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Showbiz Tonight
Outrage Over Kirk Cameron`s Anti-Gay Marriage Statement; Madonna Getting Married?; Rush Limbaugh`s Apology; John Belushi`s 30th Year Anniversary; Snooki Engaged?
Aired March 05, 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: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT -- growing gay marriage outrage over what "Growing Pains" star, Kirk Cameron, just said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIRK CAMERON, ACTOR: It`s detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the furious reaction from Hollywood`s biggest stars.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m sorry that he had to go on the news to say that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel sorry for him that he is so afraid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I find it very sad, and hurtful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And wait until you hear what Fran Drescher and George Takei have to say right here in two headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interviews.
Madonna getting married to her 24-year-old boyfriend? Did he really pop the question? And should Madonna say yes?
Tonight, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT worldwide exclusive on the 30th anniversary of John Belushi`s death from a cocaine and heroin overdose.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN AYKROYD, ACTOR: If he`d been a pothead, he`d be alive today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with big news breaking tonight -- marriage madness. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you all the outrage from Hollywood`s biggest stars over what former "Growing Pains" star, Kirk Cameron, just said to CNN`s Piers Morgan about gay marriage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMERON: I think it`s unnatural. I think that it`s detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, try telling that to George Takei who became one of the first stars to get married after gay marriage became legal in California.
The former "Star Trek" who was fired by Donald Trump last night on "Celebrity Apprentice" is right here tonight. So is Fran Drescher. Fran, of course, is the star of the hit sitcom, "Happily Divorced."
Fran is actually presiding over the ceremony for a gay couple tomorrow in New York City. Stephen Baldwin is here to defend Kirk. Stephen tweeted his support right after Kirk Cameron`s interview with Piers. The great debate coming up in just a moment.
But first, why Kirk`s comments are really hitting a nerve in Hollywood tonight.
(voice-over) We all remember Kirk Cameron as the girl-crazy Mike Seaver on "Growing Pains."
CAMERON: She wanted to sleep with me and I didn`t do it. I`m probably gay. You happy now?
HAMMER: That was then and this is now.
CAMERON: I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage and I don`t think anyone else should either. So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don`t.
HAMMER: On CNN`s "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT," Kirk made it clear how he feels about both gay marriage and homosexuality.
PIERS MORGAN, HOST, "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": What you do if one of your six kids says, "Dad, bad news. I`m gay."
CAMERON: I`m going to say, you know, there`s all sorts of issues that we need to wrestle through in our life. And just because you feel one way doesn`t mean we should act on everything that we feel.
HAMMER: Tonight, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is blasting Cameron telling SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Cameron sounds even more dated than his 1980s TV character."
GLAAD also noted that a couple of then up-and-coming actors who appeared with Cameron on "Growing Pains," like Leonardo DiCaprio --
LEONARDO DICAPRIO: There`s no way your parents will ever let me stay here.
HAMMER: And Brad Pitt --
BRAD PITT, ACTOR: Can you tell me where the biology lab is?
HAMMER: Are both very outspoken in support of gay marriage. Yes, that was then --
PITT: What do you mean an accidental birth?
HAMMER: And this is now. Brad Pitt was one of several major Hollywood stars who appeared this weekend in the reading of a play about the Proposition 8 court battle over California`s gay marriage ban.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there as the stars told us how they feel about Cameron`s gay marriage comments, from "Modern Family`s" openly gay star, Jesse Tyler Ferguson --
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON, ACTOR: I am disappointed because I actually had a little bit of crush on him. And now, the posters are about to come down.
HAMMER: To two of glee`s openly gay stars, Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer.
CHRIS COLFER, ACTOR: Well, I think no one really knows who he is anymore so I`m thankful for that. I`m sorry that he had to go on the news to say that rather than something positive.
JANE LYNCH, ACTRESS: That`s not a heart and mind I would seek to change.
CHRISTINE LAHTI, ACTRESS: I feel sorry for him that he is so afraid of something that`s nothing to be afraid of.
HAMMER: Also disagreeing with Cameron is someone literally close to home.
TRACEY GOLD, ACTRESS: Have you ever wanted something so much you could feel it with your entire body?
CAMERON: Well, now that you mention it.
HAMMER: Cameron`s "Growing Pains" sister, Tracey Gold, who tweeted today, "I`m a strong supporter of the LGBT community and I believe in equal rights for all."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
But while a lot of celebrities are bashing Kirk Cameron for his anti-gay marriage comments, not everyone is, like actor and conservative activist Stephen Baldwin.
He`s with me here in New York along with legendary "Star Trek" star and gay rights activist, George Takei, who married his longtime partner Brad when gay marriage was legalized in California.
First of all, it`s great to have both of you guys here. You saw what he said. We`re going to watch it again because, look, Kirk Cameron left no doubt as to how he feels about gay marriage and homosexuality. Let`s watch what he told Piers Morgan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMERON: I think that it`s unnatural. I think that it`s detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Stephen, right after that interview aired you tweeted your support for Kirk Cameron. Why did you do that?
BALDWIN: Yes, I did. I am here to support Kirk Cameron just because I think it`s important that he has the right to stand up and voice what he believes in. You know, it`s not what you say. It`s how you say it.
You know, Rush Limbaugh recently was going for one intention, thought he was being this. It backfired. I don`t think that this is the same situation. Let`s be honest.
(CROSS TALK)
Let`s be honest about -- let`s be -- let me be honest about one thing. When you say you are born again and Christian in Hollywood, there are things they are going to come against you no matter what you do.
HAMMER: Of course, but let`s be clear about something that you just said, because I want to make sure that I`m not misinterpreting you.
BALDWIN: Sure.
HAMMER: You said that it`s how you say it. He couldn`t have said it any more plainly. He answered a question about exactly how feels about gay marriage and homosexuality.
BALDWIN: When Kirk Cameron said -- correct. When Kirk Cameron said and ultimately the civilization -- what he means is, according to the Christian faith, the nuclear family is the origin of what this country was founded upon.
HAMMER: I think he was --
BALDWIN: OK.
HAMMER: I think it`s subject to interpretation.
BALDWIN: You understand what I`m saying?
HAMMER: I hear what you`re saying.
BALDWIN: So there is marriage between a man and a woman and a mother and father and children.
HAMMER: OK.
BALDWIN: That`s obviously changing.
HAMMER: Let`s hear from George, because, George, going to Stephen`s point, he said -- Kirk Cameron said that homosexuality and gay marriage are detrimental, unnatural, ultimately destructive to the foundations of civilization.
Putting aside what Stephen thinks he may have intended to say, based on what we heard him say, if Kirk Cameron were sitting here right now, what would you say to him?
GEORGE TAKEI, ACTOR AND GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST: Well, both Kirk Cameron and for Stephen, you know, I respect your right to your opinions. But we have to remember yours is a faith-based opinion.
BALDWIN: Correct.
TAKEI: And what we`re talking about is civil law, apart from your faith. And we -- you have to recognize that if you want respect from us for your faith, you -- that respect has to be mutual.
BALDWIN: Sure.
TAKEI: And there are many faiths in this society that we live in.
BALDWIN: Absolutely.
TAKEI: And so we have a line that draws between church and state, and we`re talking about civil law.
BALDWIN: Sure.
TAKEI: And to have prejudicial and discriminatory laws that prevent equality in civil law for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender is not right.
BALDWIN: Sure.
TAKEI: In the same way that, you know, when this nation was founded, there were -- there was no role for women in the institutions of American society.
HAMMER: Women couldn`t vote.
TAKEI: They couldn`t vote. They had to struggle for it. And it`s that kind of struggle that the GLBT community is going through now, for equality in the civil arena, not the faith.
BALDWIN: Some of the people -- some of the people I`ve worked with 25 years -- I love them, dearest in the world -- live a gay lifestyle. We --
TAKEI: It`s not a lifestyle. It`s an orientation.
BALDWIN: OK.
TAKEI: You know, it`s like, you know, a surfer lifestyle? No, it isn`t that.
BALDWIN: So then --
TAKEI: It is an inborn orientation.
BALDWIN: OK. So an inborn --
TAKEI: Yes.
BALDWIN: So when Cynthia Nixon said it`s a choice, where is everybody asking her about what she means by that and is that right or wrong or -- can somebody help me with that?
TAKEI: Well, I haven`t had a discussion with her. But this is very personal to me. I know what I felt --
BALDWIN: See, what`s interesting is Kirk Cameron says this thing and the media goes nuts.
HAMMER: Let me reel it back --
BALDWIN: It`s a little unbalanced, guys.
HAMMER: No, no. It`s not and I think -- I actually think and this may sound strange it`s almost a good thing that Kirk said what he said because I`m watching the backlash today --
BALDWIN: Sure.
HAMMER: And the backlash that`s been going on since he said that. And basically, the amount of backlash is only reinforcing what an archaic way of thinking it is and how, to George`s point, people who have thought of this way in the past have always fallen on the wrong side of history.
BALDWIN: I think that not everybody is as equipped to have this conversation. And I don`t even qualify myself as really being some expert in Christianity. I can just tell you this, that I live by a faith that says God has a gift for everyone, even George.
And let me tell you something. There are ministries within the homosexual community. I have met men who were married, became homosexual, came out of the homosexual life, came back into a heterosexual. Guys, we can talk about it until Jesus comes back.
HAMMER: And if I had that amount of time, but I don`t. And look, there`s a lot to be said on this.
BALDWIN: But we`re a kindred spirit here.
HAMMER: I`m all for freedom of speech.
BALDWIN: We both got fired by Trump.
HAMMER: We`ve got to leave it at that.
TAKEI: This is a very personal issue, so we`re not kindred in that order.
HAMMER: George, I know you plan to sit down with Trump about this very issue.
TAKEI: That`s right.
HAMMER: We`ll talk about that in such a moment. But for now, Stephen, George, thank you both very much. And I can tell you another star has some very strong opinions about what Kirk Cameron said -- Fran Drescher.
She`s officiating at a gay marriage tomorrow here in New York City, and she is here tonight. Fran also stars in TV Land`s great hit series, "Happily Divorced," based on Fran`s real life experience of finding out that her husband was gay.
You do not want to miss our SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview with Fran. That is coming up in just a bit.
But first, I`ve got to get Fran`s take on something Stephen just mentioned, the great Rush Limbaugh debate. Rush`s outrageous comments targeting a college student`s personal mission.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIMBAUGH: What does it say about the college coed Susan Fluke who goes before a Congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? It makes her a slut, right?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Sandra Fluke speaking out for the first time on "The View" today. You`ve got to see this. The question is, did Rush go too far?
Tonight, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT worldwide exclusive with the great Dan Aykroyd on the 30th anniversary of John Belushi`s death from a cocaine and heroin overdose.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AYKROYD: The last summer of his life, not a powder or a pill that he touched. He smoked a little boot. If he`d been a pothead, he`d be alive today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, Belushi`s former "Blues Brothers" and "SNL" co-star in a must-see exclusive SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIMBAUGH: What does it say about the college coed Susan Fluke who goes before a Congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex?
What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Really? The college student Rush Limbaugh called a slut for her views on contraception speaks out today. Her startling brand-new comments along with brand-new outrage and more advertisers boycotting Rush. Tonight, the rage over Rush.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And yes, the bombshells that kept on coming today for the controversial radio talk show host after his tirade against college student, Sandra Fluke, who testified in Congress her university`s health insurance could cover contraception.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can reveal that, as of late today, at least eight sponsors have bailed out on his show, including AOL, Pro-Flowers, Quicken Loans, Sleep Train and Sleep Number, Citrix Systems, Inc. and Carbonite along with Legal Zoom.
Let me bring in the always outspoken Fran Drescher. Fran is the star and creator of the hit TV Land series, "Happily Divorced." It begins its second season Wednesday. So good to see you, Fran.
FRAN DRESCHER, ACTRESS: Good to see you, too. How are you?
HAMMER: I can`t wait for the second season of your show to get underway.
DRESCHER: I know. It`s very exciting.
HAMMER: Everybody is fired up about that. But let`s talk about what Rush Limbaugh is talking about.
DRESCHER: Is this the best -- does it matter where my chair is?
HAMMER: It doesn`t matter. As long as you are comfortable?
DRESCHER: Yes.
HAMMER: That`s -- your comfort is my only concern. But I`m also concerned about what Rush has been doing. You know, listen, we know Rush Limbaugh has been spewing this kind of stuff for decades now.
Why do you think this particular thing, this particular incident, what he said here, has caused this unprecedented outrage?
DRESCHER: Well, I think that, you know, right now, currently, there is the Republican candidates running for who is going to be the presidential candidate, so probably it`s getting more attention than at other times.
But actually, I think that it`s so degrading to take cheap potshots like that at a young woman that I don`t even think that I can dignify it by commenting on it .
HAMMER: But listen, Rush did issue a written apology. I want to read that to you, "I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke. In an attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize."
I mean, look. I see that and I think, he`s just got himself running scared, but Ms. Fluke did appear on "The View" this morning to say apology not accepted. Shall we watch that?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDRA FLUKE, GEORGETOWN LAW STUDENT: I don`t think that a statement like this issued saying that his choice of words was not the best changes anything, and especially when that statement is issued when he`s under significant pressure from his sponsors who have begun to pull their support.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I think it is important for him to say something, but can we even take an apology like that as sincere in your mind?
DRESCHER: You know, I am personally not a fan, and I don`t think -- and I don`t really care what he says, whether he says something or then apologizes for it. I think that, you know, he sensationalizes things to get viewers and listeners.
And he makes $50 million a year in doing that. And you know, if he didn`t make money, then maybe I would think that what he was saying was coming from a sincere place. But actually, he monetizes his big mouth.
And so I think that, you know -- listen. He has a right to say whatever he wants.
HAMMER: Of course.
DRESCHER: And I`ll defend his right to say it as an American.
HAMMER: Absolutely.
DRESCHER: In my opinion, I think that women should be allowed to get contraception if they want it, I think, for many, many reasons, practical reasons like there`s a huge overpopulation problem on the planet.
Just for starters. And that that people seem to be ignoring, but is going to be a problem in the not too distant future. So you know -- and we live in a time where I think that women have a right to be in control of their own body.
HAMMER: Well said. Are you still comfortable?
DRESCHER: I am.
HAMMER: There`s a lot to talk about tonight. You know, we`ve been talking about Kirk Cameron`s controversial comments slamming gay marriage and homosexuality. I know you`ve got something to say on that. Fran, don`t go anywhere.
And we learned today Madonna`s 24-year-old boyfriend has reportedly proposed to her. So what do you think? Should she take the plunge? Is the 30-year age difference too much? Mull that over, Fran. Get your take on that in just a second, OK?
DRESCHER: OK.
HAMMER: Also tonight, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT worldwide exclusive. It`s been 30 years since the great comedian John Belushi`s death from a cocaine and heroin overdose. His former "Blues Brothers" and "SNL" co-star, the great Dan Aykroyd, opening up to us about Belushi`s battle against drug abuse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AYKROYD: The last summer of his life, not a powder nor a pill did he touch, nothing. He smoked a little boot. If he`d been a pothead, he`d be alive today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, it is Dan Aykroyd. This is a must-see SHOWBIZ exclusive newsmaker interview. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: This studio feels like a home to me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I forgot how beautiful your eyes are.
LOHAN: Thanks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I see them?
LOHAN: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, can I see your eyes, please?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And nothing was off limits as Lindsay Lohan hosted "Saturday Night Live." And her reward, blockbuster ratings, holy cow. But was she funny enough to make people laugh off her not-so-funny past.
All eyes on Lindsay Lohan Saturday night as she staged what most people have been calling a big comeback. And yet the ratings were spectacular. The reviews, not so much.
Joining me right now from Hollywood, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. And Kareen, I was looking online today. Some scathing reviews out there.
KAREEN WYNTER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: A.J., this girl cannot catch a break. Lindsay`s "SNL" stint -- it was pretty much skewers in the press, A.J., despite earning the show`s second highest ratings of the season.
Not bad. Well, critics panned Lindsay`s big night on "SNL." Listen to this. "Entertainment Weekly" says, "It certainly wasn`t a blazing comeback performance us Lohan apologists have been hoping for." A moment of sarcasm there.
And "Newsday" says, "Did she pass because the bar was set so low? Yes."
But despite those harsh reviews, A.J., well, people -- they did have a lot of good things to say about the "Real Housewives of Disney" skit where Lindsay -- she played Rapunzel. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is wrong with her?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jasmine and Aladdin are broke. They used up all their wishes. I heard they spent the last one on a lap dance.
LOHAN: She`s over there. Jasmine brought a casserole to our potluck and I found a tiny hat inside. She cooked the monkey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. That`s an "SNL" classic right there. Lindsay and the other ladies are just hysterical. I love that skit. But that wasn`t live.
So to be clear, the critics and the fans were critical of Lindsay`s live performance during the show, her relying on cue cards and other cast members so much. So maybe not the big comeback she had hoped for.
WYNTER: Of course. And a lot of people would agree with you, but it is a first step for Lindsay. Up next, though, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT confirmed today Lindsay will play Elizabeth Taylor in the new film, a Lifetime film, "Liz and Dick."
So we wish her a lot of luck, but I still think, A.J., she`s off to an amazing start this year compared to last, right?
HAMMER: Certainly compared to last, no question. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter, thank you.
Time for the SHOWBIZ lineup -- here`s what`s coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
A worldwide SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive. Dan Aykroyd on the 30-year anniversary of his "Blues Brother" co-star, John Belushi, and his death from a drug overdose.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AYKROYD: The last summer of his life, not a powder nor a pill did he touch. Nothing. Just smoked a little boot. If he`d been a pothead, he`d be alive today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the great Dan Aykroyd in an exclusive SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
Oh, baby. "Jersey Shore`s" Snooki reportedly pregnant and engaged? I`m thinking Snooki would be fist pumping with joy. Why haven`t we heard a peep from "Jersey Shore`s" favorite meatball? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And this is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Rock guitarist, Ronnie Motrose, dies at age 64 after battle with cancer. Jimmy Fallon and Bruce Springsteen perform LMFAO`s "Sexy and I Know It."
(SINGING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive -- remembering John Belushi. "Saturday Night Live" alum and fellow "Blues Brother," Dan Aykroyd with never-before-heard details about John Belushi on the 30-year anniversary of John`s tragic drug overdose.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AYKROYD: The last summer of his life, not a powder nor a pill did he touch. Nothing. Just smoked a little boot. If he`d been a pot head, he`d be alive today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Plus, Dan reveals how John would have rounded out his star-studded cast for "Ghostbusters."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: You think homosexuality is a sin?
CAMERON: I think that it`s unnatural. I think that it`s detrimental.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Growing gay marriage outrage. The fury over "Growing Pains" star, Kirk Cameron`s anti-gay marriage comments. Tonight, the massive star reaction.
And wait until you hear actress Fran Drescher and what she has to say. Fran is fired up in a headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
Plus, Fran is sounding off about Madonna`s new match. Did Madonna`s 24-year-old boyfriend really pop the question? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, is a 30-year age difference too much for marriage?
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and thank you for watching. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with big news breaking today -- remembering John Belushi, a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive.
Now, today marks exactly 30 years since the legendary "Saturday Night Live" funny man and actor died of an overdose of cocaine and heroin. Someone who was able to bask in John`s bright light before it was extinguished so suddenly and far too soon was his dear friend, Dan Aykroyd.
Dan and John made on-screen magic together on "Saturday Night Live" and, of course, in their 1980 classic film, "The Blues Brothers."
Well in a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive, Dan Aykroyd speaks about his brother with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. Kareen?
WYNTER: A.J., you know, I met up with Dan at the most appropriate place for our chat, his House of Blues Club. It`s in West Hollywood.
After all, the "Blues Brothers" inspired the chain. And tonight, 30 years after John`s death, well, Dan reveals some startling secrets about doing "Ghostbusters" together if John had lived, what John was doing months before his death and what Dan imagines John would have been doing today.
But first, I began by asking how hard it was to imagine that three decades have passed since John`s untimely death.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AYKROYD: Yes, it`s -- you know, hey, I can remember meeting him that first time at the second city in Toronto, the first time we met when we cooked up the "Blues Brothers." He was my brother and spent eight years together.
WYNTER: You spent so much -- so much time together.
AYKROYD: Eight years.
WYNTER: I read something where you would spend, you know, nights at his house with John and his wife and you`d actually get attacked by his cats?
AYKROYD: Well, I slept -- I crashed -- yes, just like I crashed, hippie-style, you know, at the foot of their bed there for almost two months, I think.
WYNTER: That`s a long time. Unwanted house guest.
AYKROYD: Yes. Yes. He wanted me there. I don`t know if Judy did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it was in the bungalow`s master bedroom where Belushi was found dead just after noon today.
WYNTER: I can just imagine how shocked you were that day when you found out that the world had lost this beloved entertainer, your friend.
AYKROYD: Well, I was more concerned with getting to Judy before the media, radio, and so I kind of just ran from the office there over to her place.
Then there were a lot of things to take care of because of -- what a superstar he was, and I`m his partner. And so it had to be done with grace and real efficiency and so it wasn`t really until after the funeral.
And I escorted them and then I went up to the house in Martha`s Vineyard that he compelled me to buy. He said, "You need a house here. We`re going planning a lot of things." So I went up there and I was all alone, and it started to snow.
And the irony of that because he died by the powders. And it started to snow. And that`s when I -- that`s when my knees gave out then. But not until then.
The last summer of his life, not a powder nor a pill did he touch. Nothing. Just smoked a little boot. If he`d been a pothead, he`d be alive today.
WYNTER: Do you sometimes sit back and think, "Gosh, if John were here today, we`d be working on that movie. We`d be working on X project"? The possibilities would be endless.
AYKROYD: Well, I think we`d be -- we certainly would still be doing the music. And we would have probably a few more movies. I don`t know how many more, but we made, you know, the great one.
(MUSIC)
WYNTER: I think it surprised me that I just learned that the original "Ghostbusters" was originally intended for John Belushi.
AYKROYD: Oh, yes. Yes.
WYNTER: I didn`t know that.
AYKROYD: I was writing it for Eddie Murphy, John Belushi and myself.
WYNTER: Why not John? Why didn`t he take the part.
AYKROYD: When I was writing the line for him, I got the call that he had died.
WYNTER: Even today, it`s surreal when you look back at the fact that we don`t have this person with us anymore.
AYKROYD: So I often say if he was alive, he would be directing plays in New York City. He would be there with the leading lights of theater avant- garde and traditional. He`d be directing plays and musicals. He`d be one of the premier producers and directors on Broadway. That would have been his destiny, because he was so intelligent. He was more of an academic than the Bluto image would have you believe.
WYNTER: In the book, "Life from New York," there was a quote that you gave that really resonated with me. And it said, "In any group there`s always someone who precedes you in death."
And you just hope that John is waiting for you on the other side.
AYKROYD: I have no doubt for myself.
WYNTER: No doubt at all?
AYKROYD: There`s a period after death and, well, you`re there in the same form as you were, with friends and relatives and all the loved ones, just for a while.
Think of it as a big reunion and there`s John and all the ones I love. And then your soul is plucked away for that future journey and that future contribution that a good soul can make.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: A.J., what a talent we lost way too early. Well, tonight, to remember John Belushi, a star-studded Blues Brothers tribute concert was held in Joliet, Illinois -- that`s John`s hometown -- to mark this somber, somber anniversary.
The proceeds, by the way, go to the House of Blues foundation. Dan Aykroyd tells me he thinks of the foundation as carrying on John`s memory and his love of the blues.
HAMMER: "Joliet Jake" -- one of my favorite movies of all time, "The Blues Brothers." All right. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter, John Belushi will long be remembered.
Well, tonight, the words "you`re fired" have been spoken again. And this time, Donald Trump`s finger was pointed like a phaser at "Star Trek" star, George Takei. George was big news today after getting fired last night on "Celebrity Apprentice." George is here with us tonight for a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. It`s always good to have you here, George.
TAKEI: Good see you.
HAMMER: And George, I think there was a missed opportunity on "Celebrity Apprentice" last night. Quite frankly, they should have beamed you out of the boardroom. Was there any talk?
I mean, can you imagine he said, "George, you`re fired," and he turns to one of his sons and say energize and all of a sudden you just sort of vaporize.
TAKEI: Well, I don`t think we played the "Star Trek" thing too much, although I did squeeze in a little bit, you know, the Vulcan gesture.
HAMMER: You`ve got to go with that. I think you should have tried maybe a mind meld with Trump. But that`s another show entirely.
Listen, I spent some time with your former boss Donald Trump last week. He actually had a message specifically for you he wanted me to share with you. Shall we watch?
TAKEI: Yes.
HAMMER: Let`s watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, BUSINESS TYCOON: George, I`m very proud of you. You are a brave guy, despite what they said. Paul was wrong about that and he apologized.
You are a terrific guy. Keep going and keep that movement going. You know what I mean, George.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Keep that movement going. You know what he means. I don`t know what he means. What is he talking about?
TAKEI: Well, I recently invited him to have lunch with me to discuss marriage equality because I sensed something from my three weeks with Mr. Trump. He`s a very decent guy and a fair-minded guy.
And he`s been -- I know where he`s coming from. He`s been making some statements that are anti-LGBT, but they`ve all been rather innocuous. And so I`d like to talk with him and so I invited him to have lunch with me to discuss marriage equality.
HAMMER: I think you are the guy to get through to him, George. I actually think that can happen. But it`s interesting you mentioned he`s a decent guy and he`s obviously a very smart man.
But obviously, he`s a very polarizing guy. A lot of people either love him or hate him. What was the difference between what you thought he would be like going into doing "Celebrity Apprentice" versus how he turned out to be.
TAKEI: Well, he made reference to Paul calling me meek. And I was about to respond when Mr. Trump stepped in and said, "That is not a word appropriate for George."
He has been an advocate and a leader for LGBT, equal rights for gays and lesbians, and I know him not to be meek. And then I chimed in with, "I grew up in two American internment camps, barbed wire fences, and I survived and I overcame." And that`s when Paul apologized for having used that word.
HAMMER: So did Donald Trump surprise you by stepping in like that?
TAKEI: He did. He did.
HAMMER: Is that kind of what you are saying? You wouldn`t have thought he would have said something of that nature?
TAKEI: Exactly. Yes.
HAMMER: And what about the experience, George, of actually doing the show, "Celebrity Apprentice"? Because, look, I`ve spoken with so many people who have done this show. Some people thought it was a great experience. A couple have told me it was a terrible experience and not for them at all after the fact.
Going into it, did it turn out to be what you expected it to be or a much different experience?
TAKEI: Oh, yes. It did not turn out to be the way I wanted it to. I did it because all of us are competing for a charity. My charity was the Japanese American national museum, an institution very near and dear to my heart.
And I competed in it knowing that I am going to be competing with some very bigger-than-life people, very driven people, and I found it to be a great human comedy.
HAMMER: Oh, good. We saw a lot of that. OK, George. Now, here`s the thing. We loved you in "Celebrity Apprentice." We loved you on "Star Trek," obviously.
But one of the things we love about you most is your voice. I mean, it`s just a matter of fact. I only have a short time here, but Jake(ph), can you bring in the microphone, please?
I pulled up some song lyrics. Can you do a quick dramatic reading for us? Just the last few lines here from "Single Ladies" by Beyonce. Would you mind, George?
TAKEI: No. Well, let`s see.
HAMMER: George Takei, everybody, and "Single Ladies." Take it away.
TAKEI: If you like it then you should put a ring on it. Don`t be mad. Once you see what he wanted, because if you like it, then you should have put a ring on it. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
HAMMER: Can you finish it off with an "Oh, my."
TAKEI: Oh, my.
HAMMER: Howard Stern is a genius having you as his announcer. George Takei, ladies and gentlemen. George, great to see you. Thank you so much.
TAKEI: Good to be with you.
HAMMER: Even though George is not on board, you can still check out "Celebrity Apprentice" every Sunday night on NBC.
Well, we move now to the growing gay marriage outrage tonight from Twitter to coast-to-coast star-studded events. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you "Growing Pains" star Kirk Cameron`s anti-gay marriage comments have ignited a fury in Hollywood and beyond.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: Do you think homosexuality is a sin?
CAMERON: I think that it`s unnatural. I think that it`s detrimental.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, one of those fired up stars is "The Nanny`s" Fran Drescher. Tonight, Fran is here. She is not holding back on that or this.
Wedding bells for Madonna? Madonna is 53. Her boyfriend who may have just proposed -- he`s 24. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, is a 30-year age difference just too much for marriage? 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: Oprah Winfrey to interview Whitney Houston`s daughter for "OWN." Jonah Hill tells SHOWBIZ about getting career advice from Brad Pitt.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONAH HILL, ACTOR: He just was adamant about not doing predictable things with your choices and making -- you know, playing different kinds of characters and stuff. And that`s something that I really have been adamant about since he gave me that advice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMERON: I think that it`s unnatural. I think that it`s detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, marriage madness. Absolute outrage in Hollywood today after former teen star Kirk Cameron blasts gay marriage on CNN`s "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT."
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with a lot of marriage madness tonight.
Kirk Cameron on gay marriage and a report today that 53-year-old Madonna`s 24-year-old boy toy has popped the question. Should Madge marry him?
Who better to talk about all this marriage madness than Fran Drescher. Fran, come on down. We`re all excited for season two of your TV Land series, "Happily Divorced." That`s happening on Wednesday. And it --
DRESCHER: 10:30 on TV Land.
HAMMER: 10:30. And it mirrors what happened in your real life.
DRESCHER: That`s right.
HAMMER: You learned that your husband was gay. You are and have been for a long time a very strong advocate for gay marriage. You are actually --
DRESCHER: All civil liberties, as a matter of fact. But certainly marriage equality, I think, exemplifies what I think is an opportunity for advancing civil liberties in this nation.
HAMMER: And to that end, you are officiating a same-sex marriage here in New York City tomorrow.
DRESCHER: I am indeed. I am indeed.
HAMMER: So I must hear your thoughts, what you say in response to Kirk Cameron saying, among other things, homosexuality and gay marriage threaten the foundations of civilization. What can you say to that?
DRESCHER: Well, you know, I don`t know what he would -- what that`s based off of. There`s absolutely no -- nothing that would show that.
And in fact, Judge Reinhart who ultimately in the California Supreme Court said that the only thing that making gay marriage illegal in the State of California is to do nothing but take a group of people, make them feel inferior, less than and unequal to the rest of society.
And I think that that`s antithetical to being an American and it has nothing to do with religion. And once you start quoting religion, then you are not really functioning from the Constitution which says liberty and justice for all.
HAMMER: Let`s lighten it up a little. Marriage between Madonna and her potential 24-year-old boyfriend. Now, there`s a report today that Madonna`s 24-year-old boyfriend proposed. She is 53. There`s about a 30- year age difference there.
This happens all the time and, mostly, let`s face it, older men asking younger women to marry them. Do you see any reason that Madonna shouldn`t go ahead if he did in fact, pop the question, and marry this guy or is generally speaking no matter the sex on either end? Or is 30 years just too much?
DRESCHER: Well, you know, I`ve been in a relationship with a man 16 years my junior. And the thing that I learned from that is that it can be a wonderful, fun experience, but that the older woman should not take it too seriously because, eventually, I think if you do that, you are setting yourself up for getting hurt.
So I think -- but on the other hand, you know, if they decide to get married and it doesn`t work out, then they`ll get a divorce. I mean, I was with -- in my relationship -- the whole time I was in my relationship I thought, you know, this is going to -- may likely end and when it does, I may likely be brokenhearted.
But in the meantime, I`m enjoying myself so I`m going to be very present about it and enjoy it and not have any regrets when the day comes, when it ends.
And it did, in fact, end. And I was very unhappy about it. My heart was broken, but I got over it and I learned from it. And you know, it`s not to say that there isn`t any value that one can derive from an older woman/younger man relationship. And, you know, she`s a very young life force.
HAMMER: That is true.
DRESCHER: So who knows what goes on behind closed doors?
HAMMER: As are you, Fran Drescher and you`re always smiling. Whatever has happened previously in your life, you seem to have figured it all out. It`s great to see you.
DRESCHER: Lemons into lemonade, baby.
HAMMER: Well, we appreciate you being here as always. And I want everybody to check out Fran on her very funny TV Land series "Happily Divorced." Season two premieres this Wednesday.
DRESCHER: I just want to say love is love, people. And anybody that turns any kind of love between two consenting adults into a negative doesn`t know the meaning of the word.
HAMMER: Hear, hear. Moving on tonight to something completely different -- ring, tan, baby? Yes. Tonight, the brand-new reaction to reports that "Jersey Shore`s" Snooki is not only pregnant but she`s getting hitched. Marriage madness indeed. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: "Dr. Seuss` The Lorax" has biggest movie opening of 2012, making $70 million.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOBBY MOYNIHAN, CAST MEMBER, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": Well, if I was pregnant, and I`m not saying that I am, I would be really excited, you know. Pregnancy should be a magical time like Mardi Gras or Cinco de Mayo or Wet, Wet Wednesdays at Senor Frogs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. No big surprise "Saturday Night Live" just had a field day with all the reports that "Jersey Shore`s" Snooki may be with child.
That`s Bobby Moynihan there as Snooki on "Weekend Update" with Seth Myers. But there are brand-new reports tonight of a real life news update. Is Snooki pregnant and going to be a bride?
Yes. "People" magazine broke the news today. And they say that Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and her boyfriend Johnny are getting married.
The news comes just days after all the reports started flying around that Snooki is preggers. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter joining me right now. And yes, Kareen, the jokes have been coming faster than Jell-O shots at the "Jersey Shore" since these reports broke about Snooki being pregnant.
WYNTER: Yes.
HAMMER: However, not a peep, not a sound from Snooki on all of this. What is going on with all the secrecy? I`m thinking maybe she`s just holding out for some big bucks magazine cover story or something.
WYNTER: Of course, A.J. This is reality TV`s "it" girl who does everything big. And you know, if there is a bun in the oven, think about it -- you can bet Snooki is going to make sure when she does come forward there`s a whole lot of green, a whole lot of dollar signs behind it, as she should, A.J.
She`s a hot commodity. People love her. People love her drama. She`s what makes the show, so we`ll have to see.
HAMMER: And from Snooki`s public baby announcement, we have this. Nick Lachey going on "Live with Regis and Kelly" this morning. He told the world that Vanessa is expecting and, of course, we know that Jessica Simpson is expecting.
They`ll probably have their babies around the same time. And I know I really probably should avoid bringing up Jessica`s name along with Nick Lachey every time I say it, but Kareen, will be inextricably together for us forever in a reality kind of way, won`t they?
WYNTER: They will. I mean, they were Hollywood`s golden couple, Barbie and Ken. This is one marriage that people thought would last, and it didn`t. And so, of course, you`re going to bring Jess in there.
HAMMER: We love them all.
WYNTER: My question is, will Jessica and Vanessa exchange gifts?
HAMMER: All right, Kareen. Thanks so much. Moving to Kim`s slam dunk. Kim Kardashian did a great thing. A big decision about what to do with all those gifts she got after her divorce. I`m going to tell you exactly what happened.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Kim`s kind gifts. After Kim Kardashian`s 72-day marriage, a lot of people were asking, what`s going to happen the mother lode of swanky gifts that she and Kris Humphries got?
Well, the mystery is finally over. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Kim has just sent a note out to her friends and family saying that the money from every gift received has been donated to the Dream Foundation which helps terminally ill patients.
No word on exactly how much money was donated. But TMZ reports the cash value of Kim`s gifts, around $100,000 and Kim cut a check for around twice that amount to the Dream Foundation. Good for her. Finally, good for her.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer. You can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively weeknights at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on HLN.
And stay right here for "DR. DREW," coming up next. Tonight, parents who gave their son pot to save his life. Their incredible story coming up next. "DR. DREW" starts right now.
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