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Showbiz Tonight
Special Edition: SHOWBIZ at the Grammys; Keeping Up with the Kardashian News; Taylor Armstrong Taking Heat for Her Book
Aired February 10, 2012 - 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: Right now, on a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "SHOWBIZ at the Grammys" - SHOWBIZ TONIGHT teams up with the people behind the Grammys to reveal the biggest, best, most explosive star showdowns.
It`s Adele`s big comeback since her throat surgery.
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And she`s got a big showdown with Lady Gaga for album of the year.
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The Chris Brown/Rihanna drama. Getting on the same stage for the first time since Chris was arrested three years ago for beating her up.
Oh, so Cool J. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT one-on-one with Grammy host L. L Cool J. Is the big job making Mr. Cool sweat?
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One-on-one with living legend and Grammy nominee Tony Bennett and his brand-new revelations about his duet with Amy Winehouse.
A special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "SHOWBIZ at the Grammys," starts right now.
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Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And this is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - "SHOWBIZ at the Grammys."
The 54th annual Grammy awards are on Sunday night, and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is joining forces with the Recording Academy, the folks behind the Grammys, to bring you up close and personal the biggest stars and the biggest showdowns expected on Sunday night.
And I cannot wait to see how those battles play out. You`ve got Adele, Lady Gaga, the Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars - they`re all fighting for album of the year.
You have Kanye West versus Kanye West for best rap album. Tony Bennett`s duets with Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga are in the Grammy showdown race as well. I`ll be speaking with Tony Bennett in just a moment.
It`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT at the Grammys that will surely be a night to remember.
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(voice-over) Adele could win it all at the Grammys. Music experts agree Adele is about to have a big night.
TYE COMER, EDITOR, "BILLBOARD.COM": I think that Adele is going to be the belle of the ball on Sunday.
HAMMER: Adele is nominated for six Grammys including the big three - record, song, and album of the year. No one would be surprised at an Adele clean sweep.
COMER: She`s loved by fans and critics alike.
HAMMER: But can anyone pose problems for Adele in a Grammy night showdown?
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Bruno Mars is nominated against Adele in those big three categories.
COMER: Bruno Mars is the person who could probably come in with an upset.
HAMMER: But still, it`s probably going to be all about Adele Sunday night. Not only will she likely load up on Grammys, Sunday`s show will be the first time she`s performed since throat surgery caused her to miss much of last year.
COMER: It`s really going to be a stage for her to make her big comeback.
HAMMER: Another Grammy performance showdown everyone is keeping an eye on, three-time nominee Chris Brown.
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HAMMER: Sunday will be his first appearance at the Grammys since he assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna the night before the 2009 ceremony. Making things more interesting, Rihanna is also performing at this year`s show.
COMER: There is going to be a lot of drama surrounding his performance and the fact those two artists are going to be in the same space.
HAMMER: But as always, the real drama will be in the Grammy showdowns. The most competitive one, best new artist.
COMER: That`s a three-way race between Nicki, Bon Iver and The Band Perry.
HAMMER: And then, there`s Kanye West versus Kanye West. The rapper is nominated against himself in the best rap album category.
COMER: This is an interesting situation where his "Watch the Throne" collaboration with Jay-Z is up against his solo record, "My Beautiful, Dark and Twisted Fantasy."
HAMMER: So we`ve got to ask, if Kanye wins for one album, will he throw one of his infamous backstage meltdowns over the album that lost?
COMER: He won`t be happy if he doesn`t walk away with anything, that`s for sure.
HAMMER: So all the showdowns, comebacks and possible tantrums will certainly make for an exciting Grammy night.
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I`m also thinking what should really make the Grammys exciting this year is the L. L. Cool host. Yes, for the first time in seven years, there will be an official host of the Grammys, and it`s L. L. Cool J.
He`s in pretty good company. Past hosts have included Billy Crystal and Ellen DeGeneres. Now, L. L. has been on the Grammy stage before. He`s a two-time Grammy winner.
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner caught up with L. L. at the Staples Center during rehearsals.
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NISCHELLE TURNER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: Thank you.
L. L. COOL J, RAP ARTIST:
TURNER: You say you`re a little under the weather.
L. L. COOL J: I was a little under the weather. I`ll give you a little elbow noogie.
TURNER: OK. So seven years they haven`t had a host. And now, you.
L. L. COOL J: Yes.
TURNER: Are you a little nervous?
L. L. COOL J: You know what? I wouldn`t say I`m nervous but I`m not, you know, cocky, like, "Oh, I`ve got it under control. It`s done. I`m doing it."
It`s kind of one of those things where I realize this is a big responsibility and it`s a large challenge. But I want to meet it and I want to make sure that everyone who sees this show has a good time.
TURNER: Who are you excited to see get up there and perform?
L. L. COOL J: You know, when you - it`s so funny because any other year, I would be able to give you a real definitive answer. But this year because, I`m the host, it kind of like becomes about the whole body of work.
TURNER: Yes. But I hear Chris Brown is going to put on a show like we`ve never seen before.
L. L. COOL J: Yes, yes. Chris is going to - he`s going to definitely do some crazy things. And it`s going to be serious.
TURNER: So that`s one to watch.
L. L. COOL J: That is one to watch. And Bruce Springsteen is going to be a powerful performance. There`s going to be some good stuff.
TURNER: You cannot convince me that L. L., Uncle L., is not going to get on that stage and show these young folks that he can still put it down. Come on.
L. L. COOL J: Get my Tony Bennett on? Should I get my Tony Bennett on? You never know.
TURNER: A little something? Don`t make me break out "I Need Love."
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I took a little sneak peek and here`s what I want to show. Jay-Z`s card is right here. Here`s Beyonce`s. She doesn`t get a card? She doesn`t rank?
L. L. COOL J: Well, maybe hers is tucked behind his somewhere or something. We`re not sure. You know -
TURNER: Is she coming?
L. L. COOL J: It still remains to be seen. We just have to let it unfold.
TURNER: Diana Ross -
L. L. COOL J: Yes.
TURNER: Then Chris Brown in between.
L. L. COOL J: Yes.
TURNER: And Reba McEntire.
L. L. COOL J: You`ve got to love it.
TURNER: Ain`t no party like the Grammys. All right.
L. L. COOL J: Absolutely.
TURNER: L. L. says watch out for Chris Brown.
L. L. COOL J: Yes.
TURNER: Watch out for Bruce Springsteen.
L. L. COOL J: You know, L. L. - just watch out for the Grammys, because the Grammys are going to be hot. I don`t know about the host, but you`ll love the performances.
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Thanks, Nischelle. And as L. L. just told us, yes, the Grammys are going to be very hot. And of course, you can expect some real Grammy shockers. It wouldn`t be a thrilling night without all the big showdowns and the must-see performances.
Bill Werde is with us from Hollywood. He is the editorial director of "Billboard" magazine.
And Bill, we know, every year, everybody is just eager to see who`s going to win that album of the year. And it`s a big showdown. Stars this year include Adele, Foo Fighters, Lady Gaga. We have Bruno Mars and Rihanna all going at it. In your mind, Bill, who`s going to win it?
BILL WERDE, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, "BILLBOARD" MAGAZINE: Well, I mean, last year was Adele`s year. Honestly, it was her universe and everyone else was just kind of in it.
So I`ve got to say, it`s a little bit of tough luck for some other great performers that happened to be nominated in a year that Adele just owned.
HAMMER: Yes. I would agree with you. I think it`s hers to lose. That goes for many of the categories in which she`s nominated.
And another of those knockdown, drag-out fights will be in the record of the year category. And again, Adele is up for that, one of her six nominations. She`s going up against Bon Iver, Bruno Mars, Mumford and Sons, and Katy Perry. In this category, would you agree as well that it would be a shocker if Adele didn`t win?
WERDE: Yes. I mean, listen, the one thing the Grammy voters have shown is that they are willing to kind of thumb their nose at expectation, right? I don`t think a lot of people expected "Arcade Fire" to win album of the year.
I know, sitting in the audience, that everyone was shocked when Esperanza Spalding won last year instead of Justin Bieber. So nothing`s really a lock.
That said, any category that Adele is nominated in, she has to be considered the favorite. She`s the exact kind of artist that Grammy voters love.
HAMMER: Yes.
WERDE: She`s critically acclaimed, right? I mean, she made these amazing songs that really connected deeply with people, that came from a very honest place of hurt and relationship pain. And at the same time, she was commercially very, very successful.
HAMMER: And on top of all this, everybody is waiting to see what happens when Chris Brown takes the stage, his first public appearance in the same place as Rihanna, since he was arrested three years ago after attacking her the night before the Grammys.
And we`ve been in the Staples Center. We see they`re both in the front row, far away from each other. But Bill, you know that Chris is going to give it his all. Very quickly, this performance is a must-see, isn`t it?
WERDE: Yes, I think so. I mean, Chris has proven over the last couple of years that his music career is kind of back on full throttle. In fact, in some ways, he`s bigger than he ever was.
HAMMER: "Billboard" magazine`s Bill Werde, thank you so much. We move now from the Grammy newcomers to the legends whose music stands the test of time.
Next, two giant Grammy newsmakers. A night of icons - Tony Bennett up for two Grammys reveals to us what made his duet with Amy Winehouse so magical for both of them.
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TONY BENNETT, SINGER: She told me - she said when she received her first Grammy years ago, she said, it wasn`t that she won that thrilled her but the fact that Tony Bennett announced that she won.
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HAMMER: Tony tells me about his lasting Amy memory and why Lady Gaga made him giggle while recording their duet.
Plus, Glen Campbell. The country music legend making his final Grammy performance before the music fades away. Stolen by Alzheimer`s.
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GLEN CAMPBELL, COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR: What did they diagnosis me as?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Alzheimer`s.
CAMPBELL: Alzheimer`s? What`s Alzheimer`s?
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HAMMER: It`s Glen Campbell`s emotional and inspirational SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. You`re watching a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "SHOWBIZ at the Grammy`s." And now, a big Grammy showdown - the wacky battle for best short form music video. Adele versus Weird Al Yankovic.
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TINA FEY, ACTRESS: And there ain`t no party like a Liz Lemon Party because a Liz Lemon Party is mandatory.
BETTY WHITE, ACTRESS AND COMEDIAN: I`m sure as hell not going to waste my time kissing your pet, and if you don`t like it, just drop dead.
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HAMMER: Liz Lemon versus Rose Nylund. It`s a Grammy showdown like no other. Tina Fey`s, whose "30 Rock" alter-ego is Liz and the legendary Betty White, who we all remember as the lovable Rose on "Golden Girls," are facing off.
It is the battle of world domination in the best spoken word album category for their books.
Welcome to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - "SHOWBIZ at the Grammys," as we team up with the folks behind the Grammys, the Recording Academy.
Now, the Grammys are always a celebration of the best in music. And the big show on Sunday night will also be about magical moments from fresh faces.
And hold on to your seat, because it will also be a night of icons. One of my favorites, Tony Bennett, kicks that up a notch with his fantastic "Duets II" album.
He`s up for two Grammys, including one for best pop duo or group performance for his song, "Body and Soul," with the late Amy Winehouse.
Tony just told me all about his magical memories from their collaboration and why Lady Gaga made him giggle on their duet. And in SHOWBIZ Grammy newsmaker interview, I had to also ask him if music`s biggest party ever gets old for him.
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BENNETT: I`m so fortunate about the Grammys I`ve received, 15 Grammys through the years. And I love it, because the convention of the music world gathers around the Grammys.
And it`s the one time all of us entertainers are on the road in different parts of the world. And it`s the one time when we all get together and have a big feast of saying hello to one another and reminding where we met and where we performed with one another. So it`s always a joy for me to be around the Grammys.
HAMMER (voice-over): And we`re so thrilled that we have some new Tony Bennett to enjoy. I`ve been loving listening to "Duets II." Obviously, it`s an incredible album.
BENNETT: Thank you.
HAMMER: And a lot of people obviously were very quickly talking about the fact that you did "Body and Soul," this song, the duet, with the late great Amy Winehouse.
BENNETT: Right.
HAMMER: I know you have extraordinary respect for and really admired her talent. If you could take me back to that recording session, what`s the magical memory from that time in the studio with her?
BENNETT: Well, everybody said, look out, you know. But she showed up completely sober, you know, and with her dad. And they were so nice to me. And she told me - she said when she received her first Grammy years ago, she said it wasn`t that she won that they`re thrilled of, but that fact that Tony Bennett announced that she won.
HAMMER: Take me back to that recording session, because I imagine it was a much different dynamic with the Gaga than it was with Amy Winehouse. What was the magical moment there for you?
BENNETT: Well, what happened - a lot of my fans have mentioned, "How come you`re laughing while she`s singing?" On the record, you hear me giggling about it. And what happened is I had no idea that she was that good a singer.
A lot of people just look at her as a big pizzazz, you know, just kidding big, you know. But actually, she is a magnificent singer.
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HAMMER: Now, Tony Bennett will not be the only icon everybody`s going to be watching at the Grammys. Seventy-five-year-old Glen Campbell also taking center stage for what could very well be his final Grammy performance.
He`ll also be honored with a lifetime achievement award. Country superstar who has won five Grammys during his legendary career was diagnosed with Alzheimer`s disease last year.
And when he takes the stage, you can definitely expect emotions to be running very high. Now, even though Glen`s memory is failing him, he`s clear about one thing. He has lived his life exactly as he wanted to.
He spoke to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner for another very special SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
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TURNER (voice-over): Last summer, Glen Campbell made a stunning announcement.
GLEN CAMPBELL, COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR: What did they diagnose me as?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Alzheimer`s.
CAMPBELL: Alzheimer`s. What`s Alzheimer`s?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You start losing your memory and your ability to reason.
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TURNER: But now, after five decades as a music icon, the 75-year-old entertainer says he`s calling it a day.
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In August, Campbell released his final album, "Ghost on the Canvas." Now, he`s in the midst of his farewell tour with backing band that features three of his kids, including daughter, Ashley.
ASHLEY CAMPBELL, DAUGHTER OF GLEN CAMPBELL: He looks at me sometimes as if he`s confused and I just smile at him. I just try and make him feel like he`s surrounded by people that love him on stage.
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TURNER: The Recording Academy is honoring Campbell with a lifetime achievement award, and he`ll be performing at the 54th annual Grammy telecast.
CAMPBELL: I`m flattered. I really am. All I wanted to do ever since I can remember was play my guitar and sing.
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HAMMER: It will be a touching performance. We wish our best to Glen Campbell.
And wouldn`t it be nice to have a reunion of another legend? The Beach Boys.
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The boys are back and they`re teaming up with the band, Foster the People. The Beach Boys will reunite live on the Grammy stage for their first performance together in more than 20 years.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there at their rehearsal. Wait until you hear what Brian Wilson and Mike Love told us.
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KAREEN WYNTER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: You guys said never in your wildest dreams did you imagine you`d be attending the Grammys. But you`re not just attending. You`re performing up for best new artist. How blown away are you by that honor?
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HAMMER: The Band Perry is right here for another show-stopping SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. Will the superstar siblings snatch up the Grammy for best new artist?
You`re watching a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "SHOWBIZ at the Grammys." And now, another blockbuster SHOWBIZ showdown, Kanye versus Kanye.
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HAMMER: Kanye West`s "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" is up against his album with Jay-Z, "Watch the Throne." If he and Jay win, this would be their third joint Grammy. But who gets to interrupt Kanye if he wins?
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HAMMER: This is going to be so cool. The Beach Boys will reunite live on the Grammy stage for their first performance in more than 20 years.
The group, Foster the People, will be part of this amazing musical moment as well. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there as they were rehearsing the Beach Boys hit "Wouldn`t It Be Nice."
We caught up with both bands backstage and we found out how this collaboration came to be.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know how it came to be?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe they did pick the songs because both Adam and Foster - they`re big longtime, lifetime Beach Boys fans. So they knew exactly what songs they wanted to do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was just a huge shock. I mean, I think all of us almost passed out when they asked us to play, you know. The Beach Boys were my first concert ever.
You know, I saw them when I was seven years old. And I never would have expected to share a stage with them. I mean, you know, it`s a dream come true.
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HAMMER: Imagine how they feel. Welcome back to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "SHOWBIZ at the Grammys."
And certainly, one of the most anticipated showdowns on Sunday night, the battle between the best new artist. It`s an incredible showdown between Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver, J. Cole, Skrillex, and The Band Perry.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT spoke with the superstar siblings of The Band Perry, Kimberly, Neil and Reid. And even though they are now bonafide stars, they tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter which musicians take their breath away and about their dreams of the first country/hip hop collaboration
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WYNTER: OK. You`re attending the Grammys. You`re performing and you`re up for best new artist. You must be so blown away by this.
KIMBERLY PERRY, BAND MEMBER, THE BAND PERRY: We are. You know, the Grammys in the Perry household has always been one of the major events of the year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kind of like the Super Bowl.
K. PERRY: Yes.
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WYNTER: Who do you want to see? Who do you want to rub elbows with?
K. PERRY: Well, I`ve heard that rumor that Paul McCartney may be somewhere around the Grammys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
K. PERRY: So that`s definitely on the list.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bruce Springsteen, too. I mean, some of our rock heroes are going to be there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Adele as well. So many artists -
K. PERRY: A big fan of hers.
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WYNTER: Tell me about your OMG moments on stage.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One moment for me was we were playing kind of this tribute to the women of country music, all the legends. And I remember there were some of those legends sitting in the crowd.
And w walked on stage and started playing. My eyes caught with one of the others and I completely forgot to sing.
K. PERRY: He did. I looked at him. It was Reba actually. And Neil was like looking at Reba. His eyes just get - for some reason -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She made me nervous for some reason.
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WYNTER: Who`s that one artist out there, perhaps that group that you are just dying to work with?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, we`ve always wanted to do a collaboration with Eminem.
K. PERRY: We love his intensity. I mean, he`s such a focused artist and his lyrics are just so personal to him. And I really feel like he approaches writing the same way that we do.
WYNTER: I love the country and rap merger.
K. PERRY: Can you talk to him?
WYNTER: I`ll call him up right after this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. Appreciate it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s the sexiest SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview ever with Kris Jenner. The Kardashian mom wants to help you steam things up in the bedroom.
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HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Courteney Cox`s shocking new sex confession about life after her split with David Arquette. Tonight, why Courteney`s sex life is so surprising.
Kris Jenner`s sex tips for Courteney, David, and quite frankly, everyone else. Kris is right here for a super-steamy newsmaker interview.
And another huge reality star is making big news tonight. Taylor Armstrong is in the line of fire for her controversial new book claiming that her late husband abused her.
Taylor is right here tonight, taking on all her haters out there in a candid SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
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 New York. We`ve got some big news breaking tonight. We`ve got Kris Jenner`s sex secrets.
Did you know that the mother of Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian and the wife of Olympic champion, Bruce Jenner, is a sex columnist?
It`s a good thing she`s here tonight because there was big news about Courteney Cox and her sex life. Courteney says, well, she doesn`t have a sex life. In a brand-new interview, Courteney revealed she`s been celibate since her split from David Arquette.
Joining me right now from Hollywood, Kardashian matriarch, Kris Jenner and the brand-new spokesperson for Zestra essential arousal oils. Kris, it is great to see you. It`s literally very exciting to have you here tonight.
JENNER: Thank you. I`m glad you`re excited about it.
HAMMER: Well, you know, and maybe you`re going to help things out with what we`re going to be talking about here. I think, quite frankly, and I believe I`m turning a little red, but I think a lot of people are wondering about the arousal oils. I`m going to talk to you about that in just a moment.
But we`ve got some news to tackle right here. Got to talk about Courteney Cox`s situation. I`m sure you have some perspective on this. She`s been split from David Arquette now for over a year, but she hasn`t done the deed, in a matter of speaking, since their split.
Let me read to you what she told Howard Stern on his satellite radio show this week. She said, "I`m really not ready. I`m just not ready. I`m not saying I`m not ready to have a make out session. I`m just not ready to - I don`t know. I`m not lying. I`ve not had a man since David."
Now, she says, Kris, that she has sexual feelings but isn`t ready to act on them right now. I know one of your tips is to be sexually confident. So for Courteney, or for any other woman might just be recovering from a split - and look, I realize everybody is different - but when is it time to act on those feelings?
JENNER: I think that`s all about who, you know, you are dating and when you want to start dating again. I think to each his own in that department. I think anybody who has ever split from someone needs time to recover from that relationship.
And sometimes, people are just not ready to move on as quickly as others. And I think you just have to kind of go with the flow and do what you feel is right.
And when you`re ready and you have chemistry with that next relationship, you`re going to know it. It`s going to hit you over the head.
HAMMER: Yes, literally. And I think, obviously, to your point, some people just jump right back in. I was thinking Courteney maybe could learn a thing or two from Jennifer Lopez. She doesn`t seem to be worried about moving on at all.
She`s got that 24-year-old boyfriend Casper Smart right now. And when I spoke with J. Lo, she just seemed to have it all together to me. She said she and her ex, Marc Anthony are even good friends. Let`s watch this.
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JENNIFER LOPEZ, ACTRESS AND SINGER: The kind of transition through being married to not being married, you know, obviously, is a difficult one, especially when there`s children involved.
But at the end of the day, you know, like you said, we`re trying to handle it with a lot of care and a lot of love. Working together is kind of a natural thing for us. We`ve always worked together even before we were ever together, when we were just friends.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That is so refreshing to hear to me from somebody in Hollywood. Things are good with Marc. But from what I have seen of her and Casper, who, by the way, happened to be hanging around during this interview, things seem to be good there, too.
And among your sex and romance tips, Kris, you say give him a sign. Boy has J. Lo given a sign that she`s OK with a younger man. But that is something that a lot of people see as a fling. In your mind, is there anything wrong with that? I don`t think there is.
JENNER: Look, she`s an amazing woman who is very confident and she`s, you know, I haven`t - I don`t know much about her relationship at all except that, you know, she looks like she has a really great relationship with her ex, which is something that I really enjoyed at the end of, you know, my relationship with Robert.
And when I met Bruce, we all got along really, really well and we became, you know, best friends. Robert was a regular guest at dinner. And we had all that going on, which is such a blessing.
But as far as, you know, jumping into a new relationship with somebody younger or anybody for that matter, I think it`s - again, it`s just what your chemistry is.
HAMMER: Yes.
JENNER: And it`s when you`re ready to go into another relationship. You`re going to know.
HAMMER: Yes, I think the point being everybody is different, because we know, Kris, we see it play out all the time where so many people are skeptical that a relationship with a younger man could work. Look, Madonna, you know, is out there. She`s dating a 24-year-old right now as well.
JENNER: I think it`s great. I mean, yes.
HAMMER: So a lot of people have been wondering - I think it`s great, too, but a lot of people wonder about it long term. You know, after the whole Demi-Ashton debacle, I actually thought they were going to make it. But does the cougar thing really work in the long run?
JENNER: Well, look, I don`t have a crystal ball. And who knows, you know, what our destiny is, so I think you just - the love, you know - the heart wants what the heart wants.
And I think if you fall in love with somebody, I`m of the opinion that it really doesn`t matter how old, you know, anybody is. As long as, you know, you`re happy.
I think that you`re going to have chemistry and you`re going to fall in love with whoever that person is. And I think that these ladies are both beautiful and confident and amazing and talented. And you know, their choices are their choices and I think that`s their business.
HAMMER: Well, I would be remiss, Kris, to talk about all these women who have been divorced and trying to find their way back to romance and not ask you for the advice that you`re giving to your own daughter, Kim Kardashian, because, obviously, she`s now twice divorced.
We saw in "Kourtney and Kim Take New York" that she`s got some expectations about love at this point in her life. I love that she`s a romantic. Let`s watch this.
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KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR: He fell in love with me and I fell in love with him. And now, my feelings have changed. You don`t think I feel bad? I invited all these people to this huge wedding and flew everyone out.
I wasted everyone`s time. I wasted everyone`s money. I wasted everyone`s everything, and I feel bad. You don`t think I feel bad? At 30 years old, I thought I would be married with kids and I`m not. I failed at this. You think that I don`t feel bad?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, I have to tell you, for as much flak as she`s gotten about the whole thing, Kris, I think she was being brutally honest there. She wanted to be married and settled down at 30.
And there are a lot of women who can relate to that desire. What are you telling Kim now about finding love again?
JENNER: Well, I don`t think Kim is necessarily ready to move on anytime soon. I think she`s just, you know, taking care of her head and her heart and trying to get back on track and just recovering from a very - from, you know, a hard time in her life.
And she`s back to work. She`s doing really, really, really well. And you know, anything else I say about Kim, I always get myself into hot water, so I`m going to leave it at that.
HAMMER: OK.
JENNER: But Kim`s doing OK. It`s always hard anytime anybody goes through a divorce. And by the way, Kim is not the first person to go through a divorce and she won`t be the last, you know.
HAMMER: No.
JENNER: And everyone handles it differently. Again, she`s a very emotional girl.
HAMMER: Yes. I think, look - and she also has, quite frankly, the added pressure of it all being captured on camera for the world to see.
JENNER: Absolutely.
HAMMER: But let`s go back to your 20-year marriage to Bruce Jenner right now, certainly a long time by Hollywood standards.
JENNER: Almost 21 years.
HAMMER: And now, you have your Zestra essential arousal oils. I hate to ask you this. No, I`m not going to hate to ask.
I`m just going to ask you, you and Bruce - is that helping you out and keeping things, you know, hot in the bedroom, Kris? Just put it out there for me. I may as well have you tell me.
JENNER: You know what? Relationships are - you know, there`s an ebb and a flow. It`s like a roller coaster - marriage. When you`ve been married - I`ve been married almost 21 years in April.
And you need to find things to do to spice up your love life. And that`s what this is all about. A friend told me about Zestra. I loved it and thought it was an amazing product.
And I decided to be the spokesperson because I think it`s important to show women that, at any age, no matter how long you`ve been with somebody, everyone needs to, you know, have a little fun in the bedroom and spice it up a little bit.
You guys have had all the luck, all the help, you know, in the bedroom area with all these different products that a guy can take. And we`ve been so left out that now it`s our turn.
HAMMER: All right.
JENNER: So I`m here to tell women that you can have a really good time, and it can be amazing no matter what the circumstance is.
HAMMER: Sounds like it will be a happy Valentine`s Day in the Jenner household. Kris Jenner, thank you so much for being here and for introducing us to the Zestra essential arousal oils, which are available at "Zestra.com." Great to see you, Kris.
JENNER: You bet. Thank you.
HAMMER: And there are more amazing reality star revelations we must get to tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. This is a real stunner to me.
"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" co-star, Taylor Armstrong is right here, defending her tell-all book all about her late husband. It`s stirring up some major controversies.
Got to talk to her about this. Why are there so many critics of her abuse revelations? Also, Taylor`s getting real about life after reality TV. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, is it time for Taylor to just leave all the cameras behind? 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: Snooki and J-Woww to shoot "Jersey Shore" spin-off in Jersey City. Chris Pine talks to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about filming the new "Star Trek" movie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS PINE, ACTOR: It`s a little more than the Captain Kirk mode. It`s fun. It`s hard work. But it`s a good group, and the cast, you know, and the first one gelled completely.
And we have (UNINTELLIGIBLE) even better in this new one. I think if J. J. can do anything, he knows how to cast well. And it`s just a really inclusive, good, strong group.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because we don`t say that he broke your jaw or that he beat you up, and he hit you. We don`t say that, but now we said it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That bombshell confrontation on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" would forever change reality TV.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes one on one with Taylor Armstrong about her shocking new revelations of abuse before her late husband`s tragic death. Just a stunning turn in reality TV with the suicide of Russell Armstrong.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, Taylor-made reality.
The bombshells keep coming from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star, Taylor Armstrong. The reality TV star has just revealed shocking new details about what really happened in her marriage when the cameras were off.
And with the new revelations comes anger, criticism, even death threats. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, are her critics just out of line?
Taylor Armstrong, breakout star in the hit reality series, "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" and author of "Hiding from Reality: My Story of Love, Loss and Finding Courage Within," joins me from Hollywood for this SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
I do really appreciate you being here, Taylor. What has been just such an unimaginable year for you. How are you doing?
TAYLOR ARMSTRONG, REALITY TV STAR AND AUTHOR: Day in and day out, but I`m in a lot of therapy and just trying to do the best I can to move forward with this mess I`ve been left with.
HAMMER: And I imagine just talking about it and having written the book has been quite the cathartic experience for you.
We know this may arguably go down as one of the most talked-about reality series in TV history. And of course, it all started when "Housewives" producers announced their plans to air the series just two weeks after your husband`s tragic suicide.
Did you ever tell the show`s producers, Taylor, you just didn`t want to story line or even any footage of Russell making air?
ARMSTRONG: At that point, I was in complete shock. I don`t remember anything for at least the first five weeks after my husband`s suicide.
So I didn`t - the show meant so little to me at that point. It was just an unbelievable amount of stress and shock.
HAMMER: And you`ve watched it play out just like we all have and, you know, I`m sure it comes as a surprise to you. There were moments when so many people, myself included, found it just so uncomfortable to watch.
There was one incident in particular where it seemed you were unraveling right before our eyes on TV. I do want to revisit how that played out. Let`s watch that together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have no idea what she has done to me! You have no idea! No, you don`t! No, you don`t!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I mean, I watch that and the energy just is so palpable, coming right through the television. As you`ve been watching the way your show handled all the drama, are you happy with the way it played out? How do you feel about how they handled it and what they put on the show?
ARMSTRONG: It was terribly difficult for me to watch so many parts of it. I mean, obviously to see Russell, that`s hard for me. I miss him terribly despite the difficulties that we had in our marriage.
I still loved him very much. But also just to see how I was completely unraveling. You see how thin I am. I`m obviously trying to keep my life off camera, behind the scenes.
And I know by this point in this Malibu scene that you`ve just showed, I know that the abuse is coming out. I know too much has been said at this point.
And once it`s out, my fear of how my husband is going to respond to this, what it`s going to do to his business, to our personal lives, I was terrified at that point. And I was - that`s why I called the book "Hiding from Reality." I was living two lives.
You see, even in season one of the show, when I watch it back, I was like, who is that girl? I mean, I just look like a Stepford wife because I was constantly trying to make it appear as though we had this positive relationship. And behind the scenes, there were some bad things happening.
HAMMER: Yes. You know, you really - when I think about it in that perspective, you get some insight that so few people go through that get to have.
So you expose such painful parts of your life on TV. And now, you`ve written a book. And I have to tell you, I hate seeing how much heat you`ve been taking for it, even from some of your reality cast mates. Let`s watch this together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When does the book come out anyway? How long has it been?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stop. Sorry, next question.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do you think it`s inappropriate that she wrote a book?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s been like a hot minute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. I`m not sure I understand that. What do you say to Brandi and to any other critics who are out there saying you shouldn`t be writing this book?
ARMSTRONG: Everyone is entitled to their opinion, obviously. What I recognized in this season of our show - first of all, the eye injury was going to come out.
It was on the show. I had a black eye on the show. I had to take time off from work to have the titanium implant put in my eye. There wasn`t going to be any hiding this. You know, the tabloids were going to get a hold of it.
So I wanted to tell the story as it really was. But more importantly, when I saw how I couldn`t explain the cycle of abuse to my friends, I really recognized that this is very hard for people to comprehend, how you can love someone and stay in a relationship where things have good days and bad and how you can vacillate back and forth.
And when I recognized that had I pulled my friends into my own cycle of abuse, I wanted people to get a better grasp on it. So this story starts with me as a little girl and all the self esteem issues that led me to this point.
And I try to make it very clear. Russell wasn`t a bad guy. He just had a bad temper and I shouldn`t have been able to tolerate that from the very beginning.
And I just started a foundation to reach out and do self esteem work with young girls. The minute someone calls you a name or they start doing things that are degrading to you, you have to walk away.
HAMMER: Yes. And I think, obviously, having written this book, it would be so helpful. Such a difficult time for you, and a lot of speculation about whether you`ll even be back for another season of "Housewives."
My question is if you`re ready to now step away from the cameras once and for all, maybe take some time for yourself. Hold that thought. I`m going to get your answer in just a moment, Taylor.
Right now, I`ve got to move onto the Grammys. We`re now just days away from the big show. The race for best artist heating up. Such a showdown. Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver, J. Cole, Skrillex, The Band Perry.
Get this - SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just spoke with The Band Perry. You`ve got to watch what they told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter about being up for such a big award.
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KAREEN WYNTER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: The Band Perry. You guys said never in your wildest dreams did you imagine you would be attending the Grammys. But you`re not just attending. You`re performing up for best new artist. How blown away are you by that honor?
K. PERRY: We`re so excited. The Grammys has been just such a huge event in our household.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They have been. And this will be the first time we`re attending as artists or fans, so we`re looking forward to that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And honestly, like people say what are you the most excited about at the Grammy Awards show? And the three of us are honestly most excited about the performances. It`s going to be a great, great night.
WYNTER: We`re excited to see you. We know it`s super-top secret, your special tribute to country icon, Glen Campbell. But you`ve got to give us a taste of what we could expect.
K. PERRY: Our secret right here?
WYNTER: Right now. Right now, guys.
K. PERRY: We go - one, two, three. You`ve got to tune in on Sunday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, Taylor-made reality. "The Real Housewives" star, Taylor Armstrong, on the road to recovery. The reality TV star, the central focus of one of the most explosive plotlines in the history of reality TV, now taking heat again, this time over her controversial new book.
Tonight, I`ve got to find out if Taylor is going to be returning for yet another season of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills".
Back with me from Hollywood, Taylor Armstrong. Taylor, as we were talking about, people have been hurling a lot of criticism at you.
I was shocked and, quite frankly, appalled to see there have been death threats. What have you been able to do to make sure you and your daughter are safe? Which obviously is the most important thing.
ARMSTRONG: I had a death threat to my daughter, who is five years old, on Twitter, and also a kidnapping threat to me. It was not related to the book. It was prior to the book even being released.
And it really stands to another form, in my opinion, of abuse. You know, we`re all interacting on Twitter and social media because we want to have fun and try to answer questions for people that enjoy our show.
But at the same time, I`m not going to be abused. When I close the chapter on this book, I close the chapter on all the abuse in my life, including with social media.
So what I can tell you is within 48 hours, we had police at this person`s door, and it`s a federal offense. So right now, I`m making decisions about how to handle that, but I want that to be an example to other people in social media that feel like they can hide behind their computers.
HAMMER: So when you go through that kind of experience, I imagine you do sort of step back and, you know, take stock of everything and consider whether or not it`s all worth it.
And there`s been so much speculation about whether you would even be back for another season of "Housewives." Some of your cast mates have been right here telling me that they think you should take a break from TV and just focus strictly on your recovery.
Do you agree with that? Is that something you could walk away from?
ARMSTRONG: You know, I`ll do whatever is best for Kennedy and me. But at the same time, this is a story about recovery now. This is a story about me going out and saying to other women out there that could potentially be in a dangerous situation, all the things I feared, I don`t think I can be alone.
I am alone now and I`m happy about being alone for the first time in 40 years. And I`m finding strength I didn`t know I had. And I`m getting the electric bill paid every month miraculously through all the financial mess I`ve been left with.
So I do think there is a victory here for women that are too afraid to leave. And I need to figure out how best to tell that story as an example to the fact that you can get through this.
HAMMER: I`ve got to ask you, yes or no, though, if producers do ask you back, will you return to the show?
ARMSTRONG: I`m going to let Bravo decide if we have a season three first. I don`t know.
HAMMER: Fair enough. Taylor Armstrong, thank you so much. I really appreciate you being with us tonight.
ARMSTRONG: Thanks so much.
HAMMER: Taylor`s new book is called "Hiding from Reality: My Story of Love, Loss and Finding the Courage Within". It is now available online and in bookstores everywhere.
That is it for SHOWBIZ tonight. Thank you so much for watching. Remember, you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively weeknights. We`re on at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on HLN.
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