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Showbiz Tonight
What`s Next for Knox?; Game Over for Dr. Murray?; Behind the Scenes on "Dancing with the Stars"; Diddy`s Apology
Aired October 04, 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 - what`s next for Knox? Tonight, a giddy Amanda Knox is home in Seattle, free after four years in an Italian prison. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, will her life ever be normal again? Game over for Dr. Murray? The brand-new reports M.J.`s Propofol bottles do not have Michael`s fingerprints like the defense claims. And even if Dr. Murray goes down in court, our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, will justice ever really be served for Michael?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JERMAINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S BROTHER: The trial is not going to bring closure. It`s already kind of (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes behind the scenes at "Dancing with the Stars." HLN`s own Nancy Grace`s startling confession to me. Tonight, for the very first time, Grace reveals how the show is changing her life forever.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera) For Nancy Grace, sharing such an emotional, powerful and heartbreaking story with the world is not easy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, coming to you tonight from Los Angeles right in front of the courthouse where Michael Jackson`s doctor, Conrad Murray, is on trial, accused, of course, of causing Michael`s death.
And it was a dramatic day in court today with made-for-Hollywood testimony from Murray`s ex-girlfriend who spoke with Murray the day that Michael died. We`re going to get to all of those unbelievable details shortly.
But first, another court case is making for big news breaking tonight. What`s next for Knox? Amanda Knox is a free woman today and she returned to the United States for the very first time since she left for Italy to be an exchange student four years ago.
Only weeks after she arrived in Italy, her roommate was brutally murdered and Amanda`s life was turned upside down. Well, her attorney spoke out about the Italian court`s dramatic reversal this morning on NBC`s "Today Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amanda was extremely scared. She was scared about this decision. She knew that this decision would change her life. She was in between request of life and jail and get dismissed.
When she heard she was dismissed, then, of course, she started to cry because for her, this was the end of a nightmare.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So the big question tonight, of course, is what`s next for Amanda? Will she really have to go through yet another appeal before this ordeal is truly over?
With me right now in Los Angeles, I`m so pleased to welcome famed attorney, Mark Geragos, who has represented some of the most famous and infamous clients including Michael Jackson himself.
Also with me in Los Angeles tonight, Judge Mary Ann Gunn. Judge Gunn runs the most successful drug court in the country. And you can now watch her on the new syndicated TV show, "Last Shot with Judge Gunn."
That Italian courtroom exploded when the verdict was read. The prosecuting attorney is already about to appeal the judge`s ruling. Judge Gunn, let me start with you. Do you think Amanda Knox has anything to worry about at all with this appeal?
JUDGE MARY ANN GUNN, HOST, "LAST SHOT WITH JUDGE GUNN": Oh, no. They`re going to appeal the appeals court. It`s amazing for her, though, because it`s not over for her yet. And - but no, I don`t think she has anything to worry about with the appeal.
HAMMER: Well, everybody is talking about this today. I wasn`t really surprised that the ladies of "The View" were fired up about Amanda Knox being acquitted.
And I think co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck really did a great job putting into words the emotions the people felt right here in the United States. Let`s watch what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Just thinking, you know, as a mom, you always see someone else`s kid as, you know, a version of, OK, this could be - you know, god forbid.
But I felt so emotional. I was watching it. It nearly took my breath away to think that this could even happen to a young girl. And four years, to be somewhat lost, you know? And so, her world now in terms of getting that back, getting that time back -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So Mark, as a criminal defense attorney, who has really worked with some high-profile people, on incredibly high-profile cases - I`m talking about Michael Jackson, of course, Winona Ryder, Scott Peterson.
Can you shed some light for us on exactly how somebody like Amanda Knox in her current situation goes back to having any sense of normalcy in her life?
MARK GERAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: You know, she reminds me and this situation reminds me a little bit of Susan McDougal who I represented, who used to be Bill Clinton`s business partner who was in custody for a number of years and then finally was freed.
You never get over it. Part of the idea of being accused of something and having everybody just slam you and - you never really get over that. And then, being incarcerated is incredible.
And then, here, you`ve got that compounded by the fact she`s in a foreign country and had just been uprooted from America and everything else. So I don`t know that she ever gets over it. But if you survive it, it`s going to build character.
HAMMER: Yes.
GERAGOS: I don`t think she`s got anything to worry about. She`ll be our version of Roman Polanski. Then can try to reverse it, but we won`t let her go back.
HAMMER: But I think you make a great point that there`s not only the idea that she has this celebrity, if you will, that she has to deal with here in the United States. But there`s a huge psychological impact from everything she`s been through.
GERAGOS: It`s amazing, number one, to have to go through a trial to begin with. Now, she`s been through basically two trials, the trial level and the appellate level. And to have to go through the incarceration and everything else, have people accuse you of the worst things possible and the worst things imaginable -
HAMMER: Yes.
GERAGOS: It`s hard to believe. But if she puts herself together, if she surrounds herself with good people, she`ll get through it.
HAMMER: Well, this morning on "Good Morning America" Amanda Knox`s mom, Edda Mellas, said that she doesn`t know exactly how this whole ordeal has actually changed her daughter. Let`s watch what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDDA MELLAS, AMANDA KNOX`S MOTHER: I think we won`t know the extent to how she`s changed until she comes out and reenters normal life, because, right now, she is a person that she needs to be to survive in that jail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Judge Gunn, you`ve seen people transformed in jail. How do you think this whole ordeal will impact what happens next for Amanda Knox?
GUNN: You know what? Amanda went from being a foreign exchange student to a prisoner and with her whole future gone, every day worried what was going to happen to her for the next 26 years. You can`t imagine the trauma.
HAMMER: She said she was going to spend decades in jail.
GUNN: I know. No wedding, no children, no college finished, and she`s traumatized. When she comes back here, she would need a counselor or she would need some sort of mental health expert to help her get through this to just get back into everyday life.
HAMMER: Yes. You have to image you have to have a huge support system in place. Her parents obviously there for her.
And Amanda`s mom said today that the one thing Amanda is looking forward to is getting her privacy back. Here are more of her comments today on "Good Morning America." Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELLAS: One thing Amanda asked for is privacy. She does not want to face media and - even the thought of a lot of well-wishers at one point in time is overwhelming to her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Mark, what about the idea of getting your privacy back when you`ve had, not just our country, not just a small town, but the whole world watching?
GERAGOS: You had the whole world and it`s virtually impossible. One of the things she`s going to learn is there isn`t going to be an easy way to get your privacy back.
She`s going to have to do something to try and at least quell this. Or she`s going to have to sit and ride it out until the next big scandal comes along.
HAMMER: Well, so what about that? Because everybody always wants to know, what path did you take? Do you do the big interview now and then lay low? Do you lay low for a little while and do a big interview and satisfy people`s curiosity and answer all the questions?
GERAGOS: I think what I would advise her, given her age, I mean I - the reason this story resonates is for people like me, and I don`t know, others who watch it. You saw Elisabeth talk about it.
I had a daughter who wanted to go overseas and I let her go overseas but not to Italy, specifically because of this case. I wasn`t going to let her anywhere near Italy. I said, "I`ll send you to Prague instead."
Every parent`s worst fear - your brother, sister, anything like that. One of the things you have to do is - look, I know the media needs to be fed. She needs to be attended to. And that`s your first concern as a parent and if you`re counseling her as a lawyer.
HAMMER: But she also needs money. That`s another component to this. And I`m certain that somebody will be willing to pay her lots of money for a book deal or for the story.
GERAGOS: She could sell her story. She could option her story tomorrow.
HAMMER: And should she option it tomorrow?
GERAGOS: I don`t see any downside to that. She could option it with a proviso that she doesn`t have to turn anything over for a year.
HAMMER: You`ve been behind that before with your clients?
GERAGOS: On countless occasions. There are clearly ways that she could handle this thing so she wouldn`t have to do anything right now, yet, she could preserve her right to get compensated.
HAMMER: Well, Amanda`s acquittal does bring to mind, of course, another famous court case that also ended in acquittal, Casey Anthony, who, of course, was on trial for the death of her baby daughter, Caylee.
She was also acquitted. She`s on probation, but pretty much in hiding and that`s because so many people believe Casey had something to do with her daughter`s death.
Amanda sat in jail four years for a crime she says she didn`t commit. Judge Gunn, obviously, the cases are very different. But do you think they`re in some way going to face a similar experience trying to get their lives back to normal?
GUNN: Oh, I think, I agree that, certainly, she`s going to have a hard time getting her life back to normal. But you know, what she could do, it`s just like mark said, she could channel what she knows.
She could write a book. She could have someone write it for her. And she could talk to other people, other students that go to other countries and that may run into the same kind of problems or similar problems that she`s run into. She`s not the first to be arrested in a foreign country and held there for a very long period of time.
HAMMER: Yes. She could wind up helping a lot of people and being quite an inspiration.
GUNN: She could.
GERAGOS: It`s quite a story. It`s like "Midnight Express" except set in Italy. So -
HAMMER: It`s hard to make this stuff up. It really is. All right. Judge Gunn, Mark Geragos, please stay right where you are. We have so much to talk about tonight.
Obviously, new developments in the Dr. Conrad Murray trial today. We`ve got to get to that. There are bombshell reports today that Michael Jackson`s fingerprints were not found on the Propofol bottle. So how could Michael have administered the drug himself as the defense claims?
And we move on to the secrets of "Dancing with the Stars" revealed. I had such a good time last night going behind the scenes at the show. HLN`s own Nancy Grace made a surprising and emotional revelation to me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera) For Nancy Grace sharing an emotional, powerful and heartbreaking story with the world is not easy. It is not something she does every day. But she told me why she thought it was so important to do "Dancing with the Stars."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Why "Dancing with the Stars" is a life-changing experience for Nancy.
And tonight, William Shatner talking reality star fame. So do the Kardashians really, in his mind, deserve to be Hollywood royalty? Coming up, I have got a headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview you cannot miss with the great Bill Shatner. Warp speed ahead to the Shatner-verse. 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: LeAnn Rimes tweets alleged drunk driver crashed through fence at her home. New Michael Jackson slot machine featuring iconic images of M.J. unveiled in Las Vegas.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in Los Angeles. I`m just outside the courthouse where Dr. Conrad Murray is on trial for allegedly causing the death of Michael Jackson.
No fingerprints, no case? There are reports tonight that there may be a major game-changer in the case against Dr. Conrad Murray. Investigators reportedly have not found Michael Jackson`s fingerprints on any of the bottles of Propofol found in M.J.`s home after his death.
This is a potentially explosive blow to the doctor`s case, because Murray`s lawyers claim Michael self-administered the fatal dose of the sedative.
Back with me now outside the L.A. courthouse, former Michael Jackson attorney, Mark Geragos, and Judge Mary Ann Gunn, host of the new syndicated show, "Last Shot with Judge Gunn."
So investigators reportedly have a match on every single print on those bottles. None of them belong to Michael Jackson. So if this is true, to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint tonight, if M.J.`s fingerprints aren`t found on the Propofol, is it game over for Dr. Conrad Murray`s defense? Mark, let me start with you.
GERAGOS: Not necessarily. I`ve always thought that this whole idea of the ingestion of the Propofol by him wasn`t going to matter so much as fingerprints as the stomach contents.
That was the important thing that I thought came out of the opening statements. The defense says the coroner didn`t test the food contents in the stomach of Michael and that they did and that they found it in the stomach. If they found it in the stomach, that would overcome any lack of fingerprints.
HAMMER: Judge Gunn, hard to argue with Mark Geragos, but what do you think?
GUNN: I agree. It`s not conclusive, and it`s a source right now, and if the traces of Propofol in his stomach is what`s really significant for the defense. Now, we heard a little bit of that in opening statements and we`re going to hear a lot about that from the defense I think.
HAMMER: Yes. So it will be possible for them to overlook the idea of the fingerprints?
GERAGOS: Right. If the fingerprints are not there, I can assure you you`re going to hear about that from the prosecution in the closing statement. We all agreed and we`ve been talking about that nonstop. But if there`s something in the stomach, they`ve got to then explain how it got into the stomach.
HAMMER: Right. Well, we`re watching very carefully with the live coverage right here on HLN. Today, we had an exotic dancer, a cocktail waitress and the mother of Murray`s seventh child, all speaking to Dr. Murray, apparently, in the frantic moment after Michael Jackson`s lifeless body was found.
These women all took the stand today. Nicole Alvarez says that Dr. Murray called her from the ambulance but says this wasn`t her first brush with Michael. Alvarez says she actually visited Michael several times with Dr. Murray.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was your estimation of the month and year of the times you went with Conrad Murray to Mr. Jackson`s residence?
NICOLE ALVAREZ, DR. CONRAD MURRAY`S EX-GIRLFRIEND: I can remember, because Michael was very interested in the baby. He saw my stomach grow with the pregnancy. And he wanted to schedule visits so that he could see my stomach.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So Mark, some of this was quite entertaining to watch, to be quite frank. But how crucial is the testimony?
GERAGOS: It isn`t crucial - I told somebody beforehand, I never understand why prosecutors go down this road. It`s what I call the character assassination block of evidence.
And inevitably, when you talk to jurors afterwards, the jurors consider it a distraction. So I don`t - I guess it`s titillating for you. It gets it on to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. But other than that, I don`t see where it helps them at all.
HAMMER: As somebody who has represented Michael Jackson in the past, you have interesting insight into this in a way most others don`t. How is the case going for the prosecution?
GERAGOS: I think they came out strong. I think that, for the most part, they put together a very streamlined case. I can`t fault them at all. I know both of these prosecutors. I think the world of both Walgren and Brazil - they`re both excellent lawyers.
I think the defense has done a good job and I think the criminal justice system looks pretty good right now given how this thing has not been endless sidebars and endless continuances. It started on time. So all in all it`s been a pretty good eye into the justice system.
HAMMER: And it`s been quite compelling. Thank you both for being here. Judge Gunn, Mark Geragos, great to have you. Appreciate it.
Well, we move on now to "Dancing" revelations from HLN`s Nancy Grace. Wait until you hear Nancy`s surprising confession to me about what nearly shattered her world. I was right there at the show to hear it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera) For Nancy Grace, sharing such an emotional, powerful and heartbreaking story with the world is not easy. It is not something she does every day. But she told me why she thought it was so important to do at "Dancing with the Stars."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT giving you a rare behind-the-scenes look at "Dancing with the Stars."
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT living large in Beverly Hills. That`s right. I`m not just covering "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." We`re on it. You`ve got to see this. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time to roll out the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Over 600,000 people have viewed Kate Middleton wedding dress on display at Buckingham Palace. "Footloose" star, Kenny Womald, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about being part of M.J. tribute.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KENNY WOMALD, ACTOR: I got to do the tribute and they put me right front and center during "Thriller." And I was so nervous. Radio City music. So I`m honored to have him be a part of the influence and the reason why I`m here today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Time now for the SHOWBIZ buzz list. These are the things we can`t stop buzzing about this week.
It`s the return of "Arrested Development." We couldn`t be more thrilled. The fan favorite is coming back to TV for a fourth season and a movie.
We`re taking the kids to "Yo Gabba Gabba Live" in the brand-new 55-city "It`s Time to Dance" tour. It`s already underway.
Dexter is back in all of its bloody glory. We cannot get enough of season six.
We`re loving the cheaper iPhone 4 as was announced today, just $199 for the 16-gig version. And it goes up from there. You can preorder starting this Friday.
And we are over the moon for "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." It is out on Blu-Ray and DVD.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need to ask the question, what can Kate learn from Diana`s legacy?
LISA VANDERPUMP, "THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS": Well, I think what`s really important is the fact that she`s got to keep that attainability.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, that`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT featured on the new episode of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Brooke Anderson was covering the royal wedding with Lisa Vanderpump back in the spring.
And as you see, Lisa made it on to our show, and then we made it on to hers. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is living large in Beverly Hills. We were all over that most recent episode of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."
The show`s cameras were tracking "The Real Housewives" star, Lisa Vanderpump, as she joined SHOWBIZ TONIGHT to report on the royal wedding. Now, that`s back when Brooke Anderson was still with us.
You`ve got to take a look at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s cameo on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VANDERPUMP: Have you felt like an (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in what`s going on. Of course, I`ve been on camera many times before in my life, but this is going to be different because it`s going to be live and it`s CNN. So of course, there`s some pressure.
BROOKE ANDERSON, FORMER CO-HOST, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And this is a SHOWBIZ special event, the royal wedding.
VANDERPUMP: Where I live, it constantly happens. The paparazzi are jumping on the wind screen. They`re kind of putting cameras in your face so you can`t see. It`s unacceptable.
But what do we do? I mean, when they`re offering so much money for these pictures, it`s hard to solve.
ANDERSON: Lisa Vanderpump, always good to see you, friend. Thanks. You`re a natural.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, keeping it real. We have so many calls coming into the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines tonight about Katherine Jackson not being at her son`s trial this week. She took her grandkids to Canada to watch a Cirque du Soleil tribute to Michael.
And this weekend, they`re going to be, of course, in Wales for the Michael tribute concert. Johnny from Alabama thinks that Katherine deserves the break.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JOHNNY, CALLER FROM ALABAMA: I think his mother deserves a break. I think the timing is good. It`s for her needing to get a break away from this trial. And I think Jermaine needs to be quiet.
I think the family needs to stand firm together and the media, even if they do not agree, that the concert should go on. They need to keep it to themselves and discuss it among themselves and not in the media. I think the mother and the children need to get away from this trial.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks, Johnny. Appreciate your call. Now, the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM SHATNER, ACTOR: I`m 80 years old. You`re what, 47?
CHARLIE SHEEN, ACTOR: Forty-six.
SHATNER: How come we look like we went to high school together?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, all I can say is I`m glad Bill Shatner is not roasting me. William Shatner right here tonight. It`s a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. And he`s promised to beam me into his world, the Shatner-verse.
Plus, is it game over for Dr. Conrad Murray? The damaging new evidence that could take him down in court. 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: Seth Rogen marries his longtime girlfriend, Lauren Miller. Donald Trump, Jr. welcomes a baby boy - third child, Tristan Milos Trump.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - I go behind the scenes on "Dancing with the Stars" to get the stars` "Dancing" secrets. Plus, Nancy Grace`s remarkable confession to me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera) For Nancy Grace sharing such an emotional, powerful and heartbreaking story with the world is not easy. It is not something she does every day. But she told me why she thought it was so important to do "Dancing with the Stars."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Tonight HLN`s Nancy Grace reveals for the first time what nearly shattered her world and how "Dancing with the Stars" has changed her life forever.
So should Kim Kardashian be famous? Do the "Real Housewives" deserved to be called celebrities? Tonight, a SHOWBIZ legend gets real with reality. You can ask William Shatner if he thinks reality stars need to be beamed out of Hollywood. It`s a SHOWBIZ Shatner newsmaker interview.
Diddy`s big apology. Sean Diddy Combs back tracking big time after a racial and homophobic rant. Should he be forgiven?
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in Los Angeles. We`ve got big news breaking today - secrets with "Dancing with the Stars."
As many as 16 million people tune in to watch the stars dance and compete with different degrees of success, of course. But no one really knew what goes on backstage. That is, until now.
Last night, I had a great time. I went behind the scenes with "Dancing with the Stars" and I spoke with all of the celebrity dancers including, of course, HLN`s own Nancy Grace.
And they shared with me their dancing secrets, their secret inspirations and, best of all, their secret hiding places.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) We see the grueling rehearsals. The difficult dance routines.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are very, very difficult dances.
HAMMER: And the anxiety of competition. But what we see on "Dancing with the Stars" is only part of the story.
(on camera) I`m backstage with "Dancing with the Stars" where you know there are secrets. You know, these stars aren`t telling us everything. But I`m going to find out what surprises you, like where would you hide your mints?
LACEY SCHWIMMER, CHAZ` BONO`S DANCE PARTNER: You might not want to touch those ones.
HAMMER (voice-over): Yes, it`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive. Chaz Bono keeps mints in his shoes. Chaz` dance partner, Lacey Schwimmer, shows me she`s also packing a little something in her costume.
SCHWIMMER: I carry my cell phone in my waistband.
HAMMER: Yes, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is leaving no shoe or skirt unsearched as we go backstage to get the secrets of "Dancing with the Stars."
(on camera) What is the secret to being able to be so much of yourself even when the cameras are rolling?
CARSON KRESSLEY, "DANCING WITH THE STARS" CONTESTANT: Always wear things that sparkle.
HAMMER (voice-over): Carson Kressley tells me his secret to performing in the high-stress, high-stakes competition is being Carson.
KRESSLEY: People on reality TV are successful when they`re authentic.
HAMMER: Here`s another "Dancing with the Stars" secret that may surprise you. Some stars struggle with the whole sexy thing.
KRISTIN CAVALLARI, "DANCING WITH THE STARS" CONTESTANT: I hate being into all the sexy stuff.
HAMMER: Kristin Cavallari tells me the key to bringing sexy back to the dance floor is taking the sexy out of your mind.
CAVALLARI: I just try to go out there and have fun and not think about being sexy necessarily. I just try to enjoy myself.
HOPE SOLO, "DANCING WITH THE STARS": Be honest and try to stay true to who I am.
HAMMER: But one of the big secrets a star brings to "Dancing with the Stars" is her or his source of inspiration.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These 10 stars have made it to this emotionally-charged night of competition.
HAMMER: Last night`s show, each of the stars told a personal story in their dance routines. My HLN colleague, Nancy Grace, danced to "Moon River," which she chose to honor the birth of her twins. A difficult birth that Nancy`s daughter, Lucy, and Nancy, herself, barely survived.
NANCY GRACE, "DANCING WITH THE STARS" CONTESTANT: I didn`t know if Lucy was going to live or die. And I remember the first song I sang to them was "Moon River."
HAMMER (on camera): For Nancy Grace, sharing such an emotional, powerful and heartbreaking story with the world is not easy. It is not something she does every day. But she told me why she thought it was so important to do at "Dancing with the Stars." I am so proud of you, watching you up there.
(voice-over) Nancy told me the story of her children isn`t one of sadness, but of triumph.
GRACE: Actually, I have a lot of joy that we both made it, because I would have had to leave John David to be raised without a mother. And as of right now, he`s still a mommy`s boy. So that would have broken my heart up in heaven watching him be raised without a mommy.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Soap star, J.R. Martinez, an Iraq war veteran who was injured in an IED blast danced a touching tribute to his fellow veterans and their family. And J.R. told me the secret of how he got through the super- emotional dance.
J.R. MARTINEZ, "DANCING WITH THE STARS" CONTESTANT: Just kind of collecting myself and remembering, OK, you know, we have a dance to do and we have to honor those men and women and their families.
HAMMER: But perhaps one of the biggest secrets of "Dancing with the Stars" is that through all the competition -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It wasn`t your best performance.
HAMMER: And grueling rehearsals -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nobody said it was going to be easy.
HAMMER: Nancy Grace tells me there`s a sense of teamwork and camaraderie between the contestants. All of whom are sharing with the world their struggles and triumphs each and every time they hit the dance floor.
GRACE: I think it would be very surprising to the viewers to learn how close all the contestants get. And we really do care about each other.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, when Nancy takes her dancing shoes off, of course, it`s back to business. She`s also in Los Angeles covering the Michael Jackson death trial. Nancy hasn`t missed a beat from the day-to-day proceedings to the dramatic testimony.
But there`s one thing she thinks is missing in the case. Nancy just told HLN`s Dr. Drew that Dr. Conrad Murray`s potential punishment does not fit his alleged crime.
GRACE: This is undercharged. This should have been charged as a murder one. It`s very confusing, but murder one requires intent to commit the act, not to kill.
For instance, Dr. Drew, if I took a gun and held it to your head and pulled the trigger and then went, "I didn`t mean to kill you. I only meant to scare you." It doesn`t matter under the law. The law presumes you intend the natural consequences of your act.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That brings us to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - even if Murray is convicted, will justice ever really be deserved for Michael Jackson?
With me right now outside the L.A. courthouse, former Michael Jackson attorney, Mark Geragos. Also with me in L.A., defense attorney Midwin Charles.
Mark, I want to start with you. Do you agree with Nancy Grace? She`s making her case that Dr. Murray is undercharged here.
GERAGOS: Well, I don`t know that he`s undercharged. But I will tell you that in California - I don`t agree with her on first degree. But clearly, in California and in Los Angeles, he could have been charged with second degree implied malice murder, which carries a life sentence with it.
He is facing, right now, involuntary manslaughter. The maximum is four years. The most he would do is two years and he could get probation. There are a lot of people who feel like that would not be justice.
HAMMER: So help me understand why the prosecution wouldn`t have gone for second degree as you said.
GERAGOS: Well, it`s always surprised me because Mike really wasn`t - the prosecution filed second-degree murder charges on him that they most likely would not have had a trial.
He probably would have pled to an involuntary manslaughter so he would have had to minimize his losses. That`s one of the dirty little secrets of the criminal justice system. Prosecutors overcharge so that they can extort pleas out of you.
HAMMER: It`s always a game, always some kind of negotiation going on.
GERAGOS: Exactly right.
HAMMER: Midwin, let`s say there is a conviction. Let`s say he gets the maximum four years. And as Mark is saying, he would probably only serve two years in that case. Let`s forget for a moment that we`re talking about probably the greatest superstar the world has ever known.
We`re talking about a father. We`re talking about a son. We`re talking about a brother. Do you think, to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, justice will be served for Michael Jackson?
MIDWIN CHARLES, ATTORNEY: Unfortunately, probably not. I mean, when you draw a parallel and understand that Lindsay Lohan was only looking at three years in jail for stealing a necklace and Conrad Murray for killing someone is looking at four years.
I think it`s going to be very difficult for the family, for his friends, to feel as though they are going to get justice as a result of this.
HAMMER: Well, the turmoil for the Jackson family - obviously, it`s unimaginable. Jermaine Jackson is not at all convinced that this trial will give him any vindication whatever the outcome. We`ve got to see what Jermaine told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JERMAINE JACKSON, BROTHER OF MICHAEL JACKSON: The trial is not going to bring closure. It`s going to do - well, it`s already kind of shady because involuntary manslaughter for taking Michael Jackson` life.
And I watch these murder shows which are true. They`re killing Joe Smith down the street. He gets killed and the person gets 25 to life. And for the charge to be so light - even if they gave him life or whatever, it`s not going to bring Michael back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Mark, what do you think? You`ve been following this very closely. Do you think justice will ever be served for Michael Jackson?
GERAGOS: Look, I understand that people want trials and people want to see convictions and things like that. I don`t think it ever brings anybody closure. I don`t think the trials ever help anybody do anything except kind of polarize people into different positions.
So no, I don`t think it`s going to help. I don`t think it`s going to bring justice. As Jermaine says, it`s not going to bring him back. I don`t think that a conviction or an acquittal is going to do anything to help anybody.
HAMMER: While I`ve got you here, I`ve been wanting to get your take on another controversy in the whole drama that`s playing out right now.
You`re somebody who worked with Michael Jackson. You knew him in a way none of us could ever imagine knowing him. A lot of people are saying that the timing of the concert that`s happening this weekend, the Michael Jackson tribute concert, is unfortunate.
A couple of the brothers don`t want to be a part of it. Janet Jackson is not involving herself with it. Katherine is saying, "You know what? We have to celebrate Michael`s life and really keep his legacy enduring."
But the contention has been, you know what, this trial is going on. It`s disrespectful. What do you think Michael, from how you knew him, would have thought? Would he say, "You know what? The show has to go on"?
GERAGOS: It`s exactly the way I think he would approach it is, "Look, you`ve to be kidding me. I`m the greatest entertainer that`s ever lived and this is what I do. And this is how I want to be remembered."
HAMMER: And having gotten to know the Jackson family, I imagine there`s no surprise to you at all that Katherine took the kids, is heading to Wales and just wants them to see and enjoy the legacy of their father.
GERAGOS: I`ve said it for years that she is an incredible woman. Joe is an incredible guy as well. And that is one family that is just to be reckoned with. And the kids who I came to know through the Child Protective Services investigation, Paris and Prince, are so grounded.
HAMMER: Yes.
GERAGOS: So precocious. They`re just wonderful.
HAMMER: Great to hear, especially with your perspective which is so, so unique. Mark Geragos, thank you so much. Midwin Charles, always great to see you out here in L.A.
We`ve got to move on right now. One of my favorite people is standing by - William Shatner right here. Let me say, I`m just glad he`s not roasting me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHATNER: I`m 80 years old. You`re what, 47?
SHEEN: Forty-six.
SHATNER: How come we look like we went to high school together?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: it`s funny because it`s true. I wonder if William Shatner thinks Charlie Sheen is kicking himself for not keeping his gig on "Two and a Half Men." Bill Shatner is right here and I want to know what are his secrets to his legendary success? I`ll ask him that and more in a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
Are you Beliebers? Well, you`re not going to like this. A brand-new change for Justin Bieber that could cost him his edge. Has the Biebs lost his swagger for good? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
This is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Beyonce and Jay-Z raise $1 million for Shawn Carter Foundation. SHOWBIZ first look: Beyonce releases sneak peek of new video for "Countdown."
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in Los Angeles. Tonight, aye, aye, captain.
William Shatner is right here. He was, of course, James Tiberius Kirk on "Star Trek." He`s the price line negotiator.
And let`s be honest. William Shatner is freaking hilarious all the time. Now, he`s got this great new book out that is really going to help everyone get a much-needed dose of perspective. It`s out today and it`s called "Your Guide to Understanding the Shatner-verse and the world at Large."
William Shatner joining me right now from New York for a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. Bill, it`s terrific to see you. I`m sorry. I come out here to L.A. You come to see me in New York. We kind of missed each other. But great to have you on the show once again.
SHATNER: The magic of airplanes, jets and the magic of electronic communication. It all works for me.
HAMMER: Here we are. So you write a lot about fame in your great new book and you write about your own struggles in life to sort of keep up appearances and being successful in Hollywood when, quite frankly, your life was in shambles as you put it.
We`re seeing a lot of that these days with the huge phenomenon of reality show stars. Do you think, Bill, that reality stars like the Kardashians or "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" are entitled to the perks of fame and the title of celebrity?
SHATNER: Oh, sure. If people want to watch what they`re doing, that`s what people want to watch. And so we`re giving them what they want to watch. You can`t dictate people`s taste.
Now, mind you, you can educate people`s taste. There`s lack of a reading in public. Everybody`s gone to electronic means of communicating rather than reading books.
But here`s a book called "Shatner Rules." It`s got pages. You`ve got to hold the book. You`ve got to read it. And people are reading this book and getting subway seats to ask me how.
HAMMER: Oh, yes, please explain that to me.
SHATNER: They are reading the book in the subway laughing out loud and people move aside thinking they are a little daffy.
HAMMER: Well, that happens in New York pretty much every day. I`m thinking you`re book is probably adding to the mix there.
SHATNER: That`s true. They don`t need my book to get a subway seat. That`s true. But anyway, it`s a funny read and it`s a meaningful read. I tried to make some sense of some of the things that happened in my life so that it has some meaning for somebody else who`s reading and laughing out loud.
HAMMER: Well, I think a lot of people are certainly laughing at one of my favorite parts of the book. You spent a bit of time writing rebuttals to your own "Comedy Central" roast.
The roast itself, it was genius, but you say you were actually mortified by the jokes that you wrote. Now, you, of course, were recently on the other end of a roast. You really gave it to Charlie Sheen.
You roasted him on "Comedy Central." I`m, Bill, among those who just thought you were hysterical on that show. Let`s take a little bit of a look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHATNER: I`m 80 years old. You`re what, 47?
SHEEN: Forty-six.
SHATNER: How come we look like we went to high school together? May I suggest to you, Charlie, that you reexamine your relations with women? Prostitutes cost a lot of money, Charlie. Hasn`t anyone told you that actresses will sleep with you for free?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: See, it`s funny because it`s true. Charlie, of course, was booted off "Two and a Half Men." Ashton Kutcher is in, of course. Bill, do you think that "Two and a Half Men" is a show that`s going to survive with Ashton in the driver`s seat?
SHATNER: Oh, sure. Ashton Kutcher is wonderful. The writing on that show is great. And nobody has anything to worry about. Charlie is going to be great. He`s going to go on to a full life.
You know, that`s a way of doing an intervention. Doing a roast is a great way of doing an intervention. Instead of shaming him, we`re poking fun at him and that`s the way - one way to learn a life lesson which is what the book does, pokes fun at me and we learn some lessons as we go along.
HAMMER: Well, lessons, and there are rules in here, Bill. I love this. You were good enough to share some of your smart rules to help us live like William Shatner. That`s how we want to live our lives.
Let me read a couple of the rules, if I may, "Always take Shatner`s word for it, even if you suspect he`s lying." Perfect. "Never watch the History Channel before visiting Germany." Well, of course.
"Being 80 means that you can abruptly change the subject while speaking and people will follow." Love that. Please don`t change the subject in this interview, however,
And "Know which conversations require a bulletproof vest." It sounds to me like we`ll be all set if we just follow along, Bill.
SHATNER: Just read the chapters. Go in the subway and you`ll have a seat given to you immediately.
HAMMER: I look forward to that and I look forward to seeing you next time in person.
SHATNER: Thank you, A.J.
HAMMER: Thank you so much for being with us.
SHATNER: Pleasure to be with you.
HAMMER: All right.
SHATNER: Bye-bye.
HAMMER: Make sure you pick up the new book. It`s really a terrific read. And again, it will get you a seat on the subway. "Shatner Rules" in bookstores today. His new album, "Seeking Major Tom," drops next week.
We move on now to brand-new reports today that Bieber lost his swagger. Could it be? The surprising shakeup in Bieber`s camp that could have Bieber`s famous hair standing on end. Could Justin Bieber actually lose his cool? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: "The Simpsons" face cancellation due to contract dispute with Fox. "Footloose" star, Julianne Hough talks to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about the movie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIANNE HOUGH, ACTRESS: I feel like I`m nine months pregnant and ready to have the baby, because, literally, I`ve been attached to this movie for three years and we shot it a year ago. We`re just ready.
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HAMMER: Has Justin Bieber lost his swagger? Well, his coach, anyway. Now, this may be hard to believe for true Beliebers. But the 17-year-old wasn`t just born with a swagger. He had a swagger coach.
The name was Ryan Good. He`s the guy who reportedly crafted the moves of Bieber`s mentor, Usher. A series of tweets from Good and from Bieber`s manager reveal that Good was leaving the Biebs behind for good.
And of course, Wendy Williams had something to say about all that this morning.
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WENDY WILLIAMS, HOST, "THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW": If you`re wondering how Justin Bieber has gotten its swagger, it`s because of the man in this picture named Ryan Good. Swagger coach.
I will tell you what Ryan taught Justin what to do. Taught Justin how to dress, how to style his hair and how to talk to girls. Ryan, you don`t even look like you like girls. You helped our friend, Justin Bieber, go from boy, well, to this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, it`s clear to me the Biebs certainly got his money`s worth.
All right. Moving now to big baby buzz at "The Office." Tonight, "The Office" star, Jenna Fischer, welcomes a new bundle of joy. And is Madonna on the borderline of deciding to perform at the Super Bowl? We`ve got all that making big news in "The Buzz Today."
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(voice-over) Will Madonna tackle the Super Bowl? No official confirmation yet if Madonna will be Super Bowl XLVI`s halftime superstar. But reports are circulating that Madge will take to the stage at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the NFL showdown.
Madonna`s rep tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "There`s nothing to confirm at this point," but they didn`t deny the story.
Jenna Fischer`s new part to play, mom. The "Office" star and husband, Lee Kirk, welcomed baby boy, Weston Lee, on September 24th according to "People" magazine. Jenna`s real-life experience is close to her character, Pam, on the show who is pregnant this season.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Congratulations, guys. Moving now to Diddy`s big apology today after a shocking racial and homophobic rant. He`s begging for forgiveness from his fans. But should he be forgiven?
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HAMMER: Diddy`s big I`m sorry. Sean Diddy Combs is backtracking big-time after reportedly shouting racial and homophobic slurs over the weekend.
"TMZ.com" reporting that Diddy let loose on a club go-er in Atlanta and things almost got physical. Now, according to the club go-er Diddy was upset that he wasn`t drinking the vodka that Diddy endorses.
Well, the hip-hop mogul is hoping that his fans will forgive him. Listen to what he tweeted, "To all my children of God, I have backslid and regressed. Forgive me for my ignorance. Pray for me please. I know better and I am better." Well, "my children of God" - really, Diddy?
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in Los Angeles. Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively Monday to Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on HLN.
And stay right here for "DR. DREW," next. Tonight, two of Dr. Conrad Murray`s girlfriends take the stand in the Michael Jackson death trial. Plus, why Michael`s trusted doctor allegedly tried to save himself instead of his star patient.
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