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Showbiz Tonight
Beyonce Wrote a Letter to Michelle Obama; Five Top Showbiz Countdown Caught on Tape; Stallone Death Mystery; The Queen of "Idol"?; Walking Dead Escape
Aired July 16, 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: Tonight SHOWBIZ mystery. What killed Sage Stallone? Sylvester Stallone`s agonizing grief over the sudden loss of his son in his brand new emotional plea today.
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer. Thank you for watching. We have a big SHOWBIZ mystery tonight. The disturbing question, what killed the son of Sylvester Stallone? It is a loss that Sly is calling agonizing.
In a statement today to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he told us when a parent loses a child there is no greater pain. But the great mystery tonight, why did Sage Stallone die so mysteriously in his Los Angeles home?
Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can reveal that an autopsy was just done, but the results could take weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sylvester Stallone.
HAMMER (voice-over): Sylvester Stallone, hours before an earth-shattering loss. The smiling movie star at Comic-Con Thursday with Arnold Schwarzenegger to promote their new movie "The Expendables II."
SYLVESTER STALLONE, ACTOR: Let`s just try to keep it going as long as we can and bring back some true bad asses and --
(CHEERS)
HAMMER: The jovial mood a far cry from the tragedy Stallone will face the next day.
ED WINTER, L.A. COUNTY CORONER`S OFFICE: The body of Sage Stallone was discovered unresponsive in the residence.
HAMMER: On Friday the body of Stallone`s oldest son, 36-year-old Sage Stallone, was found in Sage`s Los Angeles home. His death coming as a shock to everyone. Including his famous dad.
ALEXIS TERESZCUK, REPORTER, RADAROLINE.COM: He rushed back immediately. He`s heart broken over the death of his oldest son. This is something that no parent should have to go through.
HAMMER: But as Stallone grieves today the death of his son has become Hollywood`s biggest mystery, one that has authorities investigating and some people speculating about what killed Sage Stallone.
TERESZCUK: His friends are saying that they are stunned by his death.
HAMMER: Sage is the oldest of two sons born to Sylvester Stallone and his first wife Sasha.
SAGE STALLONE, SYLVESTER STALLONE`S SON: I guess I`m a little scared.
HAMMER: Sage made his movie debut in 1990s "Rocky V" Playing a role he knew well, that of Sly Stallone`s son.
SYLVESTER STALLONE: The duel was supposed to be tight, right?
SAGE STALLONE: But Tommy, you`re tight with him, too, huh?
HAMMER: But lately Sage had been doing things behind the camera. He directed a short film and founded a company that preserves exploitation films. Works that kept him away from the intense Hollywood glare his dad has known for decades.
SAGE STALLONE: He`s a very funny guy.
HAMMER: In a 1996 interview, Sage told CNN about Stallone and how he inspired Sage to follow in his footsteps.
SAGE STALLONE: I wanted to be in the film industry. I loved what my father did. I loved watching his pictures. I love the movies.
TERESZCUK: Sage has led a really normal live.
HAMMER: Radaronline`s Alexis Tereszcuk tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Sage was far from the stereo typical, hard partying celebrity offspring.
TERESZCUK: You don`t see him in clubs. He`s not friends with Paris Hilton. He`s not on yachts in France. He`s led a really low key life. He`s actually worked very hard in his life and is very respected.
HAMMER: Sage`s low-key lifestyle is part of what makes his death so mysterious. Authorities say they didn`t find a suicide note or any sign of foul play signs. But they did talk about what they did find.
WINTER: There were some prescription bottles. However, I`m not going to detail what they were and how many but it is -- it is still under investigation and too early to say.
HAMMER: That of course touched off tons of speculation with some reports suggesting that Sage may have had a drug problem, that he`d been living reclusive existence, that his body may have been in the house for days before it was found. But now people close to Sage Stallone are fighting back against all the chatter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He didn`t have a history of drug or alcohol abuse. So we all think it was some sort of tragic accident.
HAMMER: Sage`s attorney did a one-man media tour knocking down reports of drug abuse, revealing that Sage was uploading pictures to Facebook only 17 hours before his death and describing Sage as a man with a lot to live for.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was in love with a girl. They were going to go off to Las Vegas and get married. So he was full of life and full of energy.
HAMMER: In a statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Sly Stallone is asking for an end to what he calls the speculation and questionable reporting. He says, quote, "When a parent loses a child there is no greater pain. Therefore, I am imploring people to respect my talented son`s memory."
TERESZCUK: This must be so hard for Sylvester Stallone. Not only has he lost his son but there is all this speculation running rampant about how his child died.
HAMMER: The autopsy on Sage Stallone has been completed but toxicology results could take weeks, meaning it will be a while before we get answers in this sad Hollywood mystery.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: It is such a tragedy and now of course his family is left with so many questions and so much grief. So what happened to Sylvester Stallone`s son?
Joining me right now from Hollywood, CNN Wire Entertainment editor, Alan Duke, also in Hollywood tonight, investigative journalist with the Crime Network Investigation Discovery, Pat Lalama.
I appreciate you both being here tonight. And as we mentioned, we have weeks to wait before we know the final cause of death here. But unfortunately for Sage`s family there`s already all of the speculation about whether drugs or alcohol played some kind of a role. Now Sage`s attorney George Bronstein says that Sage wasn`t into any of that.
Alan, what more did he reveal about Sly`s oldest son?
ALAN DUKE, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, CNN WIRE: Well, basically he said Sage, if he had vices it was candy bars and soft drinks. That he wasn`t a heavy drinker. He didn`t go out partying and clubbing a lot. He says that he was found by his housekeeper after the mom called a housekeeper because a friend couldn`t reach him.
You know, I will remind you of Corey Haim, started out the same way. It was speculation about drugs. It was a drug investigation at first. Pneumonia is what killed him. Brittany Murphy, similar situation, pneumonia killed her, and later her husband. So maybe this is something that can be explained by something as simple and as deadly as pneumonia.
HAMMER: Yes. And hopefully people will just calm down and withhold any speculation and let`s just wait until we get the final results in this.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can also report that Los Angeles Police robbery and homicide detectives are the ones who are leading the investigation because it is a high-profile case.
Now, Pat, I realize that sounds all mysterious. But as interesting as that may sound it`s not all that unusual in a case like this, is it?
PAT LALAMA, INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY: No, absolutely not. And it just fuels the speculation. This is standard practice. It`s an incredibly high-profile case. Sylvester Stallone, a long-time superstar in Hollywood. Not that his family deserves special treatment, it`s just that because of the media attention.
And I want you to know I am highly acquainted with a very close member of the Stallone family. Just got off the phone with him. He told me, please, please, let people know what a wonderful, wonderful boy this is. And so that`s all that they`re asking for. And as a journalist, I find myself cringing at the kinds of speculation. Yes, we have a job to do, yes, we need to know what the true facts, but I think there`s a little bit of a lack of respect for the family right now by jumping to conclusions. We just don`t know at this point.
HAMMER: Absolutely. And that`s why I think it is great that we talk about the positive things about him and also just talk about the facts as we know them which is exactly what we are doing and obviously Sly Stallone is just grief stricken. He`s fighting to protect his son`s memory as you say, Pat.
LALAMA: Absolutely.
HAMMER: Here`s what he told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. "This is in reference to the speculation and questionable reporting surrounding the death of my son Sage. Because when a parent loses a child there is no greater pain. Therefore I am imploring people to respect my wonderfully talented son`s memory and feel compassion for his loving mother Sasha because this agonizing loss will be felt for the rest of our lives. Sage was our first child and the center of our universe and I am humbly begging for all to have my son`s memory and soul left in peace."
And with that I`ll simply say our hearts go out to the Stallones and of course Sage`s mother Sasha.
Want to move on right now. We go from a SHOWBIZ mystery to SHOWBIZ outrage.
NBA star Jason Kidd just signed his multimillion-dollar deal with the New York Knicks. Now that was actually shocking a lot of people because quite frankly he`s considered past his prime at the ripe old age of 39, sad as that sounds. But just days after he signed this huge comeback deal the veteran all-star got busted for drunk driving.
Kidd was picked up by police in South Hampton, New York, early on Sunday after he crashed his SUV in to a utility pole. Kidd wasn`t hurt. He`s pled not guilty to the charge.
Here`s our SHOWBIZ flash point. Could this be the dumbest move ever by a sports star?
Now, Pat, this may not Tiger Woods dumb but it certainly ranks up there. Come on.
LALAMA: You know what, I going to tell you, I`m taking a little bit of a different stance on this. I`m not looking at the celebrity angle, I`m not looking at the money angle. This is just a dumb guy who got himself -- well, I don`t know that he`s a dumb guy. This is a guy who made a terrible, terrible decision to get that inebriated. And I`m going to go out on a limb and blame every person around him, every friend, every member of his possi who didn`t restrain him and say you will not drive.
This guy has plenty of money to have a driver. Why not have a driver? But I am telling you, right here in Los Angeles, people do this three and four and five times and they`re still out on the streets. This is about responsibility, not about celebrity in this case.
HAMMER: I absolutely agree with you and I`ll point out he was allegedly drunk. We will wait obviously to see how this all plays out.
Pat Lalama, Alan Duke, thank you both for being here tonight. Appreciate it.
And we move on tonight to Justin Bieber mania, with a bit of a twist.
This has become a pretty familiar scene, right? We all know Justin Bieber loves to whip his fans into a frenzy outside of his hotel rooms. But I`ve got to tell you about a bunch of Bieber`s real fans who went nuts over a Bieber impersonator. This is a crazy story.
The question is, will fake out Biebes land the number one spot on tonight`s SHOWBIZ Countdown caught on tape or could a Paul McCartney-Bruce Springsteen mike mishap actually take the crown here?
Plus the queen of "Idol"? Aretha Franklin said she`d throw her hat into the judge`s ring for "American Idol" but is the queen of soul the right replacement for J.Lo?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Suri`s new school? Well, just on the heels of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes` speedy split there is a report out today that says Katie has already enrolled her 6-year-old daughter Suri into a New York City school.
And I`m here to tell you it`s not just any school. You know who else went to this place? It`s the Convent of the Sacred Heart, it happens to be the very school Lady Gaga attended when she was growing up. So it looks like Katie and Suri are going to be sticking a while in New York City. They have been spotted taking in the sites of Manhattan ever since Tom and Katie split was revealed.
Coming up next, does Aretha Franklin really want to replace J.Lo on "American Idol"?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight Judge Aretha. Aretha Franklin is showing "American Idol" some R-E-S-P-E-C-T, putting her name in the hat to replace "Idol" Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler who just announced that they`re ending their run on "Idol`s" judge panel. Aretha exclusively told CNN`s Roland Martin by e- mail that she wants to help decide the next "American Idol" and she also said maybe she`ll bring along some friends.
Well, joining me right now from Washington, D.C., is apparently a very important man. CNN`s Roland Martin. He has the inside story of course on what Aretha told them. First of all, look at you, getting e-mails from Aretha and the exclusive, Roland.
But specifically did she tell you about her "Idol" ambitions and what is this about her bringing along a sidekick or something?
ROLAND MARTIN: Well, interesting. There was a blogger from the "Detroit News" who actually brought it up. Hey, wouldn`t it be great if Re-Re (ph) could be a judge. And so I saw it and so I said what the heck. I simply e-mailed her and she`s e-mailed me back, and she says absolutely I`m interested.
And she said I would love to have Patti Labelle. Then she mentioned the Apollo, the Apollo Theater. They are actually doing a talent show as well. Gladys Knight just signed on to be one of the judges of that show. So She said it would have been great to have Patti and Gladys but she said, well, I certainly can -- bring along Patti Labelle.
HAMMER: Wow. Can you imagine? And by the way, one of these days I`m going to hack into your BlackBerry. I need some of these e-mail addresses.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: But listen, I think it`s a terrific idea. I`m sure you do, too, and I can tell you --
MARTIN: Of course.
HAMMER: -- the ladies of "The View" love the idea of Aretha Franklin on "American Idol." Watch what Whoopi Goldberg said today about Judge Aretha.
MARTIN: Sure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, "THE VIEW": You know how -- older black women can be.
(LAUGHTER)
GOLDBERG: She is not going to pull any punches.
(CROSSTALK)
GOLDBERG: Get her off the stage. I don`t know why you think you can sing. That may change the demographic but I will tell you that "American Idol," the idols themselves will be happier.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, I love it. And Roland, you know I`ve gotten to know Aretha, perhaps not as -- quite not well as you over the years but I can totally see her on the judge`s chair, somebody gets on stage, she doesn`t like and she`ll just go -- no.
(CROSSTALK)
MARTIN: Right.
HAMMER: But I mean --
MARTIN: And that`s the queen.
HAMMER: That`s the -- she tells it like it is.
MARTIN: She tells it like it is, she doesn`t care. And look here`s an 18- ton Grammy winner. The first woman inducted into the Rock n` Roll Hall of Fame. "Rolling Stone" proclaimed her as the greatest female singer ever.
A.J., I think what`s important, and again, people may say well, she`s 70 years old but she is a musical icon all of these years. And look, she brings an authenticity to the show that I think also is important.
Forget Simon Cowell when he was on the show. I mean if Aretha gives you a stamp of approval, imagine what that sounds like and trust me people talk about, you know, she being a diva, and she`s the queen. I think it would be fantastic to have that level of experience and trust me. She is honest. She will break it down. But I will say this, "American Idol," you`ve got to pay the queen a lot of money.
HAMMER: Oh, yes.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Absolutely, and I think it would be a huge miss if they don`t at least try to get her on the show now that the --
MARTIN: Absolutely.
HAMMER: She`s been so vocal to you, Roland, that she wants to be there. So while she wants in, Jennifer Lopez is talking for the first time about leaving "Idol." I want you to watch as J.Lo talks about the whole "Idol" shakeup. She did it this morning on "Good Morning America."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER LOPEZ, SINGER: I have decided to move on.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: I feel like there`s a but coming --
LOPEZ: But --
(LAUGHTER)
LOPEZ: I love them. They love me and it`s hard when I feel like I should move on. I don`t know. I know that it`s even done yet. I don`t know. I feel like I`m moving on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: She not know if it`s done yet. Michael Yo is the host of the "Yo Show" on Yahoo.
Right.
HAMMER: I want to bring in Michael.
It sounds to me, Michael, like she`s leaving a little bit of a window open there. Do you think she`s really done with "Idol" forever?
MICHAEL YO, HOST of "THE YO SHOW" ON YAHOO: I think she`s really done with "Idol." But I think you`ve got to remember, Jennifer Lopez fell off and "Idol" brought her back where she`s relevant in today`s pop culture. So I think the door is still open but I do think she is done with the show because she`s touring again with Enrique Iglesias. She`s doing her own TV shows so she doesn`t really have time in her schedule for it to happen.
HAMMER: Yes. And there are also -- the reports that have been floating around about Mariah Carey and serious talks to come on board as a judge. But listen to this. I love this. Her husband Nick Cannon says that "Idol" will have to come up with some big bucks if his wife is going to be on the show.
I don`t know if they can afford Mariah Carey, that`s a lot of money. If they give J.Lo $20 million they might have to double that and I hear that, and I`m thinking if they had to double it for Mariah Carey they`d have to quadruple it for the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Roland Martin.
MARTIN: I love Mariah Carey but I`m sorry, she ain`t the queen.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: No. There is only one queen of soul.
All right. Roland, great guest. Michael Yo, good to see you. Thank you both.
YO: I appreciate it. Thank you.
HAMMER: We move on tonight to another two huge music super stars, Paul McCartney and the boss, Bruce Springsteen. So they team up for the ultimate jam session except no one could hear it.
It was the matchup of epic proportions until the mike cut out. Can you even imagine that? You`re about to hear about the absolute outrage after the power shut down these two legends. Will the Paul McCartney-Springsteen blackout be named number one on tonight`s SHOWBIZ Countdown caught on tape.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Well, Lindsay Lohan is expecting a step sibling. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has confirmed that Lindsay`s dad Michael is expecting a baby with his on- again-off-again girlfriend Kate Major. But here`s the thing, now Kate had a restraining order against Michael up until a few weeks ago, and she`s more than a few weeks pregnant. So I`m thinking that could mean this pregnancy may have broken the law.
Well, the apocalypse has arrived to Comic-Con and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is right there on location and inside the incredible "Walking Dead Escape" event in San Diego. Everybody is is talking about this thing. Now imagine a gigantic obstacle course flanked with hundreds of zombies coming at you.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner got a firsthand tour of the exhibit that`s infecting Comic-Con.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NISCHELLE TURNER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: So I am here behind the scenes giving you an exclusive look at one of the most anticipated events here at Comic-Con 2012, and that is the "Walking Dead" escape.
Liam Brenner is here and you are like the man behind the "Walking Dead" escape.
LIAM BRENNER, "WALKING DEAD ESCAPE" PRODUCER: So we`ve actually spent four months planning to turn Petco stadium here at Comic-Con into the Apocalypse.
TURNER: Good lord.
BRENNER: We`ve got over 700 people that have signed up as zombies. Over three day they`ll be transformed -- that`s what`s going on right here. They`re being transformed in to the "Walking Dead" and they`ll be roaming the stadium trying to infect survivors.
TURNER: You know what, the thought of that just kind of gives me the heebie-jeebies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the evacuation point. This is not a drill. Keep moving, people, keep moving. To the evacuation point. Right now. This place is no longer safe. You have to move, move. Drop your luggage and move.
TURNER: I have to say, even though I know this is set up, it still gives me the willies.
BRENNER: And wait until the "Walkers" are here. It will really be scary then.
TURNER: OK. So what part of the obstacle course are we in right here?
BRENNER: This is the first obstacle zone. We`re actually here at one of our biggest built comics cargo nets. There will be zombies underneath, zombies around, and this is basically an abandoned first-aid station where all -- everything is broken loose and gone crazy. And you`ll be running around trying to avoid infection.
TURNER: Are you ready for this?
BRENNER: I don`t know if San Diego is ready for this. This is going to be one of the biggest things to hit Comic-Con ever.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And I`m thinking that`s going to be the best haunted house ever. So cool. That`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner.
Thanks, Nischelle, for that inside look.
Well, how`s this for scary? Bieber fever with a twist.
Beliebers get whipped into a frenzy every time they see Justin Bieber. So what happens when a look alike takes out Bieber`s very real fans? Will the Bieber fake-out take the top spot on tonight`s SHOWBIZ Countdown caught on tape?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEYONCE, SINGER: I`m so in awe of Michelle Obama. Every time I see her she inspires me, she empowers me, she encourages me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Right now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Caught on tape, Beyonce`s incredibly personal message to Michelle Obama goes viral. Why her handwritten letter to the first lady is now an Internet sensation? And how Beyonce is caught-on-tape admiration is being used as a campaign ad.
Plus, Justin Bieber`s look alike. He looks almost exactly like the Biebs does here and when he showed up at t the same hotel at the same time as Bieber, he caused real-life frenzy. Will the Bieber fake-out be number one on the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT countdown caught on tape?
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Welcome back to "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer.
Tonight the showbiz countdown caught on tape. Yes, we are counting down the top five fascinating news stories caught on tape. But, which will be number one?
We are kicking off the countdown, a Justin Bieber dead ringer caught on tape, pulling a fast one on fanatic Bieber fans.
Now, here`s the story. The Biebs is in Australia right now for a three day concert tour. He crowd camped outside of his hotel like always hoping for just a glimpse of the Biebs. Now, you see that guy? He sure like Bieber, well it is not. HE is a Bieber imposter who just happened to be staying at the same hotel. He decided to have fun faking out the crowd. I`m thinking these poor girls. Can you imagine? Wait until they find out it wasn`t the great Justin Bieber.
Let me bring in the lovely, talented actress singer Sheryl Lee Ralph, joining me from Hollywood tonight. Cheryl has written this great new book. You must check out, "Redefining diva, Life lessons from the original dream girl," also in Hollywood tonight, Michael Yo, special correspondent for "Extra."
So, let`s begin the showbiz caught on tape countdown. At number five, the Bieber prankster. Now, this was really a pretty clever frank. There was no harm done here, except that I think that there would probably a few a broken heart along the way. The guy even posted it you tube.
Let us now watch it together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no. I want to film them. It is amazing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Pretty funny. I appreciate the fact that the Bieber imposter is getting his start on you tube like the real Bieber got his start on you tube.
But really, and Michael, I`m going to start with you. It is kind of mean - - does he get points for creativity or was it cruel?
MICHAEL YO, EXTRA CORRESPONDENT: I don`t think it is mean. I think it is great. I mean, no kid should be standing outside of a hotel waiting for Bieber any way. I think it is great he did this. I mean, parents, parents, why are you letting your kids stand in front of hotels. I think it is genius and should be done more.
HAMMER: It is a rite of passage, Michael Yo, don`t you know that?
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: The truth is they come with high expectations for a good reason because Bieber is known for teasing his fans from hotel balconies. About just last month he was in Paris, he stepped out to a hotel balcony to serenade his fans. Take a look at this. We put Bieber side by side with the Bieber imposter and you have the real one on the left and the fake on the right having a little fun. What about you, Cheryl, Kudos points for pulling it off or not so much.
SHERYL LEE RALPH, AUTHOR, REDEFINING DIVA: I think it is cruel. Juice tin Bieber wouldn`t be caught dead in that sweater. Are you kidding me?
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Maybe it is a problem for the stylist.
We move from one heart throb to another. Let`s get straight to number four tonight`s on the Showbiz caught on tape countdown. It has just been revealed that before he starred in the hunger games Josh Hutcherson auditioned to play Spiderman. That`s right. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" has the first look at Josh giving it all he had to land that role.
Let`s watch some of it together. (VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
HAMMER: Actually think he looked good. The glasses certainly worked. What do you think, Michael? A little surprised, Josh didn`t make the cut?
YO: No. You know what, because even when you try to nitrify Josh, he still looks like a pretty rough dude like he could like beat you up. Where Andrew Garfield - he is thinner, he is frail and you get it like when you dress him up like a nerd, he really looks like one, you know. So, this guy looks like he could beat you up without the Spiderman outfit.
HAMMER: That`s a fair point. And look, quite frankly the guy made out all right. I mean, the hunger games obviously a huge blockbuster.
YO: Huge.
HAMMER: Sheryl, what do you think? Should Josh have been the new Spiderman or would you with Michael You on this?
RALPH: Honey, I don`t know about that but when I looked at that audition tape I said to myself, my God, some of us are doing it all wrong. He rented a sound stage. He`s got the music going on. He cast the people. I was like, baby, you get an "A" just for effort alone. Great audition tape.
HAMMER: I don`t know if he actually put that all together. But the truth is, you know, it`s a new day. Let`s just face it. It is a different time.
Well we move from Josh Hutcherson`s secret audition to Jason Biggs leaked audition. I love this. Number three on the showbiz caught on tape countdown.
Now, this in truth is just a spoof of what Jason would have done if he had auditioned for "Magic Mike, the big stripper flick." But, it is hard to imagine the real auditions were more entertaining than this. It actually comes to us from Jason`s wife. She got involved. Posted on twitter and now we have it to watch together.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
HAMMER: I mean, come on. See now I want them to redo "Magic Mike." I mean, that`s a performance that certainly speaks for itself.
Michael Yo, what do you think here? You didn`t give kudos points to the Bieber impersonator but I bet you are to Jason right now.
YO: This is genius. And trust me, this will lead in to a real spoof movie. I can see it. Jason being as Matthew McConaughey, Jason Siegel playing Shannon Taylor throwing jack black and Joan in a hill. It is about bigger guys that that got thin and are strippers. I can see it Hollywood making out.
HAMMER: Now, Sheryl Lee Ralph, I was sneaking a little look at your camera in preview and I noticed you drooling a bit. I don`t know if that had anything to do with this.
RALPH: I was like baby he put whole new meaning to genuine, ride that pony. I was like oh, my goodness, baby. But, just need to firm that bodies a bit. He didn`t miss a beat and they say men that can dance have other talents. So who knows?
HAMMER: All right. Let`s grab a slice of warm apple pie because it is three down, two to go. Of course, only one story can top the showbiz countdown.
Here`s the question, will it be Beyonce`s incredible just revealed video message to Michelle Obama? Or will it be the absolutely ridiculous and outrageous end to Bruce Springsteen`s duet with Paul McCartney. Wait until you see this.
It is the showbiz countdown caught on tape edition. Number one is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" countdown, the top five caught on tape stories. Here`s where we are so far.
At number five a Justin Bieber look alike fakes out screaming fans from his hotel in Australia. I have to tell you, those girls will be so disappointed when they find out he wasn`t the real Bieber.
At number four, not, the amazing Spiderman, Josh Hutcherson`s amazing Spiderman audition just uncovered. It didn`t make the cut, certainly gave great performance.
And at number three, Magic Biggs. Jason Biggs takes if all off in his own hilarious rendition of what a "Magic Mike" auditions, would be like for him.
But President Obama`s campaign has just released an all new video featuring no other than Beyonce. No, she` s not performing in her video message, it to the first lady and it has everybody buzzing tonight all the same.
Its number two, Beyonce reads her letter to Michelle Obama and I love you to watch some of (INAUDIBLE).
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEYONCE, SINGER: I wrote a letter to the first lady because I wanted her to know that I`m very grateful for everything she is doing for our country and also, for women around the world.
Michelle, thank you so much for every single thing that you do for us. I`m proud to have my daughter t grow up in a world where she has people like you to look up to. Love Beyonce.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And that`s as heartfelt as it gets. Lots of love there from Beyonce to Michelle Obama who by the way once said, if she could be anyone else she would be Beyonce.
But for now, it is time for the big reveal. What is number one on the "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" countdown caught on tape edition? It is Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen silenced while performing. This is the moment that I find almost unbelievable. You have two great icons taking the stage together. This took place at London`s Hyde Park. They are up there wowing fans, only to have the plug pulled on them. They were silenced by a London sound curfew crew.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
HAMMER: Normally at a Bruce show they are shouting Bruce. I think they were actually booing.
Let me bring back Sheryl Lee Ralph and Michael Yo here in Hollywood tonight.
I`m watching this and I still can`t believe that it happened. It almost seems to me, Sheryl, to be sacrilegious to not let Bruce and Paul finish.
RALPH: I mean, you are talking about two incredible icons. A 10:30 curfew? Come on. Even Cinderella got until midnight. These are great guys. We want to hear them.
HAMMER: Seems insane to me.
Michael Yo, can you imagine being in the audience and they cut the mic? I mean, they should have let them finished. I don`t care what the rules are.
YO: I would have been so upset. They should be able to play until 6:00 in the morning. However long they want to play. This is the first time they have ever been on stage together. This awful, terrible, terrible, terrible.
HAMMER: And that`s no wonder that they were booing, you know, what happened there. Not actually saying Bruce like you usually hear at a Bruce Springsteen concert.
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Michael Yo, thank you both, so much.
Moving on tonight to a "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" special investigation, the secrets to making a blockbuster hit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A storm coming.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You and your friends better batten down the hatches.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, think of this. Summer blockbusters, movies like the Dark Knight Rises they can cost as much as $250 million to make.
So here`s a question, where does all of that loot go? What does it go in to? And how do flicks with such a big price tag wind up bringing in boat clothe loads of cash.
This is "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An unusual request.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would like to show you some stuff any way, just for old time`s sake.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Told you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re retired.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m retired.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Get ready for blockbuster history "Dark Knight Rises" opens this Friday. It is already being called a classic even before it hits theaters.
But what does it take for a movie with a reported $250 million budget to actually make a profit?
Well tonight, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" is revealing the secrets of blockbusters. Now batman isn`t the only summer movie expected to bring in mobs of people and piles of cash. From "the Avengers" to "Brave," this summer`s blockbusters are already here and they are charging ahead full force.
But what makes some blockbuster smash records well others tank? "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s" Nischelle Turner reveals the secrets to blockbuster success in this special "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NISCHELLE TURNER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Massive explosions, jaw-dropping special effects and mega movie stars. This is a Hollywood blockbuster, right? Not necessarily.
BRUNSON GREEN, PRODUCER: The definition for a blockbuster is anything still over $100 million.
TURNER: Blockbusters like producer Brunson Green Dream`s $200 million blockbuster hit the help are about the bottom line.
GREEN: Just because it is a blockbuster doesn`t mean it is a necessarily a financial success or makes a profit. Because these days, there are movies that range in the budget of 200 and $250 million.
TURNER: Mega budget movies like the upcoming `Batman sequel, Dark Knight Rises" and Mark Webb`s "the Amazing Spiderman."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s a ton of pressure because of how beloved the character is. All of us who work on the movie grew up as fans of the character.
TURNER: These movies have to go way past blockbuster status to be a hit and making sure that happens has become a science in Hollywood, blockbuster anatomy 101.
GREEN: A reasonable budget, I would say is probably the brains.
TURNER: Green says whether you are making a $25 million period drama like "the help" or a massive comic book feature, the budget breakdown is similar.
GREEN: Percentage wise 15 to 20 percent of the budget to cast and director and 75 to 80 percent goes to host and locations and the thousands of people that are employed to make a movie.
TURNER: Of course a smart budget alone doesn`t fill seats.
GREEN: In order to create a blockbuster you have to have the heart, the heart is the script of the story.
SHERRY LANSING, FORMER CEO, PARAMOUNT STUDIO: Something that moves you.
TURNER: Former Paramount studio chief Sherry Lansing, agrees whether your hero is wearing an apron or a cape, movies that win have heart.
LANSING: Something that makes you laughs, or cry but really gets you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Warned me about getting in to cars with strange men.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This isn`t a car.
TURNER: Behinds brains and heart, Green says blockbusters must have a star.
GREEN: Put as many things as possible to support a film it is like the spine of a blockbuster.
TURNER: Like a famous cat, gloved character and strategic marketing. To make a movie blockbuster well, you have to market it and all of this comes with a cost. You may be surprised to learn that the amazing Spiderman`s estimated $22 a million price tag, doesn`t include a penny for the publicity.
GREEN: That`s a completely separate expense above and beyond.
TURNER: And making sure promotional money is well spent means getting an early temperature read from fans.
GREEN: Tracking a film starts three weeks before the film comes out. So you have a pretty good amount of time to kind of figure out what`s lacking in your message. Batman is going to be a home run.
TURNER: And when Hollywood hits a home run, a blockbuster is born, and moviegoers are entertained.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And even though "Dark Knight Rises" is the last installment of this current batman trilogy. You can bet Batman will be on the big screen for a long time to come, making a lot of money.
That is `SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s" Nischelle Turner.
We want to tell you about the boss who wants to give all of his employees` $7500 cash to go on vacation. But there is one rule you can`t break. Even the boss says he sucks at following.
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HAMMER: Imagine getting paid by your boss to go on vacation. I`m not talking about a paid vacation. I`m talking about some cash money. And if you work for the Internet start-up called Full Contact, you actually can get paid to go on vacation.
Company CEO is so committed keeping his workers rested and happy, he is offering them $7,500 to unplug. I know what you are thinking, there is got to be a catch here, right? Well, there is one kind of.
Here`s Sheryl Lee Ralph, the author of "Redefining Diva." And Sheryl, here`s the deal.
The Boss is willing give any of his employees $7,500, the only rules are that, they have to spend the cash on a vacation, can`t check the work me- mail of their phone while they are away.
So, here`s the question, is this guy the best boss ever or are his demands to ignore work, just impossible these days.
RALPH: I absolutely love it. So, let me make sure I got it right. You are going to give me $7,500 cash. I must not check e-mail. I must unplug the blackberry and I must go on vacation, rest and relax? Baby, I`m in! I hear he`s hiring about 12 people in the next year. Hire me for full contact. Yes!
HAMMER: I`m right there with you. And in fact, I already do that and I`m not getting extra cash just to do that. The funny thing is, the boss himself, his name is Bart Larang. He is so laid back. He wears flip flops to work. He actually says he even sucks at following his own rules.
But Sheryl Lee, I`m going to see if I can hope you work with him and get you a gig with full contact.
Sheryl Lee Ralph, great to see you. Thanks.
We move on right now to showbiz on location at comic-con.
Iron Man`s star, Robert Downey Jr. takes us inside the pop culture party, plus, Ricki Lake`s epic return to daytime TV. How does she feel about the second time around?
And is Aretha Franklin idol`s newest judge? We have the exclusive answer straight from the legend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): Aretha to the judging table? Could Aretha Franklin be the next "American idol" judge?
Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez just announced they wouldn`t be returning to the show next season as judges. And now, in an exclusive e-mail to CNN, Aretha Franklin told us she is interested in joining idol as a judge. The 18-time Grammy winning icon said she has been a long-time fan of the show and is ready to play a role in choosing the next "American idol."
"SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on location at comic-con. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" was right there at the 2012 San Diego comic-con international convention where we caught up with Iron Man`s star Robert Downey Jr.
Downey told us he is having a blast filming the third installment in the Iron Man franchise but his super hero costume will stay on set.
ROBERT DOWNEY JUNIOR, ACTOR: We are shooting in North Carolina right now. We are kind a in to hit it and go home. But they said we have a mask for you and I thought, it seemed a little pretentious to wear an Iron Man mask and walk the floor. I don`t know.
HAMMER: Ricki`s return to daytime. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" was right there with Ricki Lake at 30th annual out fest-film festival in Los Angeles where Ricki revealed at her new brand new daytime talk show is starting up production. Lake says she feels good about her big return to daytime.
RICKI LAKE, ACTRESS: I feel people trust and relate to me. Hopefully people will allow me back to their television.
HAMMER: The Ricki Lake`s show premiers in September.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I always liked Ricki Lake when she did the first show the first time around. I have very high hopes that this new show will be a huge success for her.
Good luck, Ricki.
Well tonight, the world`s heaviest woman, she has already lost nearly 100 pounds and now she says he is revving up her sex life. But she shares her fascinating story with Dr. Drew.
END
