense about Michael, when they start saying all these things, and all of a sudden, when his music is put on, part of the family doing a concert, it`s just not appropriate.
WYNTER: Jermaine, Randy and Janet Jackson tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT they are all against the tribute while the trial is ongoing. But their mother, Katherine, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the time for a tribute has come.
WYNTER (on camera): Have I to ask, Ms. Jackson, why now with the timing of the Conrad Murray trial?
K. JACKSON: The trial is very important and I can understand how Randy and Jermaine feel. But it`s been two years and I`d like to keep Michael`s legacy alive.
WYNTER (voice-over): The tribute concert will be hosted by Jamie Foxx with performances by Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Smokey Robinson and Ne- yo, among others.
So while the Jacksons remain divided on the concert dubbed, "Michael Forever," SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you one thing they can agree on is that they will always feel the void Michael left behind.
J. JACKSON: The trial is not going to bring closure. Involuntary manslaughter for taking Michael`s life - (UNINTELLIGIBLE) or whatever is not going to bring Michael back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DIAZ: Well, no question about it. We know how Jermaine feels about the trial. But now, I want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll - "Michael Jackson`s Death Trial: Should Dr. Conrad Murray testify to defend himself?"
Vote right now at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also E-mail us. Our address - showbiztonight@cnn.com.
The great mystery tonight - are Ashton and Demi dunzo? The rapid reports, her mysterious tweet, what Ashton is saying today. Tonight, are Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore no more?
Furious George. George Clooney reveals to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT why he`s so fired up over stories about his ex, Elisabetta Canalis, and why his new girl, Stacy Keibler, is being dragged into this, too.
Kim Kardashian faces her ultimate hater. A girl who absolutely hates Kim gets the shock of her life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you say, Deana(ph)?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kim Kardashian, I hate her ass. Her ass is not real. This is real.
KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR: Hi, is Deana here? Hi, gorgeous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: You have got to see the sparks fly when Kim and her hater face off. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Nelson Mandela`s grandchildren to star in reality show. Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell tell Ellen about being reunited on "The X Factor."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": What did you say? She`s making sense now so you don`t have to use -
SIMON COWELL, JUDGE, "THE X FACTOR": I would say to the person, your producer, that we put in a budget of $100,000.
PAULA ABDUL, JUDGE, "THE X FACTOR": Oh, come on.
COWELL: So in case you didn`t understand Paula, we`d put words up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s perfect. That`s so good. That`s excellent.
HOLLY MADISON, ACTRESS AND TV PERSONALITY: It was kind of ironic because they brought a lot of junk food as props.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: Holly Madison`s breast move ever. Yes, I said "breast." What a bad pun. I`m such a boob. The "Holly`s World" star tells "People" magazine that she`s insured her breasts for $1 million.
Why? Well, the 31-year-old says if anything happened to her assets during her Las Vegas production of "Peep Show" she`d be out millions of dollars. Really.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Carlos Diaz. Tonight, is Demi done?
Brand-new reports are out suggesting that Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are splitting up. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you the tweet-happy couple is just adding to the mystery with their latest tweets. So the big question tonight - are they or aren`t they calling it quits?
Joining me right now from New York, Cooper Lawrence, who is a relationship expert from "The Scott and Todd Show" on New York`s PLJ. And right now, in Chicago, Kelli Zink, who is the host of "CelebTV.com."
Talk about cryptic texting. Ashton and Demi are not directly addressing the breakup reports which suggests that Ashton cheated. But today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you these two are sending out vague messages that are raising eyebrows everywhere.
Just today, Ashton broke his silence by tweeting a link to his Spotify account where he was playing the Public Enemy song, "Don`t Believe the Hype." And just before show time today, he tweeted, "When you assume to know that which you know nothing of, you make an ass out of you and me."
What? Demi, on the other hand, put up an ancient Greek quote on her Twitter account which read, "When we are offended at any man`s fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger."
What? It`s hard to guess what`s really going on here. I`m thinking if these reports are at all false, stop tweeting around the bush and just come out with it. Cooper, should Ashton and Demi just come out with it already?
COOPER LAWRENCE, RELATIONSHIP EXPERT: Yes. I mean, they`ve got to tweet about it. Come on. Just tell us. Don`t be so vague. Either don`t tweet, either a take a Jada-Will attitude and say, "We`re not saying a word," or come on. Just tell us. Don`t play these games with us. We know already anyway.
DIAZ: I hate it when I`m teased. Let`s not forget that all the eyes are on Ashton as he replaces Charlie Sheen in "Two and a Half Men," so there`s a lot of pressure on him right now.
For her part, Demi is on the east coast promoting her new short film. Today, "The New York Post" reports that Demi was a no-show yesterday at an event to promote her film.
And here is a Twitpic from Demi that drew hundreds of sympathetic comments from her fans. It shows Demi lying in bed, eyes closed with the caption, "I see through you."
Fans have been rallying around this photo telling Demi to stay strong. Kelli, from the clues we have from Twitter, does it seem like Demi and Ashton are having a crisis?
KELLI ZINK, HOST, "CELEBTV.COM": You know, the biggest clue to me, Carlos, is the fact that she`s been looking extra skinny.
DIAZ: I want to move to another big story right now, making news tonight. George Clooney is furious that "Us Weekly" reported his ex, Elisabetta Canalis, sent him angry texts when she discovered he was dating Stacy Keibler.
Today, George tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "The story running in the current issue of `Us Weekly` about Elli and Stacy was completely fabricated in order to sell magazines."
"I never comment on my personal life unless it affects others and this lie affects others. Since I would be the only actual witness, I ask you correct your story immediately, but that would assume you cared about telling the truth."
See, there you go. "Us Weekly" told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT this afternoon that they stand by their story. But Cooper, George hardly ever addresses reports about his personal life. I have to guess that this time, he`s standing in the right place.
LAWRENCE: Yes, I think he definitely is. But he`s not somebody to speak out. So if he is speaking out about his own personal life, he likes to make jokes. He likes to be, you know, the jokester, the prankster. But he`s pretty serious now so I`m going with, yes, she didn`t send any text.
DIAZ: There you go. Cooper Lawrence, Kelli Zink, thanks so much, guys.
Moving on now, the Michael Jackson death trial. His life and death are stark reminders of the pitfalls of being a child star. And it seemed as though M.J. suffered through a lifetime of pitfalls. So what could he have done?
Tonight, child stars done right. Neil Patrick Harris also had troubles, but how did he turn his life around?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, ACTOR: Hollywood takes a toll on you when you`re young.
WYNTER: He was 16 when he became the star of "Doogie Howser, MD."
HARRIS: OK. Are we getting some circulation?
WYNTER: When that series ended, he made a fateful decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Child Stars Done Right."
Kim Kardashian faces off with her ultimate hater. A girl who says she absolutely hates Kim gets the shock of her life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you say, Deana(ph)?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kim Kardashian, I hate her ass. Her ass is not real. This is real.
KIM KARDASHIAN: Hi. Is Deana here? Hi, gorgeous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: Hi gorgeous? Is that how you greet an enemy? Well, things get ugly real fast when Kim K. comes face to face with her hater.
All right. Let`s check out the SHOWBIZ buzz list. These are things we can`t stop buzzing about this week.
We`re already in line to buy tickets for "What`s Your Number?" starring Anna Faris and Chris Evans which opens tomorrow.
The amazing Kindle "Fire" is catching fire. And we`re loving that it only costs $199.
We`re bananas over celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe`s clothing line featuring her own reality show, and it`s in stores right now.
Rihanna`s new single, "We Found Love," is hot and we`re downloading it before her sixth album is even released.
And our seat backs are locked in the upright position for the new series "Pan Am," Sunday nights on ABC. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KIM KARDASHIAN: I don`t feel like it`s really my responsibility to go and now completely rap his culture when I don`t know a lot about it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please be real with me real quick. Please.
KIM KARDASHIAN: This is what I am. I don`t get why you keep on rolling your eyes when I`m not black.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: Kim Kardashian faces off with her hater. You see this girl, Deana, hates Kim because she says Kim dates famous African-American guys but doesn`t represent for the African-American community. So did Kim get her hater to show her some love?
So the new CW show, "Hater," peels away the deep side of celebrities like Kim Kardashian. Deana had her mind all made up about Kim based on what she read in the tabloids. Well, watch what happened when Kim confronted Deana and told her to keep up with this Kardashian.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM KARDASHIAN: You didn`t hear about - you know, in New Orleans, we`re building the homes. This family - we`re filming in Africa. Listen, I`ve been to Africa three times.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was just shocked to know she`s done some great things. She`s not just this beautiful, glamorous person. You have a heart. I get it.
KIM KARDASHIAN: Thank you. And definitely when opportunities come about when we can showcase other things that are important to you - I mean, I definitely agree it`s important as well. So -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, I like you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: Aww. See, Kardashians do have hearts. Kim better not hate on Hoda Kotb any time soon though. Kim and the rest of the Kardashian clan just got a co-hosting gig. And Tina Fey dukes it out with Eva Longoria for big bucks. It`s all in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Tina Fey`s big pay day. Fey topped the latest "Forbes.com" list of highest paid actresses on TV raking in $13 million with her sitcom, "30 Rock." Fey shares the throne with "Desperate Housewives" star, Eva Longoria, who also earned a lucky $13 million.
Life must be good on Wisteria Lane because Longoria`s co-star, Marcia Cross took the number three spot earning $10 million this year.
The "Today" show is keeping up with the Kardashians. NBC just announced the Kardashians will co-host the "Today" show all next week. A network press release says one family member will join Hoda Kotb on the morning show each day next week. Viewers will wake up to Khloe on Monday and Kim ends the week co-hosting Friday.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DIAZ: And now, the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Michael Jackson, one of the most famous child stars in history, yet he definitely lost his way. But tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals the child stars done right. Neil Patrick Harris, Natalie Portman and Kirk Cameron.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: When he was about 18 years old, Cameron says he decided to end that part of their relationship.
KIRK CAMERON, ACTOR: For me, it was like, I don`t like treating my mom like a business associate. She`s mom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals the pitfalls of fame and the unbelievable success of child stars done right. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, real star stories, "Child Star, Lost Star." Does being a child star always lead to disaster? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes one-on-one with the child stars who have beaten the odds. The remarkable success of "Doogie Howser, MD" star, Neil Patrick Harris.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Hollywood takes a toll on you when you`re young.
WYNTER: When that series ended, he made a fateful decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Harris` shocking revelations to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about how he survived fame as the world`s most famous kid doctor on TV.
All right. You remember this little guy? He stole the spotlight in Tom Cruise` film, "Jerry Maguire."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONATHAN LIPNICKI, ACTOR: Jerry, did you know a human head weighs eight pounds?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wait until you see him now. Jonathan Lipnicki is all grown up. And wait until you hear what he tells us about how he escaped the early pitfalls of fame.
Kirk`s shocking "Growing Pains" confessions. `80s heartthrob Kirk Cameron speaks out about SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about growing up on set and the toll his early fame took on his family.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City with this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - real star stories, "Child Star, Lost Star."
And Michael Jackson, of course, is one of those child stars who became a star who lost his way, something we are all being reminded of right now with the trial of the doctor accused of his death.
But we begin with the child stars done right. Out of the countless cautionary tales of kids who got famous when they were young only to head down the wrong road, we can now reveal the real stories of child stars who have beaten the odds. Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER (voice-over): Lindsay Lohan at 12.
LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: I can`t believe it`s you.
WYNTER: Lindsay Lohan at 21. Another child star gone off track. There are more than enough to fill a police lineup. Dana Plato, Gary Coleman, Mischa Barton, Tracy Gold.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT wants to know, is every child star doomed to live troubled lives? Doctor of psychology Wendy Walsh says there is hope.
WENDY WALSH, DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY: Because it`s a hard road to walk. Remember, these are children, and they suddenly enter a very adult world where there are partly adult pressures, but a lot of adult pleasures. They enter a land of no no`s.
NATALIE PORTMAN, ACTRESS: It feels very, very dream-like right now.
WYNTER: Natalie Portman is living proof that a child star can escape the land mines of being a child star. She reached Hollywood`s summit this year with an Oscar victory, fulfilling all the promise she showed as a 12-year- old in "The Professional."
PORTMAN: What exactly do you do for a living?
WYNTER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT uncovered this long lost interview with Portman where she talked about that first movie experience.
PORTMAN: I liked watching, you know, the camera and figuring out what it was doing and what different shots were on, even though that`s not my job.
WYNTER: In her teens, she kept on the straight and narrow, earning straight A`s in school, even as she built her career.
PORTMAN: Do you have any idea who is behind this attack?
WYNTER: By the time "Star Wars Episode 3" came out in 2005, she was studying neuroscience at Harvard. We talked with her back then and she knew just who to thank for keeping her grounded.
PORTMAN: I`m really lucky to have an incredible family and friends who would never let me, you know, get out of line. They would kick me in my booty before, you know, they would let me, you know, get too high on myself for anything.
WYNTER: Anna Paquin had every reason to be high on herself after winning an Oscar at age 11 for "The Piano."
ANNA PAQUIN, ACTRESS: My mother was struck down.
WYNTER: But young Anna kept it real as she told us back in 1996.
PAQUIN: When I`m not working, I get up. I go to school. I come home. I do my homework. I go to bed. Oh, my god.
WYNTER: Now 28, Paquin is the successful far of "True Blood." At the premiere for the she`s new season, Paquin told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT how she avoided becoming one of those wayward child stars.
PAQUIN: I`ve worked with some people that really inspired me to want to be good at my job and being good at my job didn`t mean being out until 4:00 in the morning.
WYNTER: Neil Patrick Harris admits it`s not easy for child stars.
HARRIS: Hollywood takes its toll on you when you`re young.
WYNTER: He was 16 when he became the star of "Doogie Howser, MD."
HARRIS: OK, are we getting some circulation?
WYNTER: When that series ended, we made a fateful decision.
HARRIS: I moved back to New Mexico for about a year and a half and lived in an adobe house with brick floors and climbed rocks and just sort of calmed down a little bit.
WYNTER: Wendy Walsh tells us Harris got it just right.
WALSH: I think what Neil Patrick Harris did was genius. He didn`t forget his roots. He went back to New Mexico. He lived in a middle class way when he didn`t have to and he stayed in touch with extended family and friends. So he was, again, back in the real world.
WYNTER: Walsh has got a piece of advice for moms and dads who don`t want to see their child star turn into a train wreck.
WALSH: Parents, make sure you maintain the chain of command. The parents are still king and queen. The family support is so important.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So what are the other secrets to success after having been a very popular child star? Well, I spoke with someone who knows just how that goes.
Jonathan Lipnicki was the glasses-wearing kid who kept Tom Cruise on his toes in "Jerry Maguire." Wait until you hear what he did to survive being a child star.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(on camera) You`ve had such a great career in Hollywood and, of course, had you some of the most memorable movie lines when you starred opposite Renee Zellweger and Tom Cruise in "Jerry Maguire." Let`s flash back, shall we? Roll that out.
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: Did you know Troy Aikman in six years has passed for 16,303 yards.
LIPNICKI: Do you know bees and dogs can smoke beer.
RENEE ZELLWEGER, ACTRESS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). He doesn`t smoke, does he?
CRUISE: I don`t know. Do you know the career record for most hits is 4,356 by Pete Rose who is not in the Hall of Fame?
LIPNICKI: Do you know that my next door neighbor has three rabbits?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s fantastic, man. Look at you.
LIPNICKI: Yes.
HAMMER: And obviously, you look so different now. You`re working a lot. But I`ve got to ask, were you ever afraid, because of how big that movie was, that maybe people in Hollywood would only see you as the kid from "Jerry Maguire"?
LIPNICKI: Well, A.J., I was five years old so I don`t even really think it was part of my thought process. I just was having the most fun, you know, that I had ever known. And I just was moving forward positively, and I never really, you know, feared anything like that.
HAMMER: And after that moment when you starred in that film and you saw all the attention that you were getting, did you say at that point, at any time, "Man, this is all I want to do with my life. This is really, really cool"?
LIPNICKI: You know, I think I realized I wanted to be an actor before then. I think I realized I wanted to be an actor when I started doing acting classes. It was not - you know, it was before I got any attention for it. I just loved doing it.
HAMMER: Seeing right there, the exact perspective that has kept you on the right track and the perspective that is lacked by so many child stars who didn`t stay on the right track.
LIPNICKI: Thank you.
HAMMER: And of course, the great Cuba Gooding, Jr. also starred in that movie. And I don`t know if you remember this, Jonathan, but CNN was right there on Oscar night with you and your family when Cuba won the Oscar for best supporting actor. Do you remember that?
LIPNICKI: I do remember that actually. I do, you know. Being that young, there`s stuff I do forget, but that`s something I remember pretty clearly.
HAMMER: All right. Well, let`s flash back to that moment because we`ve got it right here. Roll it out, Charles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIPNICKI: Yes!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Show me the money! Yes!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Look how excited you are. I thought he was going to drop you there for a second. So much glitz and glamour around you at such a young age. And obviously, you`re sitting there at home watching. But what do you remember about that day?
LIPNICKI: For me, you know, Cuba and Tom and everyone who worked on it - they were really special to me. I loved all of them. And I was just so excited to see someone I worked with, you know, really triumph that night.
HAMMER: And one of the things you did that obviously helped you stay on track, I`m sure, is you took a break from acting. You wanted to go to high school. You wanted to be a normal kid.
LIPNICKI: Yes, yes.
HAMMER: Did you feel that that was important, or did somebody push you in that direction?
LIPNICKI: My parents definitely were amazing. They felt that whatever I did as a child was more important. And they always told me, "You can always work." So I did - I turned down a lot of projects for Little League Baseball, for Youth League Basketball, for different things, so going to school was a no-brainer for me.
I really thought that, you know, I`m going to come back later, but I need these experiences for me. I need to go to prom. I wanted to play water polo in high school so I got to do all that. And now, I get to come back as a completely different person and I think that`s such a blessing.
HAMMER: Total blessing.
LIPNICKI: Yes, definitely. I feel like I`m just very well adjusted because of it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So great to see Jonathan all grown up. He also told me he felt so honored to work with James Caan and Edward Furlong in the movie, "For The Love of Money." Be sure to follow Jonathan on Twitter. He wants to hear from you.
Well, we have Kirk Cameron`s stunning confessions about his growing pains. The `80s sitcom star speaks out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about severing ties with his mom-mager.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: When he was about 18 years old, Cameron says he decided to end that part of their relationship.
CAMERON: For me, it was, like, I don`t like treating my mom as a business associate. She`s mom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, how Kirk Cameron came to terms with his childhood stardom. The original mean girl - no, not Lindsay Lohan. Nellie, from "Little House on the Prairie." Alison Arngrim`s surprising take on growing up on the set.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALISON ARNGRIM, ACTRESS: So I had this enormous creative outlet and this outlet for my rage that really most people in my situation don`t get.
HAMMER (on camera): Sure.
ARNGRIM: So that`s when people said, "Did Nellie Oleson save your life," I have to go yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views. And now, a SHOWBIZ child star flashback to 1999. Eighteen-year-old Christina Aguilera reveals how she felt when she got her first number one hit with "Genie in a Bottle."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINA AGUILERA, SINGER: Seeing my name in the number one spot on a Billboard chart was a dream of mine forever. And to see it there on the chart, it`s like, "Wow, `Genie in a Bottle,` Christina Aguilera." Wow, that`s amazing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Could you just say your name for me.
TATYANA ALI, ACTRESS: Tatyana Ali. Tatyana Ali.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s legendary musician, Herbie Hancock, on "Sesame Street" making music with a very young and talented Tatyana Ali, one of the child stars from the 1990 hit TV show, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
And tonight, secrets of a child star. Tatyana Ali is a child star who became famous alongside superstar Will Smith when they were in the hit TV show, "The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air."
In my interview with her, Tatyana revealed to me how important her days on "Sesame Street" were for her career. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALI: Everything that I learned about - you know, first learned about being on a set and following directions and learning lines, it all happened there first. It was the perfect learning environment, very safe place for a kid.
HAMMER: Yes, and I imagine you were such a joy on that set, and you brought all that energy to "The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air" years later.
But when you were on "Fresh Prince," did you even realize how big of a deal it was to be on such an enormous hit show?
ALI: You know what? At first, no. I knew that it moved me and my family to California. I knew that I loved the people that I worked with. I knew who Will Smith was as, you know, Deejay Jazzy Jeff on "The Fresh Prince."
But you never really know that something is going to have such an impact on so many people and just be around forever. I don`t think - I don`t think any of us were prepared for that.
HAMMER: Well, here`s what I love. I mean, look, you had a positive experience as a child star, and you started out so young. Who do you give the most credit to for helping you really stay on the right path whereas we well know so many child stars do not?
ALI: I think that it takes - with child stars, sometimes we forget that they are children, that they are just children because they make us laugh and they entertain us.
But it really takes a large group of people to raise a child. So first of all, I`d absolutely credit my parents because they told me no.
You know, they had the same boundaries. I had the same boundaries, the same chores, the same - I had to have the same level of respect for them as I would have if I wasn`t in this business as all.
But I was also very blessed to work with people throughout my career who were more interested in me as an individual and as a person than in my career or what I did or what I could do for them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And she`s doing great. Tatyana not only has her own production company, but she stars in the BET Web series, "Buppies" and the TV 1 sitcom, "Love that Girl."
We`re moving from `90s TV star, Tatyana Ali, to `80s teen heartthrob, Kirk Cameron. Kirk, of course, starred as Mike Seaver on the hugely popular show, "Growing Pains," from 1985 to 1992, quickly became a household name.
So just how did Kirk handle fame at such a young age and come out virtually unscathed by it? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter found out when she went one-on-one with Kirk Cameron.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER (voice-over): Kirk Cameron had a lot to smile about as a kid. He was one of Hollywood`s most successful teen heartthrobs and star of the hit sitcom, "Growing Pains." But now -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You`ve grown up.
KIRK CAMERON, ACTOR: I have.
WYNTER: Certainly has. And nearly 20 years after his role as the wise- cracking Mike Seaver came to an end, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that Cameron succeeded where countless others have failed, by not getting consumed by drugs, alcohol and rehab during his transition from childhood fame to adulthood.
Now, the 40-year-old devout Christian lives with his family 30 minutes north of Los Angeles and out of the Hollywood spotlight.
(on camera) You were such a big star on "Growing Pains." It really made you famous. At what point though did you realize you were becoming famous and you were a part of something truly special?
CAMERON: I think everybody else had a view of me and my role in "Growing Pains." That was much larger than what I had myself because I was, in my mind, one of three kids on a family sitcom.
Alan Thicke was the star. I was going to school in a little trailer behind the set. I`d wake up, go to work, come home, and that was my life. It wasn`t until I would go to the grocery store and I with a see my face on the cover of some teeny bop magazine.
WYNTER: That must have been so bizarre.
CAMERON: It was weird.
WYNTER: That you have the fame, you have the money - that is a lot for a kid to handle especially at such an early age. So how did you manage to stay grounded?
CAMERON: There were probably three crucial factors in me being able to keep my head through all of this. One would be my parents. My parents were very grounded.
They didn`t see me as their ticket to mansions and limousines. And I had a very strong faith in Christ when I turned about 17 or 18 years old, while my friends had their faith in beer.
Christ leads you in a whole different direction than beer does, you know, or drugs or something else. And then thirdly, as when I turned 19, I met the most amazing woman in the world.
WYNTER: Chelsea.
CAMERON: And she - Chelsea. Getting married to an amazing wife who loved the Lord and loved the concept of being a wife and a mother first above all things grounded us as a family.
WYNTER (voice-over): Family has always been crucial in Cameron`s life. His mother served as his manager during his rise to fame on "Growing Pains." But when he was about 18 years old, Cameron says he decided to end that part of their relationship.
CAMERON: For me it was, like, I don`t like treating my mom like a business associate. She`s mom.
WYNTER (on camera): So nothing personal about that. It just felt it was the right thing to do?
CAMERON: Well, in a way, though, it was personal. I wanted my mom to be my mom.
WYNTER (voice-over): But at the same time Cameron believes parents of young stars should still stay involved in their children`s careers, especially as they navigate their way through Hollywood.
CAMERON: That`s why we have families, to raise our kids with values and to shape them so that when they enter into the world, you`re right there alongside with them. You`re not handing them over to other people to raise.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And as we move on tonight, you remember Nellie from "Little House on the Prairie"? Well, before Lindsay Lohan`s "Mean Girls," Nellie, she was the original mean girl.
But despite her incredible fame, the actress who played her, Alison Arngrim, didn`t end up going down the same troubled path as Lindsay.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNGRIM: So I had this enormous creative outlet and this outlet for my rage that really most people in my situation don`t get.
HAMMER (on camera): Sure.
ARNGRIM: So that`s when people say, "Did Nellie Oleson save your life," I have to go yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Why Alison says "Little House" saved her life. More of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s real star stories, "Child Star, Lost Star," next. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, a SHOWBIZ child star flashback to the young Jodie Foster. Jodie was 13 when she played a pre-teen prostitute in the 1976 movie, "Taxi Driver." She was even nominated for the Oscar in 1991.
Before Jodie became a mom, she revealed to us how being a child star affected her view on kids. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JODIE FOSTER, ACTRESS: Played complicated children, children with problems, children with little pieces of them that were ugly, little doubts about themselves, not just this sort of prop that you stick in a chair and go, "OK, be innocent now, and now, we`ll see the movie through your eyes."
So I don`t really feel that children are kind of like dolls, I guess. And I guess that`s the kind of parent I`ll be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNGRIM: Stay away from her. Don`t touch my horse.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I`m not hurting anything.
ARNGRIM: I said stay away from her.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Don`t do that.
ARNGRIM: She`s my horse and I`ll do as I please.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: You won`t get anywhere being mean to her.
ARNGRIM: I know how to handle a horse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Ouch. That`s why we like to call Nellie on "Little House on the Prairie" the original mean girl. But how did that character save Alison Arngrim`s life?
Alison, who played Nellie Oleson, is right here. And she reveals to me the surprising story behind her troubled child star past. Tonight, confessions from the prairie.
It`s now been 37 years since "Little House on the Prairie" made its debut on the small screen. And I`ve got to tell you Alison Arngrim, who played Nellie, has come a long way since then.
As a child star she endured a horrible home life despite her massive TV success. I asked her about that and how she liked playing TV`s first mean girl at that time. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARNGRIM: I always liked the villains. When I was really little and I saw "Peter Pan," I really liked Captain Hook. I thought the villains were cool.
I liked horror movies, the villains. And in fact, when I read the script at the audition, I was so excited because so many parts for child actors, especially in the `70s, were, "Oh, yes, Mother. Oh, gosh, Daddy." And it was kind of revolting.
And here was this girl who said what she thought and really didn`t care and told everyone to bugger off. And I went, "This is great. This is insane. She`s a bitch."
HAMMER: Yes. Yes.
ARNGRIM: And I was so thrilled and I read it with my father who was with me and he said, "Just read it that way." And they hired me on the spot.
I was the bitchiest girl they had seen all day. And as soon as I did it, I mean, the reaction the second it aired, it was so strong that I just hit some kind of nerve in people`s psyche. Everybody knows someone like that, and I was it.
HAMMER: So you`ve had all of this great success, but you`ve been very candid about the fact that home life wasn`t always terrific.
ARNGRIM: True.
HAMMER: You write about it in your terrific book, "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch." And quite frankly, could there be a better title than that?
ARNGRIM: Thank you.
HAMMER: One of the things you talked about though, which obviously had to have been difficult to talk about and certainly to endure was being abused by your brother.
Did being a star at that age, at that very young age - did being a child star sort of help you escape that situation?
ARNGRIM: In my case, it did. I mean, on the one hand, it could be more difficult. Here you are, going through trauma and having this situation that you can`t talk about to anyone.
And now, you have the pressure to be famous and to work. But I was so lucky being on "Little House." I was around this really great group of people who were very supportive and very kind to me.
And because I was playing this bizarre character who yelled and screamed and vented all of her hostility and rage, this gave me an outlet for all of this pain and all of this anger that had like nowhere to go.
So I had this enormous creative outlet and this outlet for my rage that really most people in my situation don`t get.
HAMMER: Sure.
ARNGRIM: So when people say, "Did Nellie Oleson save your life?" I have to go yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And Alison does such great work these days with the National Association to Protect Children to change laws to better protect children who are being abused.
Well, that is it for this very special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - real star stories, "Child Star, Lost Star." I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Thanks for watching. Remember, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is now seen exclusively Monday to Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
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