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Showbiz Tonight
NCAA Final Four March Madness; Roseanne Barr`s Embarrassing About- Face; Spike Lee`s Remarkable Apology; "Hunger Games" Fame Crisis?
Aired March 30, 2012 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CO-HOST: Hello. I`m Nischelle Turner in Hollywood.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: And I`m A.J. Hammer in New Orleans, site of the NCAA Final Four March madness. We`re going to have exclusive access with the Black Keys, Kiss, and Jimmy Buffett. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT starts right now.
TURNER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - the Trayvon Twitter wars. Roseanne Barr`s embarrassing about-face, under fire for her shocking tweet revealing the home address of the parents of Trayvon Martin`s shooter.
Plus, Spike Lee`s remarkable new apology for his wrong address tweet. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the star Trayvon Twitter wars.
A hunger crisis for the young stars of "The Hunger Games?" Record- breaking box office. Pandemonium. But are the stars of "The Hunger Games" ready for worldwide fame?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WES BENTLEY, ACTOR: You`re right in everyone`s attention, especially nowadays with TMZ and all the cameras out there. They follow your every move.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: Tonight, "Hunger Games" star, Wes Bentley tells all in a headline- making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
SHOWBIZ viral video. Wild about Smartphones, elephants, birds, monkeys. Oh, my.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Who wouldn`t find a tongue-flicking bearded dragon lizard inspiring?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: Tonight, wait until you see the critters obsessed with the touch tech craze. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
TURNER: Hello, everyone. I`m Nischelle Turner in Hollywood.
HAMMER: And I`m A.J. Hammer in New Orleans where this weekend, the NCAA March Madness starts coming to an end with some major music madness.
Kiss, The Black Keys, Jimmy Buffett, all performing at the big dance concert series, and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will be bringing you exclusive access.
TURNER: Thanks, A.J. We`re going to get back to you in just a moment. But first, the big news breaking tonight -the Trayvon Twitter war.
Tonight, Roseanne is doing just what Spike Lee did, apologizing for sending out a tweet that has caused absolute outrage.
First, it was Spike apologizing for tweeting what he thought was the address of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch guard who shot and killed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.
It turned out to be the address of a couple who started getting threats. And now, Roseanne is also backtracking after tweeting the address of George Zimmerman`s parents.
What in the world was she thinking? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the brand new fury over the Trayvon Twitter war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) The case of Trayvon Martin, the teenager shot and killed by George Zimmerman, is inspiring raw emotions everywhere.
But now, this tragic story is inspiring something else - a rash of reckless tweeting from celebrities.
MARC MALKIN, "E! NEWS": The danger here is that, within seconds, you could reach millions, millions of people worldwide.
TURNER: Roseanne Barr is trying to make amends for her Twitter blunder. Yesterday, she retweeted an address thought to be that of George Zimmerman`s parents to her 110,000 followers.
She quickly deleted the post and apologized profusely writing, quote, "I would never tweet Zimmerman`s address on purpose nor go to his home to agitate for violence nor commit violence anywhere."
But that didn`t stop the criticism she got for tweeting that address in the first place.
MALKIN: Roseanne could apologize all she wants, but the damage is done.
TURNER: Roseanne`s Twitter mishap came at the same time director Spike Lee took a big step toward cleaning up his own Twitter mess.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you he`s reached a settlement with Elaine and David McClain, a Florida couple whose home address Spike identified on Twitter as of that Trayvon Martin`s shooter, George Zimmerman.
But the McClains have absolutely no link to George Zimmerman, nor anyone in involved in the Trayvon Martin shooting.
ELAINE ZIMMERMAN, FLORIDA RESIDENT: I don`t think he understands the fear for us and our families have for us.
TURNER: The McClains appeared on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT after Spike tweeted an apology for mistakenly posting their address. The McClains told our A.J. Hammer they were getting hate mail and had to move out of their home because of this Twitter mess.
E. MCCLAIN: What we`re really trying to do is hopefully calm this situation and telling people to think before they do things.
TURNER: And now, Spike is trying to make things right. Shortly after they talked to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Spike contacted the couple and offered to compensate them for the cost of leaving their home.
Their attorney tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "We asked Mr. Lee to do the right thing, and he did."
But still as Roseanne and Spike try to make amends for their Twitter failures, they`re learning a valuable lesson, getting emotional over this tragic case is one thing, but emotional tweeting can cause serious trouble for themselves and others.
MALKIN: The problem with Twitter is that you can never really erase what you have put out there. So you really do have to watch what you say.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TURNER: And does it make you think that why celebrities who how influential their words can be would do something, well, just so dumb?
With me from New York tonight, actress and comedian, Aisha Tyler. Aisha is also the co-host of "The Talk" on CBS Asia. Thanks for joining us.
First of all, what do you think about Roseanne and Spike Lee`s tweeting, I guess, fiascos. Do their apologies or the things that they said afterwards - did that excuse what they did?
AISHA TYLER, ACTRESS AND COMEDIAN: Well, I think the problem right now - the beauty of Twitter also its inherent kind of pitfall which is that you can dash off a statement without thinking about it quickly in 140 characters.
And it`s very easy to do. And I think at least with my own tweets, I try to kind of put it into a very specific litmus test. So how will I feel if this is read back to me.
And if there`s something I think I`m saying I don`t think is fully considered or fully researched, I will take the time to research that.
That being said, this is an emotional case. This is an emotional situation. And I think tempers and emotions are high. And that`s when people tweet things that maybe they should have considered more fully before they did it.
TURNER: No, absolutely. But, you know, that couple whose address that Spike Lee tweeted out my mistake told us right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that they actually do accept Spike`s apology.
They made a very interesting point when they talked to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s A.J. Hammer. I want to watch what they said about Spike`s big mistake. Take a look.
E. MCCLAIN: I guess I feel sorry for him because, evidently, he doesn`t think ahead of what could happen to this without him really checking.
The social media has no counter balance. They don`t check into anything and there would have - it could have been very easy for him to find out who lived there, not to put out something like this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: You know what? That is so true.
TYLER: Yes.
TURNER: It`s so true.
TYLER: It was - first of all, it was a very thoughtful and considerate response from those people. And I`m sure they went through a lot of anguish and turmoil and probably a considerable amount of fear about having their address put out there.
But I think, also, in this particular case, it`s just what I said. If you`re going to put somebody`s information out there, if you`re going to put a tweet out there that people, in all likelihood is going to act on because that`s the power of Twitter now that your followers don`t just read your tweets passively.
You know what I mean? That whole drama with Justin Bieber tweeting that fake phone number. There were real results from what feels like maybe passive actions. I think they were incredibly gracious and it`s great that they accepted his apology. And -
TURNER: Aisha, I want to ask you quickly though - at the end of the day, even if that address was the right address and it was wrong, you probably shouldn`t have tweeted that anyway, don`t you think?
TYLER: I don`t think so. No, I think - like I said, emotions are so high in this particular case. There is so much intense anger and frustration over this case from people of all sides, all colors, all ages are so upset about this, that you can understand why someone would do something like this in frustration, but it was the wrong thing to do.
TURNER: Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate your time. Now, I want to bring in Terrence J. He is the host of BET`s "106 & Park," and he`s starring in a movie, "Think Like a Man," based on a book by Steve Harvey which opens on April 20th.
Terrence, thanks for joining us today. I want to ask you, indeed, the Trayvon Martin case has been a big topic on your show, "106 & Park." You did a great special last night all about racial profiling.
What do you think about Roseanne and Spike Lee`s apologies?
TERRENCE J, HOST, "106 & PARK": Well, you know, the tweets were wrong. And when you have a Twitter - if you have a Twitter, you know sometimes you send out the wrong tweets.
And unfortunately, in this circumstance, you know, there`s a family involved that`s innocent so it`s a very unfortunate situation.
But at the end of the day, it all becomes propaganda after a certain point. Celebrities are outraged. The general public is outraged. Everybody is upset because this young boy got killed.
And until Zimmerman is put behind bars and until we take a real look at the system that`s in place that enables this to happen, there`s going to be more and more wrong tweets.
There`s going to be more and more wrong statements because people are so upset and passionate about this discussion.
TURNER: But those passionate and heated feelings are just what is so scary about this Spike and Roseanne situation, what could happen, coming from that.
And like those guys, you have got tens of thousands of followers on Twitter. So Terrence, what would be your strongest message about this whole Trayvon Martin tragedy?
TERRENCE J: My strongest message would be we have to learn from this. First of all, we have to look at what social media is.
The reason why special prosecutors are coming to the table for this is because of the power of our social media. It`s because we`re signing petitions in a way like we have never done before.
We`re mobilizing for different rallies. We`re using our voice, and that`s why actions are starting to be taken. But it`s taken too long.
And so as things progress and hopefully, you know, Zimmerman will be brought up on charges and will be arrested and we can get real concrete information in a trial of his peers, until that happens, we have to be very cautious on how we exercise things.
What we don`t want to happen is for there to be a mistrial because so much information has gone wrong on in the media and we can`t try this guy, you know, correctly. So hopefully, this will be done expediently and we can get to the bottom line.
TURNER: Good thoughts and great insight there, Terrence. We appreciate it. Host of BET`s "106 & Park." Thank you for coming today.
Terrence is starring in the new movie, "Think Like a Man" based on Steve Harvey`s book, which I read about.
TERRENCE J: April 20th -
TURNER: And that opens on April 20th. You are right. Thanks very much, Terrence.
All right. Hollywood`s outrage in the Trayvon Martin case continues tonight. "Celebrity Apprentice" star, Clay Aiken speaks out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT revealing his feelings about the Trayvon Martin shooting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLAY AIKEN, SINGER: I mean, I think the thing that scares people and the reason that so many people have been involved is because we realize that this is something that could happen to anyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes one-on-one with Clay Aiken in a must-see SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
Hunger crisis? Tonight, are the stars of "The Hunger Games" in danger of their own fame? Box office riches. Pandemonium. Tonight, "Hunger Games" star, Wes Bentley, is right here revealing the dangers he and his co-stars may face in another headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
HAMMER: And I`m hanging out in New Orleans taking in the big dance concert series, one of the biggest free concerts on the planet this weekend with Kiss, The Black Keys, and Jimmy Buffett. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has your exclusive access to all of these guys.
TURNER: Oh, yes, plus SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is on location in New Orleans for March Madness. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TURNER: You are looking at the stage at Woldenberg Park in New Orleans where all the March Madness magic will happen this weekend. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you exclusive access to the big music acts that will be performing on that stage.
Get this - Kiss, The Black Keys, and Jimmy Buffett rocking the house.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Nischelle Turner in Hollywood. Right now Big Easy, big dance. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is on location in New Orleans, the site of the 2012 NCAA Final Four.
But it`s also playing host to some of the biggest and best names in rock. It`s the big dance concert series and I`m talking about Kiss, The Black Keys, Jimmy Buffett all rocking out as the best in college basket rocks, too.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s A.J. Hammer joins me now. He is in the middle of all the excitement. I am so jealous of you, A.J.
HAMMER: Yes. I am sure you are, Nischelle. It`s a gorgeous day in the Big Easy. And I am in Woldenberg Park where all the action is going on for I guess what is really the second biggest party going on in this town this weekend.
And it`s so exciting to watch everything start to unfold here. Let`s take a look at what`s going on. These people have been working around the clock getting this place all set up.
Take a look at the transformation that`s in place here. This park is going to be jammed all weekend long. Free concerts, as you said, and I cannot wait to see my good friends from Kiss.
I haven`t seen them in a long time. They are back. It`s really going to be a great preview concert, too, to their big concert tour with Motley Crue that`s going on this summer.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has exclusive access. You`re not going to experience it anywhere else. I have this unbelievable backstage access with the band. I cannot go one on one with all these guys.
And I`ve got to talk to Kiss and find out what`s up with them. They seem to have some kind of a beef with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I`ve got to know, did they really say they were going to burn the place down?
Now, The Black Keys are, of course, the new kings of rock. I must talk to them about what it feels like to be in that position.
And really, for me, the topper for the weekend will be speaking with the great, the legendary Jimmy Buffett. I`ve got to know how he`s doing it, still rocking it after all these years.
And look, we`re in the Big Easy so you know these parties continue all night long. This town does not sleep. After the big free shows here in the park, you`ve got artists like Sammy Hagar, Kid Rock rocking at the House of Blues, and we`re right there.
We`re going to be hanging out on the red carpet. More exclusives you will only see on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT all next week. It is going to be an incredible weekend.
And who knows, maybe there will be a Brangelina sighting. I don`t know, you know, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie do have a home down here in New Orleans. For some people like you though, however, Nischelle, I know this is all about basketball`s biggest party, college basketball, with the Final Four going on.
And when you talk final four you have to talk bracketology, for those who don`t know, the science of figuring out exactly who is going to wind up in the final four and take the whole thing.
Now, it just so happened, Nischelle, my lovely producer, Natasha, is here and she just handed me my bracket. May I read this with you.
Oh, sorry. Oh, you have Kentucky versus your beloved Missouri - that`s how you say it - Missouri. And Ohio State versus North Carolina and Missouri taking it all. Oh, Nischelle, no good. No good.
TURNER: Yes, A.J. Missou did blow my bracket a while ago, but you know what? I am not the only one with a busted bracket because, later in the show, I want you to reveal some of the brackets of these big celebrities all over the world, including Mr. President, the president of the United States. Please make me feel better.
HAMMER: Yes. No, trust me, you`re not the only one who didn`t do so well with their brackets. A lot of busted brackets here. But look, in the meantime, I got a whole weekend to play.
I`m looking forward to having a big time, of course, checking out the big dance concert series, doing all of my exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in rock on the planet.
But look, Nischelle, I`ve spent a lot of time in New Orleans over the years. I have never lived here. I know you called this home for a while.
TURNER: Oh, yes.
HAMMER: So give me a hint. Tell me something where I can go or something I can check out, maybe a little off the beaten path that`s going to blow my mind?
TURNER: Well, I`m going to keep it PG rated, OK, because I got a couple places I could tell.
HAMMER: Well, yes.
TURNER: One of the places I`d say I`m a sucker for a good snowball - go to the snowball stand at airline and Roosevelt. Get yourself an ultra- strawberry snowball. It`s like heaven in a cup. Go do it.
HAMMER: You mean the syrup on the ice thing? OK. I can do it. I`ll go check it out. Thanks, Nischelle.
TURNER: Thanks a lot, A.J. This week Kim Kardashian is feeling the heat big time. Who can forget that red carpet flour bomb?
Well, tonight, there is brand-new evidence that Kim`s reputation has been hit by more than just a bunch of baking flour. Monkeys, frogs, dragons and even elephants show us that Smartphones can outsmart them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Imagine your caller ID Showed Peter the elephant calling from his Smartphone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He uses his trunk like we use our fingers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: Seriously, an elephant using a Smartphone? That is just nuts. But you`ve got to see it to believe it. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TURNER: If you thought Rihanna had a bad week after getting dissed by Kiss and Clay Aiken, well, we`ve got brand-new evidence tonight that she`s having one of her best weeks ever. But Kim Kardashian, not so much.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has your exclusive look at Reputation.com`s weekly scoreboard of who is up and who is down in Hollywood, all determined by online and social media buzz.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood for the reputation wrap is Reputation.com`s vice chairman, Howard Bragman.
Howard, OK. I`ve got to start with what I thought was a rough week for Rihanna. But Kiss legend Gene Simmons dissed her voice. Clay Aiken did the same. And then there was all those romance rumors with Ashton Kutcher.
Yet, you say her reputation is up. Explain, please, Howard.
HOWARD BRAGMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN, REPUTATION.COM: Well, two things. Number one, it`s over 70 percent positive. Number two, when others criticize you, your fans rush to your defense and they put out positive things about you. But mostly Ashton Kutcher - love conquers all, Nischelle.
TURNER: OK. Well, let`s talk about Kim Kardashian. She seems to continue her downward spiral. I mean, she laughed off that whole flour bomb incident which people seemed to like. So why is the online buzz over 75 percent negative for her?
BRAGMAN: Nobody - she`s had a really bad rap ever since the divorce from Kris Humphries, number one. At first, she handled the flour bombing really well. But now she`s going after PETA. People don`t like it.
And to top it all off, "Forbes" magazine said you are the most overexposed celebrity on the planet. So she`s about 75 percent negative, hasn`t been having a good couple months here, Nischelle.
TURNER: OK. Howard, quickly. Let`s talk Tiger Woods. Scratching his reputation back on the green after that whole 2009 cheating stuff that seems to still plague him. Is he getting his game back now, Howard?
BRAGMAN: As his golf game goes, so goes his reputation.
TURNER: OK.
BRAGMAN: Big increase in interest in him and over 80 percent positive. As long as he keeps winning, people are going to like him.
TURNER: I love it. All right, Reputation.com`s vice chairman, Howard Bragman. Thank you very much, sir.
And now, the SHOWBIZ lineup - here is what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Stars outraged over Trayvon. The "Celebrity Apprentice" star Clay Aiken reveals his fury over the Trayvon Martin case to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AIKEN: I think the thing that scares people and the reason so many people have been involved is because we realize that this is something that could happen to anyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: Clay Aiken is right here for a must-see SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
Hunger crisis? Tonight, are the stars of "The Hunger Games" already in danger from their success? "Hunger Games" star, Wes Bentley, is here and we`ll ask him in another headline-making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: MTV2 putting new twist on old game show called "Hip-Hop Hollywood Squares." James Franco goes gangster for film role with Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TURNER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - a celebrity newsmaker interview with Clay Aiken. Clay has got his hood up for Trayvon Martin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AIKEN: I mean, I think the thing that scares people and the reason that so many people have been involved is because we realize that this is something that could happen to anyone.
TURNER: SHOWBIZ goes one-on-one with "Celebrity Apprentice" contestant, Clay Aiken to get his take on Trayvon Martin`s tragic death.
Also, hunger crisis? The pandemonium is reaching a fever pitch for a second blockbuster "Hunger Games" weekend. but are the stars overwhelmed by their instant worldwide fame?
Tonight, "Hunger Games" star, Wes Bentley, tells SHOWBIZ what he thinks about "The Hunger Games" fame crisis.
And look, no thumbs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Imagine your caller ID showed peter the elephant calling from his Smartphone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It uses its trunk like we use our fingers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: The elephant who can use a Smartphone better than your teenager. The SHOWBIZ viral video that`s got the whole world trumpeting his skills.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
TURNER: Hello, everyone. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Nischelle Turner in Hollywood.
HAMMER: And I`m A.J. Hammer in New Orleans, site of the Final Four March Madness. And right behind me is the stage where, this weekend, some of the biggest acts in America are going to be playing.
And I will be speaking exclusively with Kiss, The Black Keys, and Jimmy Buffett who are all here to rock the house this weekend.
TURNER: Thank you, A.J., we`re going to get to all of that in just a moment. But we want to begin with stars speaking out about the Trayvon Martin tragedy.
And A.J., you just spoke with Clay Aiken who is also expressing his outrage over the shooting death over the Florida teenager.
HAMMER: That`s right, Nischelle. And he`s also showing his support. He has been wearing a hoodie at all of his public appearances over the past week showing his support for Trayvon Martin.
Of course, we all know that the hoodie has become the symbolic sign of protest. Of course, Trayvon Martin was wearing a hoodie when neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman, shot him dead.
Clay Aiken, of course, is starring on "Celebrity Apprentice" right now. And I asked Clay how he`s feel being all this and what he thinks still needs to be done. Let`s watch.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Congratulations, by the way, on how you`re doing on "Celebrity Apprentice." You sat here before we got to see the show. And now, it`s been unfolding. It`s really been fun to watch.
AIKEN: Thank you.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Yes. We`ll talk about that in a moment. Oh, maybe that was a little foretelling of what`s to come, Clay.
AIKEN: Oh, no.
HAMMER: I want to talk to you about what Donald Trump said this morning. Of course, we were talking about Trayvon Martin. And I asked Donald with you standing there what he thinks needs to be done in this case. Let`s watch that tape together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Well, it has to be looked into. It is terrible what happened - 17 years old. And now, there are all sorts of stories coming out which just don`t sound right.
So something has to be done very quickly because it really is a horrible situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, obviously, a horrible situation on so many levels. To Donald`s point, what do you think does need to be done at this point?
AIKEN: I think the media has done a great job of talking about it, but I think it is important we don`t try the case in the media. It needs to be tried in front of a jury, just like every other - just like the American justice system is set up to work, how it is set up to work.
We have done a lot of talking. On one side, they`re kind of battling each other in the public eye now, and that`s a shame, because when someone gets shot, you arrest the shooter and put them - send them to trial. And you let a jury and a judge decide.
And I think that that`s the outrage. We`re all worried that if this can happen to a 17-year-old, it could happen to my child. It could happen to anybody`s child. It could happen to anybody.
And when he says something needs to be done, I think he`s right. And I think what needs to be done is the justice system needs to work the way it was intended to.
HAMMER: And people need to be able to feel good about how things are being handled which, obviously, is a cause for all the outrage that`s been going on.
AIKEN: Right. It`s very much - it`s seems like a TV movie, and it`s made for a TV movie. It`s that type of almost - I hate to use the word "corruption" because I don`t know all the facts.
But it`s the type of thing that can scare you when you don`t know what`s going on. And we believe that the cops are just making decisions on their own about whether or not someone should be prosecuted. It is kind of unsettling.
HAMMER: And the showing of solidarity from the Hollywood community and celebrities all over the place has been pretty powerful.
I mean, seeing you in a hoodie showing up on "Access Hollywood" and right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We have seen Spike Lee and Jamie Foxx, even the entire Miami Heat basketball team wearing them.
Why do you think it is so important? Why is it important to you?
AIKEN: Well, I think because it`s very relatable. I mean, President Obama even said if he had a son, he would look like Trayvon.
And I don`t think he meant that necessarily in a race way. I think he meant that fact that this could be anybody`s kid.
I mean, truth be told, I heard the other day somebody on another news network said something about how he hadn`t been wearing the hoodie, then he might not have this trouble.
Well, I don`t know that - I`ve worn a hoodie a lot and I never seem to be too suspicious to people. So maybe there may be something more there.
HAMMER: Well, there`s an argument there that I`m not going to get into. We all know what the argument is.
AIKEN: But I mean, I think the thing that scares people and the reason that so many people have been involved is because we realize that this is something that could happen to anyone. This was in a gated community, in a very nice part of - a very nice area in Florida.
This kid had a bag of Skittles in his hand. I mean, this could have been anybody.
HAMMER: Yes.
AIKEN: And I think that`s what really strikes home for people.
HAMMER: Yes, it is scary and it does hit very close to home for so many people. And it`s not just what we`re seeing people are wearing.
We`re seeing people tweeting, people online writing passionately about this. And we just saw Chaka Khan just unveiling a brand-new video tribute that she did on "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT" on CNN just a short time ago. Let`s watch a bit of that.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Pretty great. And I have to imagine there are more tribute songs on the way. And I have to imagine you would be willing to lend your voice to something like that.
AIKEN: I`d be happy to sing with Chaka Khan. Absolutely.
HAMMER: You missed that boat man. Call her up and say you`re in for the next one. Moving on to you in "Celebrity Apprentice," well, it has been fun to watch you in action. In fact, Charles, can you roll out a little Clay Aiken on "Celebrity Apprentice"?
(SINGING)
HAMMER: And you guys won the competition that night.
AIKEN: The first time I`ve sung and won something.
HAMMER: Well, there you go. Listen, you stick with what you know sometimes, right, and you can go far. Has it been a fun experience? Because I believe when you were here originally before we got to see the show, you weren`t so hot on how the whole thing went.
AIKEN: You know what? It`s exhausting. It is an exhausting experience. And when you`re that tired, it can be tough to appreciate how much fun it is.
I mean, I have to say, I look back in there. I`ve made friends for sure that I`ll keep.
HAMMER: Yes.
AIKEN: And looking back and watching it, I kind of get a kick out of remembering some of the stuff that happened. In the moment, probably when we talked back when Lisa Lampanelli and I were here, I was probably so exhausted and probably so psychologically scarred.
HAMMER: We`re all dying to see what happens and I think there was a little foreshadowing earlier in our interview. You`ll have to roll your DVRs back for that.
But Clay, it`s great to see you. I want to encourage everybody to check out - you on "Celebrity Apprentice," of course, Sunday nights on NBC. And Clay`s all-new CD called "Steadfast" available in stores right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And of course, Nischelle, we wish him the best of luck with the new CD and on "Celebrity Apprentice."
TURNER: Absolutely, A.J. Now, I`ve got to hear what you`re bringing us next from the Big Easy.
HAMMER: I bet you can`t wait for this. Celebrity bracketology. Do you know it is so popular right now? All around the nation in over like 60 percent of the offices for everybody to do their NCAA picks with their brackets.
And some of the biggest celebrities on the planet are getting in on this, even our own president. Now, Nischelle, we saw how poorly did you with your bracket earlier in the program. This might make you feel better.
We`ll be showing them to you coming up next. See how they stack up.
TURNER: All right. Thanks, A.J. Well, you know what? I can tell you the country is focused on two things, March Madness and getting to the theater to see "The Hunger Games."
So do the movie stars have a full-fledged fame crisis on their hands? Tonight, "Hunger Games" star, Wes Bentley tells all in a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
Plus, are you smarter than an elephant? The SHOWBIZ viral video that may have you thinking otherwise.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Imagine your caller ID showed Peter the elephant calling from his Smartphone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It uses its trunk like we use our finger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: The animals know how to use our phones and they may be able to teach you a thing or two. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: "Twins" sequel to star Eddie Murphy, Danny De Vito and Arnold Schwarzenegger. SHOWBIZ first look: Next film in "Step Up" franchise, "Step Up Revolution."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: She`s dancing lead. Consider it your initiation.
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Their video is quickly going viral, these local dancers are turning into something of a cultural phenomenon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TURNER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Nischelle Turner in Hollywood. Right now, Big Easy, big dance. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s A.J. Hammer is in New Orleans tonight, site of the 2012 NCAA Final Four March Madness.
And A.J., darling, you are the man. Nice shades, by the way. You got exclusive access to the big dance -
HAMMER: I am the man, thank you.
TURNER: Concert series, featuring everybody from Kiss to The Black Keys to Jimmy Buffett. Amazing.
HAMMER: Yes, it is pretty amazing. I`m in Woldenberg, Park in New Orleans right now where arguably the second biggest party in town is going on this weekend, and it`s going to be amazing.
If you`re looking to stalk me, this is definitely the place to show up. And let`s look at some of the preps that has been going on as they get ready to get Jimmy Buffett on stage.
Blondie, Kiss, all performing. It is really unprecedented. This is such a huge event. And the best part of it all, it`s free. All this weekend, all the best music in rock and roll on the stage behind me is going to be free. It`s pretty incredible.
Kiss is getting set to perform. The bad boys of rock are going to be back and really a great preview to the big concert tour with Motley Crue this summer.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT have exclusive access with the biggest stars on the planet. And speaking of kiss, Charles, can you bring up these pictures that I dug up? I was pretty excited to find these.
Well, OK, there`s Kiss as we know them and love them now. I spent some time with them. I have known them for quite a long time. This was back in 1996. They had reunited after being apart for 17 years.
They`re ready to rock with Motley Crue this summer. They`re getting on tour. They`ve got a new album. Apparently, some kind of beef with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
We`re going to find out exactly what`s going on with them when I speak exclusively to Kiss this weekend. Can`t wait to see the guys.
Also, being in the Big Easy, the parties go on all night long here after the big free shows here in the park. You`ve got Sammy Hagar. Kid Rock is going to be here. They`re all hanging out at the House of Blues.
And we`re going to be right there on the red carpet. So we will be bringing you so many more exclusives. You never know who`s going to show up.
I will be bringing you the biggest and best interviews that you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT all next week. It definitely will be incredible.
But let`s not forget, this weekend is all about college basketball. And who is going to walk away with that big trophy at the end of the deal?
Carlos Diaz from HLN`s "MORNING EXPRESS" is here. Carlos, I know you just eat this stuff up. We`ve got to talk bracketology, the science of picking the final four. Everybody is getting in on this.
CARLOS DIAZ, "MORNING EXPRESS": You might forget there actually is a basketball game on Saturday and on Monday. You`ve got Ohio State taking on Kansas. And then the big bluegrass battle between Louisville and Kentucky.
And there are a lot of bracketing being filled out in offices all over the country. But it`s not just normal schmoes like me and you. It`s big wigs. It`s the celebrities.
HAMMER: Who are you talking about?
DIAZ: I`m talking about President Barack Obama. Even he filled out a bracket. And we can pop this up for you right now. Check this out. He had Kentucky against Missouri, then Ohio State against North Carolina.
His finals featured Kentucky and North Carolina and then North Carolina taking it all. He got two of the four teams right. You can`t really fault him because he`s got a lot on his plate.
HAMMER: I want to get to one of the celebrities, Jesse Eisenberg from "The Social Network," of course. He put his bracket out there. Let`s see how he did, if we could put that up.
For his, he has Kentucky versus Michigan State. Syracuse versus Kansas, and the final Kentucky versus Syracuse. Syracuse taking the tourney. 2 out of 4 there.
All right. Carlos, what about your bracketology?
DIAZ: Why do we have to bring this up.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: I`m running out of time.
DIAZ: I had Baylor against Missouri and then I had Ohio State against North Carolina and, yes -
HAMMER: Just like Nischelle did.
DIAZ: I didn`t do well?
HAMMER: No, not at all. You could be a winner with me right here all weekend, Carlos. We`ll hang out. Well, watch some music. It`s all good. Everything will be just fine. Nischelle?
TURNER: All right, fellows. I can`t wait to see who comes out on top. Thank you very much, Carlos. And A.J., I understand you have got a lot coming our way.
HAMMER: That`s right, Nischelle. You definitely do not want to miss next week right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s when I`m going to be bringing you my exclusives with some of the biggest names in rock.
We`re going to be talking with Kiss and Jimmy Buffett and The Black Keys. All of this going on right here as March Madness continues, Nischelle.
TURNER: I love it. But of course, people are not just obsessed with March Madness this weekend. There`s also movie madness, you think? A little "Hunger Games."
That has become a worldwide phenomenon and fans are still packing out the theaters. And A.J., you know, I know you just went one-on-one with Wes Bentley, one of the movie`s big breakout stars. How is he handling all of this crazy buzz over the movie?
HAMMER: Well, he`s been through this before, of course, as one of the stars of "American Beauty" many, many years ago, but people are still going nuts. The fans are still crazy, going bonkers about "The Hunger Games."
Over $155 million alone in its first weekend at the box office. Of course, the young stars are thrust immediately into that superstardom spotlight. The question is how are they handling it?
I asked Wes about that and I also asked him if everybody is doing, you know, some kind of little happy dance because of how well this movie is doing. Watch what he told me.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WES BENTLEY, ACTOR: Even though you see the numbers and you hear all the hype, you don`t know until Sunday really what it`s going to be like.
And you know, you hope it`s great, but then to see something that happened, it`s - yes, you`re naturally excited because it`s also something you`re really proud of.
HAMMER (on camera): But Wes, do you worry for the other young stars who are being thrust into the kind of a spotlight that a blockbuster like "The Hunger Games" brings? You have such perspective on that now.
BENTLEY: Yes. I mean, naturally, I do just out of the - just out of the whole what it is fame, you know. You`re right in the attention, in everyone` attention, especially nowadays that the - with TMZ and all the cameras out there.
They follow your every move. And so, yes, I mean, actually, I worry about them because it`s a big change in your life. And I did reach out to them. I didn`t give advice, but I reached out to them and said if you ever want to talk to somebody who might have an idea of what you`re talking about, I`m here.
And that`s part of it. Part of it is that, you know, a lot of the people that are around you, that love you and care for you, who you should turn to, they don`t always know specifically what you`re feeling.
And so it`s good to have some people out there who are understanding of that and that you can turn to. But I only worry about them in the sense that it`s naturally a difficult thing to go through.
HAMMER: Sure.
BENTLEY: But in particular, Jen is - I don`t know. I feel like she`s really built for it, meaning she has the right kind of people around her and she`s a solid person already.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TURNER: A.J., that was a great interview. Thank you very much. And, yes, ladies, he is just that dreamy. Talking about Wes Bentley. A.J. is not bad either.
All right, moving on. Look, no thumbs. The SHOWBIZ viral video of critters on their Smartphones. And you thought your kids were masters of the touch screen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Imagine your caller ID showed Peter the elephant calling from his Smartphone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It uses its trunk like we use our fingers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: I can tell you the kid don`t have a chance against this guy, peter the elephant opinion and all he`s got is a trunk. That`s next. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Liam Hemsworth and Kiss to present at "American Country Music Awards." "People" magazine names Blake Shelton hottest guy in country music.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TURNER: Tonight, a showbiz viral video for anyone who`s ever felt dumb using their Smartphone. Yes, imagine an elephant that can use a phone better than most teenagers, or a lizard whose gaming skills rival your kids.
Well, you don`t have to imagine because those critters are going viral and we`ve got them on tape. Here is CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Imagine your caller ID showed Peter the Elephant calling from his Smartphone. Peter is the star of a viral ad for the Samsung Galaxy Note. Note, his favorites are the apps that make noise.
ED ROBINSON, CO-FOUNDER, THE VIRAL FACTORY: It uses its trunk like we use our fingers.
MOOS: Ed Robinson is co-founder of the ad agency, The Viral Factory. He dreamed up this ad to go along with Samsung`s "bigger is better" slogan.
Look at him swipe. The ad was shot in Thailand with an actress holding the phone and the young elephant`s Thai trainer alongside.
ROBINSON: The elephant had no training. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) he turned up and presented the device to the elephant and it started interacting.
MOOS: Cheese. They shot for three days as Peter got more and more engaged. The ad agency was inspired by all those other Web videos of animals using touch screens.
Who wouldn`t find a tongue-flicking bearded dragon lizard inspiring as it plays "Ant Smasher." Dogs are scratching like mad. Is this any way to treat an iPad? Make that an iPaw. Don`t you sometimes feel like doing this to your device?
During a morning talk show at radio station WMMR, a monkey named Bubba went nuts on one guy`s iPhone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Easy, monkey.
MOOS: Who cares about the phone? Bubba`s big sin was stepping on a button and disconnecting a live call with Ryan Seacrest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Son of a (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
MOOS: Peter the Elephant on the other hand was a gentle giant. They had to modify the stylus with a lump of wood so he could grip it. Is that a portrait of that other elephant?
(on camera): But at least all those creatures aren`t dumb enough to do what we humans do. Excuse me.
(voice-over) Texting while walking whether it be off this pier or into a shopping mall fountain.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s funny when it`s not you.
MOOS (voice-over): And if you think technology is intimidating, look what it did to this chameleon. These devices sure can take a licking, but sometimes the owner isn`t as smart as the Smartphone.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TURNER: I cannot stop laughing. That is CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the proof that we all feared, yes, animals really are smarter than us.
That`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Nischelle Turner. Remember, you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively weeknights at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and pacific right here on HLN. Good night.
END
