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Showbiz Tonight
Extreme "Extreme Makeover"; Trump`s Truce with Takei?; Will Tim Tebow be the Next Bachelor?; Madonna`s Marriage Slam
Aired March 06, 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, HLN HOST: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT -- extreme "Extreme Makeover"? Tonight, the man trapped in his own body. The remarkable and emotional plea by a 700-pound man becomes a viral sensation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GIBBS, OBESE MAN: I`m really scared that I`m not going to be able to watch my niece and my nephew grow up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, will the trainer from "Extreme Makeover`s" weight loss edition save this man from his own body?
Trump`s truce with Takei? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is there for Donald Trump`s gay marriage summit after firing George Takei on "Celebrity Apprentice."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera) Do you expect or at least hold open the possibility in your mind that you could walk out of that discussion feeling differently about it than you currently do?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Tebowing on "The Bachelor"? Tonight, why Tebow may be starring on the next "The Bachelor."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I meant about becoming our next bachelor. I think he`d be a great bachelor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The brand-new bachelor bombshell today that will have women Tebowing from coast to coast. But will he accept the rose?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Thank you for watching. We`ve got big news breaking tonight -- playing the Trump card.
Tonight, can Donald Trump be convinced that there is nothing wrong with gay marriage? The gay marriage debate just exploded again after former "Growing Pains" star, Kirk Cameron called it and homosexuality unnatural and destructive to many foundations of civilization.
Well, tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that the Donald is being pressured to change his mind about gay marriage by none other than the guy he just fired from "Celebrity Apprentice," George Takei.
Well, I got together with George and Trump today and asked Donald if there`s anything that George could say to change his mind when they sit down to discuss it. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, CEO, TRUMP ENTERPRISES: Well, you know, A.J., it`s a conversation that more and more people are having. And if you look, the president`s attitude, which may be changing, and a lot of people exchanging. So it`s a conversation I look forward to having with George, and anything can happen.
HAMMER: Anything can happen. So George, it`s really on you to perhaps change the heart and mind of Mr. Donald Trump, which would certainly have a big impact. You`ve said you find him to be an open-minded guy and a very level-headed guy, obviously. Are you surprised?
TRUMP: And a very good-looking guy.
HAMMER: Well, there`s that. Are you surprised?
GEORGE TAKEI, ACTOR: And an opinion maker, too.
HAMMER: Are you surprised that he holds the position that he holds given how open-minded a guy he really is?
TAKEI: You know, I`ve had this experience with "Celebrity Apprentice." And I get a sense from the various things that you`ve done and said, like when I was fired.
You did not just fire me. It was a situation of mutual respect from both you and my two colleagues, who were there with me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s going to be interesting to see. What if anything happens? Can George possibly change Donald Trump`s mind after getting fired from "Celebrity Apprentice"?
Let me ask somebody who is still on the show, not fired yet, hopefully never -- Debbie Gibson, still standing. Deb joins us tonight from Hollywood. Great to see you, Deborah.
DEBBIE GIBSON, SINGER: Thank you. Good to see you too.
HAMMER: So, listen. You`ve obviously spent a lot of time with Donald Trump before the show, during the show. You also spent time with George Takei while shooting "The Apprentice."
Do you think there`s a chance that George could actually change Donald Trump`s mind and convince him that gay marriage is OK?
GIBSON: I do. And obviously, I spend a lot of time with the gay community and there are beautiful gay couples everywhere. And, A, I think that, you know, like the Kirk Cameron comment, I think that he`s obviously slightly ignorant and not aware.
It`s all about awareness. I like Ron Paul`s take on the whole thing, which is, it doesn`t matter what your personal opinion is. I think government should be out of the business of marriage anyway.
People should be able to couple up however they want. And it`s about the commitment they have to each other. But I do think in this day and age, you know -- I do hope Mr. Trump changes his mind. I do find him to be an open-minded guy and hopefully he`ll be all ears.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, hopefully, he will be listening. You know, it`s interesting, he did, at least, open himself to the possibility that he could change his mind. We`ll see what happens. Debbie Gibson, thank you so much.
GIBSON: I think that`s great.
HAMMER: Be sure to check out Debbie on "Celebrity Apprentice" Sunday nights on NBC.
Well, tonight, Donald Trump is also speaking out about the Rush Limbaugh outrage after Rush called college student, Sandra Fluke, a slut and a prostitute after she testified in Congress that her university`s health insurance should coverage contraception.
As of late today, 20 advertisers have pulled their ads from Rush`s radio show. Two stations have dropped it all together.
Tonight, famed attorney Gloria Allred, who is an advocate for victims` rights, is also taking shots at Rush. She released a powerful open letter to Rush Limbaugh.
Gloria joining us tonight from Hollywood for the SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. Always good to see you, Gloria.
GLORIA ALLRED, ATTORNEY: You too, A.J..
HAMMER: So I just spoke with Donald Trump today. He is friends with Rush. I told him, frankly, so many people are saying, you know what? Limbaugh has gone too far this time, and at this point, the show should just be canceled.
But Trump told me, you know what? It`s just a big misunderstanding. In his eyes, Rush Limbaugh still has a lot to offer. Watch this with me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: That won`t happen. He`s got the largest audience of any radio show probably ever. It won`t happen. I know Rush. And Rush is actually different kind of a guy than people think. He`s actually a very good person. And I`m sure he will be just fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, Gloria, I`m going to guess you don`t agree with Trump`s assessment of Rush Limbaugh. But do you think that perhaps Rush has learned a big lesson here and his show should go on?
ALLRED: I think that he understands his own economic self-interest, and the fact that advertisers have been abandoning him in droves, as you just pointed out, A.J.
And that`s the kind of lesson that he needs to learn, and that he`s learning the hard way, because his first apology was really a non-apology. I called it meaningless. And I think that it was.
There is just no excuse. There is no justification for him to have launched a personal attack, and indeed, it was very personal, on Ms. Fluke, when all she did was to testify before a congressional committee about contraception, which she and every other person should have a right to do.
HAMMER: And in that apology you mentioned, Rush Limbaugh said he hadn`t chosen the best words to make his point. And to that I say, duh!
Now, you have written a very passionate open letter, saying that his apology was meaningless, as you just pointed out. But I really loved how you captured it in this letter. Can you read some of what`s in it for us?
ALLRED: Absolutely, A.J. I said to Rush, "Your words, your low blows, your lack of boundaries and judgment will not go away that easily."
"You cannot wash away the stain that you`ve placed on your reputation, and you may be assured that I, for one, will continue to point out what you have done to this woman, who did not deserve such callous mistreatment."
"Women see you for who you are. I have received countless E-mails from women across the country who are outraged and want to do something about you."
"You may have thought that women would be silenced by your attacks, but just the opposite is true. Women are rallying, because we see that your attack on Ms. Fluke is an attack on all of us, and on our right to speak out publicly and to stand up for contraception and our reproductive rights."
"Rush, I know that this all sounds very personal and it is."
HAMMER: And Gloria, these words are what echo the word of Sandra Fluke, who is at the center of this controversy, who said that she would not be silenced either. How angry are women about this?
ALLRED: Extremely angry. Even before advertisers started withdrawing, and some of them said, because he does not align with their values -- no kidding! I hope he doesn`t because that would be a very poor reflection on the advertisers` values.
Even before that, I received a flood of E-mails from women mainly, but some from men as well and they were just completely disgusted. And not all of them are Democrats. Some of them are Republicans who also reject this kind of vilification, this kind of personal targeting of this young woman.
HAMMER: And just today, we even had President Obama condemning Rush Limbaugh. He held a news conference this afternoon. And at that news conference, he said when he heard about Rush`s rant, he actually called Sandra Fluke himself because he thought about his own daughters.
I think the fact that the president is sounding off on this really says something. Gloria Allred, thank you so much for being here tonight. I really appreciate it.
ALLRED: Thank you, A.J.
HAMMER: Well, tonight we have a heart-breaking story. It`s of a 700-pound man trapped in his own body.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIBBS: I`m really scared that I`m not going to be able to watch my niece and my nephew grow up and I`m not going to get to have a family of my own.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This 23-year-old`s emotional plea to lose weight goes viral. You have to see this. Can he be saved with a little help from a high-powered star?
Tonight, will NFL sensation, Tim Tebow, be America`s new bachelor? I mean, think about this. Women from coast to coast are Tebowing right at this very moment, hoping he`ll do it. The question is, should he do it?
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, is Julia Roberts still the prettiest woman of them all?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NISCHELLE TURNER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: I know you`ve said six ways from Sunday that "There will never be a `Pretty Woman 2.` I`m not going to do a `Pretty Woman 2.` So I`m going to ask you to say seven, because I`m saying as a woman, that is probably one of my top three favorite movies ever, why?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Will there ever be a "Pretty Woman" sequel? Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes one on one with the great Julia Roberts. We`ll find out in a must-see SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. 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: Lady Gaga has record number of Twitter followers surpassing 20 million! SHOWBIZ first look: Oprah Winfrey interviews Whitney Houston`s family and daughter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: In their first interview, Oprah sits down with Whitney Houston`s family.
OPRAH WINFREY, MEDIA MOGUL: Her sister-in-law and closest confidant, Patricia Houston.
ANNOUNCER: Her brother, Gary.
WINFREY: As a big brother, how did you feel about Bobby Brown?
And the love of Whitney`s life, her only child, Bobbi Kristina.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIA ROBERTS, ACTRESS: Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who`s the fairest of them all? Snow White.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: What?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Snow White.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Julia Roberts is still the fairest of them all in the new film, "Mirror, Mirror." Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes one on one with Julia all about one of the fairest films of all time, "Pretty Woman." Will there be a sequel?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with a Julia Roberts newsmaker interview.
Now, Julia may play an evil queen in the new Snow White film, "Mirror, Mirror," but she, of course, is anything but evil.
In a brand-new SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner goes one on one with Queen Julia and Lily Collins who plays Snow White.
And while Julia opens up about her kids and a possible "Pretty Woman" sequel, Lily couldn`t help but gush about sharing the screen with a superstar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: Did you have that, "Oh, my god, I`m working with Julia Roberts" moment?
LILY COLLINS, ACTRESS: I pretty much had it every day, I think. I just would have to mask it, because I was in a scene.
If I truly showed what Lily was feeling in all the scenes, it would have just been a smile. But that`s not possible, because she`s being mean to me, and I couldn`t show that.
TURNER: Now, Julia, you`ve done a couple of kids` movies, but I think your kids were really small, so are you going to let them see this? Or are they old enough to see this?
ROBERTS: They`re not. They`re not really, I don`t think.
TURNER: Mommy`s kind of mean.
ROBERTS: Yes. I think I`ll save that ammunition for when they`re teenagers.
TURNER: One of the things that I think I read when you said you were kind of freaked out about raising them in the spotlight and in Hollywood. What freaks you out the most about that?
ROBERTS: Nothing freaks me out, actually, because I feel in pretty good command of my life and our home life, my husband and I.
It`s just that I think they deserve to have the same happy, simple upbringing that my husband and I both had, without worrying about this odd sort of aggressive pursuit of, you know, pictures to see who has the cutest baby t-shirt on this week or -- I mean, it`s also de-humanizing.
TURNER: Yes.
ROBERTS: And I think it`s my responsibility as their mother to help secure and maintain their human rights.
TURNER: Didn`t you say, though, that Hollywood right now is like bananas crazy awful for young actresses?
ROBERTS: I just think it`s become this sport of meanness that doesn`t appeal to me in any way, that idea of just gossip and fodder and blogging. It`s so unappealing.
TURNER: I dig your vibe. When did you become OK, like, "I`m OK being Julia. I`m good"?
ROBERTS: About 25 minutes ago.
TURNER: I love it! Because I`m still working to get there. I know you`ve said six ways from Sunday that "There will never be a `Pretty Woman 2,` I`m not going to do a `Pretty Woman 2`"?
So I`m going to ask you to say seven, because I`m saying as a woman, and that is probably one of my top three favorite movies ever, why? Why?
ROBERTS: Well, at this point, Richard Gere would be in a wheelchair, and I`d be in my hooker boots, pushing him down some, you know, hill.
TURNER: But I have to tell you, that line, "If I forget to tell you later, I`ve had a really good time tonight," that has scored me time and time again.
ROBERTS: I do what I can. Disturb my womenfolk.
TURNER: It`s a perfect line. Guys eat it up. They really do. So what - - is there anything, though, in this world that could make you say, "OK, I will do `Pretty Woman 2`"?
ROBERTS: You eat crow when you say there`s absolutely 1,000 percent sure that you`re not going to do something, but it would seem almost as unlikely as me giving birth right now.
TURNER: And you`re like, that ain`t happening.
ROBERTS: I mean, it could. We`ve got the cameras.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, I think it could work with Richard Gere in a wheelchair. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner joining me now. So good to hear Julia talking about all that stuff and about her normal life with her kids. I know that`s so important to her.
TURNER: Yes, A.J. She`s fantastic. You know, I really got the sense that she has worked very hard to figure out how to balance the whole Hollywood versus home life thing.
You know, Julia also makes it very clear that her husband and her three kids are priority number one. And Lily Collins told me during our interview that Mother Julia was all over that "Mirror, Mirror" set, that Julia`s kids were there all the time.
And lily said, you know, you could see that Julia not only talks the talk, but she walks the walk of family first. And I love that.
HAMMER: Yes. I`ve always had a lot of respect for her for that. All right. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner, thanks so much. Great interview. "Mirror, Mirror" hits theaters March 30th.
As we move on tonight, a 700-pound man pleads for help and it goes viral.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIBBS: My birthday`s tomorrow. I turn 23 and never had a life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The video got the attention of the trainer from "Extreme Makeover`s" weight loss edition. Can he be saved?
Madonna disses her marriage to Guy Ritchie in a new song. You`ve got to hear this. It`s a great debate tonight. Should she really be airing her dirty laundry?
Who better to ask than singer and "Celebrity Apprentice" star, Debbie Gibson, right here in a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. 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: "Modern Family," "Bridesmaids," "Crazy, Stupid Love" lead comedy award nominations. SHOWBIZ first look: "Dancing with the Stars" cast photos!
HAMMER: It is time now for the SHOWBIZ buzz list. This is what the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff is buzzing about this week. Happy birthday, Oreo. I`ve got to brush my teeth because we`ve been twisting, dunking, licking Oreos all day because the classic cookie turns 100 today.
We are ready to re-live the New York Giants` Super Bowl victory with the DVD and Blu-Ray release of Super Bowl XLVI champions New York Giants. It`s out today.
We`re rocking to the Boss, Bruce`s 17th studio album, "Wrecking Ball," out now.
We can`t wait for "South by Southwest." I`m heading down to Austin to cover the festivities this weekend. And it`s time to cut loose because of the "Footloose" remake starring Julianna Hough. It`s is out on Blu-Ray and DVD right now.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR: Kris, I love you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And take you to be my wedded husband.
KIM KARDASHIAN: And take you to be my wedded husband.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To have and to hold from this day forward.
KIM KARDASHIAN: To have and to hold from this day forward.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Until death do us part.
KIM KARDASHIAN: Until death do us part.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Or for 72 days, whichever comes first. What a beautiful 72-day that marriage was. And of course, we all know how Kim Kardashian marriage ended, but what to do with all those darned wedding gifts?
Well, tonight, Kim and her ex, Kris Humphries go head to head in a wedding gift war. Just when you thought the Kardashian wedding controversy was over, oh, no, there`s brand-new fury today over those wedding gifts.
With me here in New York tonight, Sara Benincasa, comedian and author of this book, "Agorafabulous." So great to have you here, Sara.
SARA BENINCASA, COMEDIAN AND AUTHOR: Oh, it`s so great to be here. I can`t wait to talk about Kim.
HAMMER: Well, let`s talk about it, because Kim has reportedly donated twice the cash equivalent of these wedding gifts and released this note to her friends.
Here`s what the note say, "It has taken me some time to pull everything together, but I wanted to let you know that the money for every gift received by me at my wedding has been donated to the Dream Foundation."
However, TMZ reporting today that Kris Humphries thinks besides the donations, Kim shouldn`t keep any of the gifts. So here`s our SHOWBIZ flashpoint -- should Kim return all the wedding gifts. What do you think?
BENINCASA: I think she totally should. I`m with K. Humph on this one, and not just because he looks like my secret boyfriend, Taylor Lautner.
I really think that she should give the stuff back. What does she need it for? She`s got probably a million blenders at her house already and toasters and all that stuff. Give it back.
HAMMER: So Kim should return the gifts and we`ve just learned your secret boyfriend is Taylor Lautner. It`s all good.
BENINCASA: Yes.
HAMMER: What is the cutoff point? And this is a subject that`s been coming up quite a bit. What exactly is the time frame for returning gifts? When do you pass the point of no return, if you divorce after how many days?
BENINCASA: I would say within a year, because supposedly you have a year to get a couple a wedding presents, right?
HAMMER: Right.
BENINCASA: So you should have a year after your terrible, horrible embarrassing divorce to give the gifts back.
HAMMER: Which reminds me, I owe three people wedding gifts and I have about two more months to do it. All right. Sara Benincasa, thank you so much for your chiming in on that.
BENINCASA: Thank you.
HAMMER: Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup -- here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIBBS: I`m really scared that I`m not going to be able to watch my niece and my nephew grow up and I`m not going to get to have a family of my own.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is so sad. A 700-pound man pleads for his life, looking for help on the Internet. Now, he might get an "Extreme Makeover" with the help of a TV star.
What do you think about this? Tim Tebow, the new bachelor? Tonight, why the show`s host got on bended knee to ask NFL star Tim Tebow to be the new bachelor? But should Tim accept that rose? 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: "It`s a Small World" songwriter Robert B. Sherman dies at age 86. Fox cancels Steven Spielberg TV show "Terra Nova."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIBBS: My birthday`s tomorrow. I turn 23 and I`ve never had a life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT -- extremely personal, "Extreme Makeover". The remarkable life-and-death plea by a 700- pound man becomes a viral sensation. Can the trainer from "Extreme Makeover`s" weight loss edition save this man from his own body?
Bachelor bombshell. Tonight, why Tim Tebow may be starring on TV`s "The Bachelor."
Madonna`s marriage slam. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals the lyrics to Madonna`s new song that could reveal the secrets to her marriage meltdown. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, should Madonna air her dirty laundry?
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. It`s 30 minutes past the hour, and we`ve got big news breaking tonight about what may be the ultimate "Extreme Makeover".
Now, what you are about to see is unquestionably very, very disturbing. A man so obese, he`s over 700 pounds, that he may be literally trapped in his own body.
But tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that he may be saved by the trainer who has helped so many people on TV`s "Extreme Makeover" weight loss edition. And if this works, he would no doubt become the all-time biggest loser.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GIBBS: I`m asking for somebody`s help.
HAMMER: An online plea for help, from a morbidly obese man at the end of his rope.
GIBBS: I`m just trying to get some help from somebody.
HAMMER: 700-pound Robert Gibbs of California has become an Internet sensation, after posting this video on the eve of his 23rd birthday, where he desperately asks for help to lose weight.
GIBBS: I`m making this video to try and get it to go viral and get somebody`s help. I have to slide forward to get off this couch.
HAMMER: This is Gibbs` life. He tells San Francisco station KPIX he has diabetes. He has sores all over his body, and he lives on a diet of TV and lots of fast food.
GIBBS: I`m just trapped and there`s no way out.
HAMMER: And in watching his YouTube video, you see a young man who feels he has nowhere else to turn.
GIBBS: I`m making this video because I don`t know what else to do. I`ve tried losing weight on my own. I`ve tried doing everything possible, been on diets, been hospitalized.
HAMMER: Gibbs` goal was simple -- to have his video plea go viral so he can get the help he needs to lose weight and stay alive.
GIBBS: This is my last chance. I`m really scared that I`m not going to be able to watch my niece and my nephew grow up, and I`m not going to get to have a family of my own. My birthday`s tomorrow.
I turn 23 and I`ve never had a life. A nutritionist, personal trainer, Dr. Phil, "Biggest Loser" -- anything, anybody you know, just post it to get this video to go viral.
Get it to be one of the most watched videos ever. Eventually, someone will see it, and maybe then I can get some help. I don`t know what else to do.
HAMMER: If Robert`s goal was to get a popular video, mission accomplished. As of today, his video has racked up more than one million views. It`s even inspired people to make their own videos, responding to Gibbs` message. The responses range from the supportive --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody here, we all wish you the best of luck.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We wish you the best.
HAMMER: To the harsh --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only way you`re going to get help is if you do it yourself, or they`ll be cutting the wheels out of your house and wheeling you out on a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) stretcher.
HAMMER: To the helpful.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I actually sent a copy of your video and your link to a raw food educator.
HAMMER: Someone else is offering Gibbs` help. While chatting with San Francisco station, KPIX, Gibbs got a call from Chris Powell, fitness trainer and star of ABC`s "Extreme Makeover," weight loss edition.
CHRIS POWELL, FITNESS TRAINER: Push! Get down! Come on, James!
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has confirmed that Powell is willing to work with Robert, and Robert seems very open to the idea.
GIBBS: I would love his help. He works miracles.
HAMMER: Yes, YouTube has created tons of Internet celebrities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD: Charlie bit me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE CHILD: I have a tooth fairy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Leave me alone!
HAMMER: But maybe this time around --
GIBBS: On my next birthday, I`ll be a lot healthier than I am now.
HAMMER: Internet stardom may save a life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Wouldn`t that be something? We`ve just heard Robert Gibbs say he would like nothing more than to have Chris Powell save him from the 700-pound nightmare lives in.
Chris is the trainer who has helped so many people on TV`s "Extreme Makeover" weight loss edition. He joins us tonight from Phoenix for the SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. Great to have you here, Chris. Thanks for being here.
POWELL: Thank you, A.J..
HAMMER: So this is obviously very heartbreaking. It`s hard to watch somebody going through what this guy is going through. When you reached out to Robert, how desperate did he seem to you?
POWELL: Well, you know, he -- I mean, you can see the desperation in his video. And more than anything, he`s just -- he`s so lost.
But he`s finally found that place where he had the courage just to reach out and ask for help, and so, you know, I`m thrilled for him.
HAMMER: Give me a little insight into the conversation and what you two said to each other. And did he accept your offer of help?
POWELL: Well, you know, originally, I`ve got to be honest with you, my wife and I -- we reached out to him privately. We didn`t know he was actually doing a TV interview at the time, and so we didn`t know that this was going to be such a big deal.
But we just wanted to reach out to him as friends and offer some insight because we could imagine what he`s going through right now, especially on such a huge stage, that`s a lot of pressure, and especially with what he`s dealing, which is a food addiction.
That`s the added pressure. It can sometimes exacerbate the condition. So we just wanted to reach out and just lend that supporting ear and give some kind of insight, because he`s got a long journey ahead.
And my wife and I, you know, as trainers and coaches, we`ve worked with so many people along that path. And so we know what lies ahead for him, but we also know what`s truly possible, and the possibility is incredible.
HAMMER: Is there anything that you will be doing directly with him to help him get the help that he needs or help him right there in person?
POWELL: Well, hopefully, we can arrange a face-to-face here pretty soon. Of course, we are in Phoenix and he`s in San Francisco. So you know, we have spoken every day. And we have, of course, given him just a few baby steps.
And remember, that`s what the journey is all about. It`s just one step at a time. And so he does know what needs to be done, and he`s begun to make those commitments.
And so he`s -- essentially, he`s three days in on his journey of transformation, and we`re just so proud of him.
HAMMER: And I do give him a lot of credit, and I think so many do, for taking that first step of just putting himself out there the way that he did.
And now, more than one million people have watched Robert on his YouTube video. He was just so sad, and as you said, you really sensed his desperation. Let`s watch a bit of that.
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GIBBS: I`m making this video because I don`t know what else to do. I`ve tried losing weight on my own. I`ve done everything possible, been on diets, been hospitalized.
I`m really scared that I`m not going to be able to watch my niece and my nephew grow up, and that I`m not going to get to have a family of my own. My birthday`s tomorrow. I turn 23, and I`ve never had a life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Twenty-three -- unbelievable. And, obviously, watching a 700- pound young man beg for his life is so hard. Chris, I realize you say it is a day-by-day thing, a step-by-step thing, but give us a sense of how you think someone like Robert can go from a life, as he said, of spending all day watching TV and eating two pizzas at a time, to doing the hard work necessary to get healthy because, obviously, much easier said than done.
POWELL: Sure. And you know, I deal with this a lot, as does my wife, who coaches people along with me. You know, the answer is really quite simple.
What we do is -- it`s all about making promises and keeping those promises to ourselves. And all too often, we se people -- they overreach, and they try to exercise for 45 minutes to an hour day. And you`re eating five to six small meals a day.
It`s just -- they`re setting goals that are unattainable, which is actually very, very dangerous, because if it`s unattainable, it`s not sustainable.
And that`s where we dive into something. And after a week, we just don`t follow it anymore. So with Robert, with his journey, what he just needs to do is he just needs to start small.
And so the very first thing I asked him to do, I said, "Pick one thing with your nutrition that you want to change." And he said, "I want to cut out soda." I said, "OK, well, make that promise to yourself, first and foremost, tell me about it, OK? And now, well, today`s your very first day. Try it out, see how it goes."
And sure enough, he cut soda. He cut it three days ago. I checked in with him yesterday, no more soda. I checked in with him today, and he`s still doing great.
And so I said, "Let me know when you`re ready to make another commitment." And that`s exactly how we do it. Remember, it`s the promise that we care about. And weight loss happens. It really, truly becomes an afterthought.
HAMMER: It looks like he`s on his way. Big thanks to you. I`ve been always a fan of what you do, Chris. And if anybody can point him in the right direction, I think it is you, so thank you for being with us, Chris Powell. Thank you so much and good luck with this.
POWELL: Thank you, A.J.
HAMMER: You got it. As we move on tonight, ponder this, the next time NFL star Tim Tebow falls to his knee, it might be to propose.
He`s one of the most eligible bachelors on the planet, right? But could Tim Tebow actually be the next star on "The Bachelor"? The bombshell news today from someone with the inside scoop.
And as the reports heat up about Madonna`s 24-year-old boyfriend proposing, is Madonna actually airing the dirty laundry about her last marriage to Guy Ritchie? Here`s the thing. I can tell you the lyrics to her new song leave little to the imagination.
And next, someone who has certainly poured her heart out in her music more than a few times, singer and "Celebrity Apprentice" star, Debbie Gibson. She`s right here with me breaking down this Madonna marriage mystery. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Here`s the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Davy Jones` "Monkees" band mates won`t attend his private funeral. Megan Fox tells SHOWBIZ she`s happy to finally be in a movie with good reviews.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEGAN FOX, ACTRESS: I`ve never been in anything that was well-reviewed, so this is the first time. This is first time I`m in a movie and it`s getting really good reviews and that`s amazing. I love it. It`s such a good feeling.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`ve actually met Tim Tebow. I met him and gave him a hard time --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you get nervous?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I met him about becoming our next bachelor. I think he`d be a great bachelor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What? And?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don`t you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Was there any reception on his end?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, they always say yes but then that never happens. But --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He did say yes though?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`s a really good guy. He`s a really good guy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He did say yes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He did say yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tim Tebow, the next bachelor -- could it be? Tonight, startling news that the wholesome NFL superstar could actually be the next star of the TV`s "The Bachelor," but would that really be a good fit?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And I want you to just let this melt for a moment, let it just sink in. Bachelor Tebow.
Now, Tim Tebow is obviously one of America`s most eligible bachelors. He`s rich. He`s famous. He`s religious. He`s got a pretty good job, right? So wouldn`t all of that make him the perfect fit?
Maybe or maybe not. Let`s ask Debbie Gibson, who`s now starring in another reality show, "Celebrity Apprentice." Debbie joining us tonight from Hollywood. With me in New York, comedian Sara Benincasa. Sara is the author of this great new memoir. It is called "Agorafabulous."
So guys, all of this Tim Tebow talk started when the host of "The Bachelor," Chris Harrison, just told "Access Hollywood" that he asked Tebow to be the next bachelor. So here`s our SHOWBIZ flashpoint -- would Tim Tebow make a good bachelor? Deb, let me start with you. What do you think?
GIBSON: Well, I will say, currently being on a reality show, being that he`s super religious, it`s kind of hard to have morals and be on a reality show. And I didn`t even have to be in a hot tub.
HAMMER: Yes. I think --
GIBSON: So you know, you take "The Bachelor," all those jacuzzi shots, I`m not so sure it`s a great fit.
HAMMER: That`s what I`m thinking. You know, he`s a very religious guy. He talks about being saved, saving himself for marriage and all of that.
I`m thinking no hot tub hookups at all. He`s probably not all that crazy about serial dating, which you do on "The Bachelor." So Sara, what do you think? Would "The Bachelor" still work, if it was rated G, like it could wind up being with a Tim Tebow?
BENINCASA: You know, I`m absolutely not sure that it is the best idea to have Tim Tebow there. I mean, he`s so cute and adorable, but I don`t want to see them just holding hands. I want to see something else.
HAMMER: No, it won`t work. I have some relief for those of you who are concerned. Tim Tebow did tweet today, he`s actually not interested.
But women can be dream of him being the next bachelor. Yes. Wipe your brow, done.
Well, tonight, there`s also big news we`ve got to talk about a superstar who is technically a bachelorette, when you think about it -- Madonna. It appears that Madonna is far from over her divorce from her second husband, Guy Ritchie.
Now, we just learned that Madonna`s brand-new song includes lyrics that -- I don`t know -- that pretty clearly seem to be aimed at her ex-hubby.
Let me read a bit of what Madonna wrote for the song. She sings, "I tried to be a good girl. I tried to be your wife, diminished myself, and I swallowed my light. I tried to become all that you expected of me, and if it was a failure, I don`t give a bleep."
She doesn`t actually sing "bleep." That`s just what I had to say so I don`t get fired. That leads to our next SHOWBIZ flashpoint -- should Madonna be airing her relationship dirty laundry in a song? I say, why not? But Deb, what do you think?
GIBSON: You know what, music`s inspired by real life. And look, Gaga sings about campy with a man who dims my shine. So, I say, if that was the case in that relationship, more power to Madonna for maybe taking something that was somewhat negative in her life and turning it into a hit song. A hit song is the best revenge.
HAMMER: Yes. You know very well, right? It can be cathartic. It can be very healing to do something like that.
GIBSON: Yes, absolutely. I think that, you know, people look to artists to be authentic and to sing about what actually happens in their life and reveal something.
And that`s what makes them relatable. And Madonna has been relevant and relatable for so many years. So I think she`s, you know, doing it right, as usual.
HAMMER: Relevant, relatable and still very much desired. Madonna may actually be considering getting married right now, because her 24-year-old boyfriend has reportedly proposed.
And tonight, it looks like somebody else may be off the market. People might be pretty upset about this. Snooki, look at this new photo SHOWBIZ TONIGHT got today, the "Jersey Shore" star sporting what appears to be an engagement ring. It doesn`t look like it`s made of a pickle.
Snooki has not commented on whether or not she`s engaged or about these reports flying around that she`s pregnant. But we could not help but noticing, this is the most read story on "People.com," all about Snooki.
Here`s our SHOWBIZ flashpoint -- why do we all care so much about Snooki? Sara, can you help me out on this?
BENINCASA: She -- I think we love Snooki so much because she reminds us of all the girls that we knew in college who were just wild. She`s the wildest of them all.
And I kind of love Snooki. She does everything that I wish I could have done, but I`m too classy to do.
HAMMER: Oh, I see. Deb, can you give me some quick insight here?
GIBSON: Again, I`m not sure, and again, you know, being currently on a reality show, I think to myself, it is really a different world we live in. People love like being a peeping tom into people`s real lives.
HAMMER: Yes.
GIBSON: I mean, I`m a Long Island girl so, you know, jersey is, I guess, fascinating in some odd way and does kind of ground people, to watch -- you know, but I don`t know that much about Snooki.
HAMMER: I`ve never felt so grounded by Snooki. But look, she`s now been a reality star for a long time with "Jersey Shore."
Deb, you are now living the reality show life while starring on this season of "Celebrity Apprentice." And as the pressure intensifies, the ladies -- they just seem to be going at each other. Let`s share in that moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Deborah`s very condescending.
ANNOUNCER: It`s a boardroom blowout.
TIA CARRERE, ACTRESS: We were marginalized.
GIBSON: I don`t really care who gets the credit.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whatever, Debbie. Whatever.
ANNOUNCER: And Trump`s firing on all cylinders.
TRUMP: I`m going to fire two people tonight.
GIBSON: Twice!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Debbie -- all right. I want to know just how nasty things are really getting on the show. So Deb, I need you to stay right where you are.
GIBSON: OK.
HAMMER: All right. Now, we`ve got to move on to the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: "Saved by the Bell`s" Elizabeth Berkley is expecting her first child. Jon Hamm talks to SHOWBIZ about the return (finally!) of "Mad Men."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON HAMM, ACTOR: I don`t think the outcome was ever in doubt. I think we -- I think we knew we were coming back. It was just a matter of when. It`s nice to have time off, like the show is incredibly exhausting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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HAMMER: Do you have a message to relay to Deb?
TRUMP: Well, Debbie is doing really well on the show, and I think George will attest to that. She`s very sharp, like George, and smart.
And people like her, although a couple of people, she drives a little crazy. George, doesn`t that show that Debbie`s great?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s funny. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Donald Trump`s very special message for Debbie Gibson, who is starring on his show, "Celebrity Apprentice," still cranking along.
So far, she has been lucky, has not heard those terrible two words, "You`re fired." Debbie back with us in Hollywood tonight.
So Deb, you just heard it. Donald Trump right there, he thinks you`re great on "Celebrity Apprentice." Now, I`ve got to know --
GIBSON: Thank you.
HAMMER: Before you ever stepped foot in the boardroom, what did you expect Donald would be like?
GIBSON: You know, I`ve actually met the Donald over the years. I`m out of the boardroom, so I don`t have to say Mr. Trump now, right?
HAMMER: Right.
GIBSON: But you know, he actually was at my Broadway debut of "Les Miserables," and he`s been like a supportive person my whole career. I`ve run into him in New York over the years, and I really like him.
And you know what I like about him is he makes no apologies. He is who he is. He does not care what you think. I like people that just put it out there in that way.
HAMMER: And he certainly does. Listen, I`ve got to ask you this. We`ve seen some of the other ladies really go at it, a lot of confrontation, and we`ve seen you go at it a bit more than I would have expected.
Because, quite frankly, I`ve always known you, you know, as long as we`ve known each other, as a pretty easy-going, non-confrontational person. Can we expect some really nasty battles ahead?
GIBSON: Here`s what I don`t like and here`s what pushes my buttons and I think you`ll see those this week. When people`s egos are taking over and they`re trying to talk about taking credit for an idea or whatever, I get like, "You know what? We`re a team."
If an idea is born from the team, I don`t even remember at the end of the day if I thought of it or if you thought of it or if she thought of it. So when people start doing this me, me, me, I, I, I, thing --
HAMMER: Right.
GIBSON: It drives me nuts. It also drives me nuts when, you know, we`re half a day into a test. We`ve got the logo set, the concept. And someone comes up to me with some ideas --
HAMMER: Yes.
GIBSON: And they`re a day late and a dollar short, that`s what`s happening here. You`re going to see it this week.
HAMMER: I`ve got to wrap it there. But it is fun seeing you do that. We`ll see it on "Celebrity Apprentice," Sundays on ABC.
GIBSON: Thank you.
HAMMER: Great seeing you, Deb. And coming up, you`ll find out which reality stars thought it was a good idea to go on strike during the taping of their hit show. Hey, there`s a recession going on. What are they doing?
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HAMMER: "Real Housewives" on a real strike? Well, "The Real Housewives of New York City" might not hold 9:00 to 5:00 jobs, but they do know when they feel their rights at work are being trampled on.
Now, according to the blog, "Naughty But Nice Rob," three of the cast members, LuAnn de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan and Ramona Singer have refused to shoot certain scenes after claiming that the schedules for Season 5 went on for too long.
The cast usually works from September to February, but this time they say it extended far beyond that. And here`s the only official word from Bravo. They tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Production on the reality show has wrapped."
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer. You can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively weeknights at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. And of course, that is right here on HLN.
Stay right here for "DR. DREW," next. Tonight, is single motherhood abusive to kids? Dr. Drew and his guests debate the merits of this claim by a Wisconsin lawmaker. "DR. DREW" starts on HLN right now.
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