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Showbiz Tonight
Taylor Swift Fights Over Origin of Song; Backstage at `Dancing with the Stars`; Highest Paid Women in Entertainment; Showbiz Countdown: Can`t Look Away; The House That Jay-Z Built
Aired October 02, 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 the SHOWBIZ Countdown, Battle of the Sexes. Taylor Swift blasts her ex, John Mayer, over one of her famous breakup songs. But why? And exes Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson reunite for a "Twilight" tour. So is the cheating fight over? Tonight, what is No. 1 on this Battle of the Sexes countdown?
Hello and thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer.
We`ve got two big SHOWBIZ Countdowns tonight, including the top five big stories breaking today that made us say "Can`t Look Away," including Danny Bonaduce. He`s right here with us. He`s going to tell us exactly what happened when a wild "Partridge Family" fan just bit him in the face. Can`t wait to hear that story.
And why the heck did Liam Neeson just get nearly naked in front of Ellen DeGeneres? Well, let`s just say he was taken. We`ve got the big reveal of the No. 1 story that made us say "We Can`t Look Away," coming up.
But we begin tonight with our first countdown of the night, three big battles of the sexes. Kicking it off at No. 3 with why you might think that Taylor Swift is getting ready to redo Carly Simon`s "You`re So Vain" in honor of her now-infamous ex, John Mayer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAYLOR SWIFT, SINGER (singing): We are never, ever getting back together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: With Taylor Swift`s latest post-breakup song, "We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together" ruling the charts, Swift has now found herself in a mini-battle over another of her post-breakup anthems. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Taylor Swift`s taking an ex-boyfriend, John Mayer, to task for daring to think that Taylor`s song, "Dear John," is about him. The nerve!
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXIS TERESZCUK, RADAR ONLINE: Taylor Swift and John Mayer, their feud never ends. Taylor told "Glamour" that she thinks John Mayer is being presumptuous about the fact that "Dear John" was even written about him.
HAMMER (voice-over): It`s a response in a written interview from John Mayer, where he slams Taylor for her song "Dear John," which was released shortly after their 2010 romance ended. It features some pretty biting lyrics.
SWIFT (singing): Don`t you think 19 is too young to be played by your dark twisted games?
HAMMER: And John Mayer`s response this summer was just as biting. He told "Rolling Stone," I was really caught off guard by the song, and that it humiliated him. And he took a shot at Swift, calling her song "cheap songwriting" and "a really lousy thing for her to do."
TERESZCUK: Taylor really got under his skin. He was not happy.
HAMMER: But in the new issue of "Glamour," Taylor Swift says, quote, "How presumptuous. I never disclose who my songs are about." Looks like Taylor has been reading the Carly Simon book on responding to ex-lovers who think you trashed them in a song.
CARLY SIMON, SINGER (singing): You`re so vain, you probably think this song is about you.
HAMMER: But we really can`t blame John for thinking "Dear John" was about him. For one, his name is John, and two, this is Taylor Swift.
TERESZCUK: Taylor definitely shouldn`t be surprised that John thinks the song is about him. She writes a song about every ex-boyfriend she ever has.
HAMMER: In addition to John Mayer, it`s widely believed that Taylor`s past songs have addressed her relationships with Taylor Lautner, Joe Jonas, and Jake Gyllenhaal. And Taylor`s songs are rarely very nice.
TERESZCUK: She actually says, "I wouldn`t write these bad songs if boys didn`t do bad things."
SWIFT: I don`t talk about my personal life in that great detail.
HAMMER: Just last night on "Nightline," Taylor admitted her personal life is fair game for songs, even if she won`t talk about it.
SWIFT: I write about it all in my songs. But when I get in an interview, it`s just sort of feels -- it just -- it`s not as much what I do, talking about it.
HAMMER: But as far as John Mayer goes, whether he is being presumptuous or not, let`s face it, Taylor, he`s probably right.
TERESZCUK: I think that "Dear John" probably is about John Mayer. But if Taylor doesn`t want the say it, then that`s fine. She can tell us in 30 years.
HAMMER: And to her current boyfriend, Conor Kennedy, allow us to take this opportunity to warn you one more time.
TERESZCUK: Conor Kennedy better watch out. If he messes up, she is definitely going to write a song about him.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Let`s just hope that Conor doesn`t inspire any new song lyrics to join the ranks of Taylor`s other nameless muses.
Sheree Fletcher is with me tonight. She`s one of the stars of "Hollywood Exes" on VH1. She was once married to Will Smith.
Also with me from Hollywood, E! chief news correspondent, Ken Baker. And I am pleased to tell you Ken`s fantastic new book called "Fangirl" just came out today. Go and get it.
And let me start with you, Ken. Were you shocked as I was to hear Taylor actually suggest that her song, "Dear John," is not necessarily about John Mayer?
KEN BAKER, CHIEF NEWS CORRESPONDENT, E!: I definitely was shocked because she`s had a lot of time. that song came out a long time ago. And she`s had a lot of time to deny that when everyone thought it was about him. So it just seems a little suspicious that all of the sudden now, she wants to deny that it was about him.
By the way, she`s not even denying it. She`s just saying it was presumptuous. So we don`t even really have all the information.
But I mean, John Mayer, you can think what you want about him. I mean, a lot of people think he`s, you know, kind of a player, whatever. But at the end of the day, if I was dating, say, and work with me here, Carrie Underwood, for example, and we broke up, and then she wrote a song called "Dear Ken," I would probably think it was about me, OK.
HAMMER: Right, right. You know, and if she does a new song -- if the thing with Conor doesn`t work out called "Dear Conor," I mean, I don`t know if it has the same poetic lyricness of it, if that`s even a term. But in any event, look, at the end of the day, if Taylor doesn`t want the say it, that is her business, I guess. But I think it is fair to say we will never see a Taylor-John reunion.
However, there is a reunion that`s about to happen that at one point we also never thought we`d see. This is at No. 2 on our SHOWBIZ Countdown on the Battle of the Sexes. It`s Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
And the news today that they`re about to reunite on a worldwide tour to promote the final installment of their "Twilight" series, "Breaking Dawn, Part 2." Take a look at this. Can we put it up? This is the poster. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with your first look at the final "Twilight" poster. It was just released today.
Sheree, now that everybody knows she cheated on him, do you actually think, like I do, people are going to go to this movie perhaps more in droves to look for signs of trouble between the two of them?
SHEREE FLETCHER, STAR, VH1 "HOLLYWOOD EXES": They sure will. And it`s brilliant marketing. I`m not saying that it`s a publicity stunt, but it`s smart. And it`s timely.
HAMMER: Well, Ken, we`ve seen our share of publicity stunts in Hollywood. Let`s forget -- let`s not forget for a moment that there`s a whole lot of money at stake with this film. Do you think that maybe, if they`re really back together, as has been rumored but not officially confirmed, it is for the sake of the movie, and after it opens no more K-Pattz again?
BAKER: Well, I think, first of all, it is a publicity stunt in the sense that they do need to be together to publicize their film. I mean, be together on the red carpet that is. They don`t necessarily have to be together in real life.
The fact is they`re probably contractually obligated to be together on this tour and do the film, do the junket interviews, do the red carpets, attend the premieres. So I don`t think we should be so quick to assume that this means they are romantically together by the fact that they are in a publicity sense together. They`re really two different things.
Now that being said, there`s a lot of people out there -- and I could just look at my Twitter and tell you this -- who are obsessed with Rob and Kristen getting back together. But I think it will all be revealed. Eventually the truth will come out as they get out and they have to address the issue. And I don`t know. I hope that they`re happy no matter what.
HAMMER: Well, yes, I agree with you on that, of course. And look, if the film company gets a little bump because people are so interested in this, it`s only good for them, even if they`re not doing anything intentionally here.
But you know, only one story can be No. 1 on our SHOWBIZ Countdown of the Battle of the Sexes. Again, it involves a cheating star, this guy, this guy, country music superstar Jason Aldean.
The very married Jason apologized right away after he was snapped making out with former "American Idol" contestant Brittany Kerr. He got overwhelming support from fans after this happened, which, you know, it`s kind of a double standard. Brittany got slammed. She had to shut down her Twitter account after being called everything from a tramp to a home- wrecker.
Well, today she apologized. I want to read to what she told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: "The actions I portrayed recently were not a representation of my true character, but a lapse in judgment on my part. I would like to sincerely apologize to everyone that has been affected by this."
Sheree, Brittany reportedly told friends that she didn`t know Jason was married. Does she have anything to apologize for?
FLETCHER: Yes. I think -- I think she did the right thing by issuing a public apology. Yes, you have to take some of the responsibility.
I think the onus is on him. And I think his real issue is not cheating, I think his real issue is drinking. And he should probably get to the root of why he is doing so much drinking. The guy was absolutely smashed, intoxicated. Cheating is just a manifestation.
HAMMER: And he did own up to, you know, the fact that drinks were heavily involved in the situation.
All right. We leave there it. Sheree Fletcher, Ken Baker, thank you both so much.
Make sure you catch Sheree in the all-new season of "Hollywood Exes." It begins in January on VH1. And be sure to pick up Ken`s new book, "Fangirl." It is available right now.
OK. Pay close attention, ladies. Liam Neeson is taking his clothes off on "Ellen." Well, I know a lot of women can`t look away from that. So why did Liam strip down to his skivvies after all? And will his striptease take the No. 1 shot on tonight`s SHOWBIZ Countdown, the video we just can`t look away from? Or will that outrageous bite attack on former "Partridge Family" star Danny Bonaduce rule the top five tonight?
I`ve got Danny here. He`ll tell the wild tale of this fan who bit his face. He`ll help us with tonight`s SHOWBIZ Countdown, " Can`t Look Away."
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tonight on HLN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Right now Oprah Winfrey`s steamy and smoky love scene with Hollywood heartthrob Terrance Howard.
Oprah just tweeted this picture from the set of her upcoming movie, "The Butler." She`s showing her sexy side with Terrance, smoking a cigarette, dare I say looking sultry. She`s showing off her seductive side here. Now we`re so used to forget what a great actress Oprah is. Movie looks great, too.
Coming up, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT goes behind the scenes of "Dancing with the Stars" with Olympic champ Shawn Johnson and dancing pro Derek Hough.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Well, the all-stars on "Dancing with the Stars" really pulled out all the stops tonight. I can tell you former Olympian Shawn Johnson and her dancing partner, Derek Hough, are dazzling everyone with their incredible moves. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT just got amazing backstage access to Shawn and Derek.
They revealed to us that, yes, they`re playing dirty this season. That`s right. Watch now as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner goes on location with Shawn and Derek and gets all the dirt.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NISCHELLE TURNER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: So tell me so far how has it been? You feel good?
SHAWN JOHNSON, CONTESTANT, ABC`S "DANCING WITH THE STARS": Feel good.
DEREK HOUGH, PROFESSIONAL DANCER, ABC`S "DANCING WITH THE STARS" (singing): Feel good.
JOHNSON: I`m a little tired today.
HOUGH: Are you tired?
JOHNSON: I completely forgot about, like, the whole "not a day off" thing.
TURNER: Wait, how does that work? You don`t get any days off?
JOHNSON: No.
HOUGH: No. No days off.
JOHNSON: Because, like, we finished Tuesday, and we start the next dance on Wednesday.
HOUGH: And basically, it`s not a day off for ten weeks straight.
TURNER: What surprised you the most about the all-stars? Because I know coming in, you knew it was going to be more and better competition right off the bat. But what still surprised you the most about this competition?
JOHNSON: I`d say I still figure with an all-star season you`d come in and you`d be like OK, there`s a few that, you know, are still clear-cut -- I wouldn`t say underdogs, but would maybe go the first few weeks, whereas we saw in week one, everybody is really good. And there`s a lot of fan favorites and a lot of backing behind everybody.
TURNER: You were training to go back to the Olympics. You had an injury, so you couldn`t go. And the same day you got the call to do this. It`s quintessential when one door closes, another one opens.
JOHNSON: I know. Deciding to retire from gymnastics, I was -- me and my family were ready to just kind of pack up, move me out to college, start -- kind of start over. And the day that I retired and I got the call for "Dancing," it was -- I don`t know. It was needed. It was fun.
TURNER: And then you heard you would be with Derek and you said...
JOHNSON: I know. It`s one thing after another.
TURNER: Did you watch the girls? And how proud of them were you?
JOHNSON: I couldn`t have been prouder. Gabby trains with me and I`ve kind of grown up with them. So I still feel like I was part of the team and sitting there in the stands, watching every move.
HOUGH: Did you want to just, like, run out there in the middle of the -- middle of the floor?
JOHNSON: I did, though. It was so hard. I was, like, torn. I was, like, I want to be out there, but part of me is, like, OK, it`s really nice just sitting, not doing anything.
HOUGH: Yes.
JOHNSON: Because I knew they were doing, like, millions of repetitions and stuff.
TURNER: That was a good follow-up question, Derek. Nice!
HOUGH: Just wondering.
TURNER: I`m liking that. Did any of the girls say to you, like, "Can you hook me up with `Dancing with the Stars`? I`d like to get on"?
JOHNSON: Actually, yes. McKayla Maroney wants to do "Dancing with the Stars." And if I could pick one out of the five, I`d pick her. Because her attitude is just, I would love to see it.
HOUGH: It would be fun.
JOHNSON: Yes.
TURNER: So start the campaign now. McKayla wants to do "Dancing with the Stars." I like that.
Is there anybody that you guys are giving the side eye to like "Ooh, they`re good. We`ve got to watch out for them. They`re our biggest competition this season"?
HOUGH: Everyone.
TURNER: Everyone.
HOUGH: I mean we`re playing dirty. We`re getting crazy.
TURNER: Itching powder?
HOUGH: Don`t let this face fool you. This one is conniving.
JOHNSON: I`m crazy.
HOUGH: She is crazy.
TURNER: I like the dynamic between you two. Now you know there is going to be, because you`re both so cute, and there`s going to be the questions, is it romantic or is it brother and sister?
HOUGH: Oh, no, it`s pure romance. It`s pure romance. It`s unbelievable.
TURNER: She is like blushing. You`re making her blush!
HOUGH: It`s cute. It`s cute. Look at that!
TURNER: You`re like, "Why me?" Is he torturing you?
HOUGH: It`s pure romance. It`s the way we gaze into each other`s eyes, all day.
JOHNSON: I`ve got to go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Pretty funny. You see how she was just turning bright red there. Maybe there are some sparks flying. That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner.
Well, also ahead tonight, the incredible showdown between a lady and a wild bear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get down, right now, go! No! No! Down!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow, not taking anything from that bear. I can`t turn away from that video. And I can`t turn away from the very first pictures of Vanessa and Nick Lachey`s baby boy, Camden John.
We are counting down the amazing stories that we just couldn`t look away from in tonight`s SHOWBIZ Countdown.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Time now for the SHOWBIZ Buzz List. Here`s what the SHOWBIZ staff is buzzing about this week.
And the Oscars are going to be hosted by Seth MacFarlane. That`s right. The genius behind "Family Guy" adding Oscars host to his credentials.
Get ready for the reinvention of the mix tape. This helps you make your favorite mixes on a retro-inspired MP3 player.
Hayden Panatierre goes country in her new show, "Nashville." Can`t wait to see this on October 10.
Well, it looks like vampires do need a little more than just blood. We`re taking a new bite out of the "True Blood"-inspired cookbook.
And we`ve been waiting years, four years, for this. "Taken 2," the sequel to the incredible action film, "Taken," will be out on Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How`s it going?
LIAM NEESON, ACTOR: Listen to me carefully. Your mother and I are going to be taken.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my God.
NEESON: People are going to come for you, too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is revealing the highest paid women in all of entertainment.
Well, "Forbes" just released its annual Hollywood horse race. And yes, Oprah Winfrey is still on top. She raked in an estimated $165 million, even though she`s no longer the queen of daytime TV.
And get this. Oprah is America`s only African-American billionaire. Oprah`s nearest competitor for this year -- look at this. A real shocker to have Britney Spears in that spot, pulling in an estimated $58 million. I can tell you, it`s not all coming from that new "X Factor" gig.
Ryan Serhant of Bravo`s "Million-Dollar Listing, New York" is here to talk about all those millions Oprah is making that he wishes she was spending on real estate with him.
But Ryan, are you surprised to see Oprah still at the top of the heap, considering that she is no longer the queen of daytime TV?
RYAN SERHANT, BRAVO`S "MILLION-DOLLAR LISTING, NEW YORK": No. No, I`m not surprised at all. I think I`ll be surprised the day that she is not at the top. I mean, she has her own television network. I mean, I don`t think anyone can deny that she`s an amazing, amazing businesswoman, and to have developed her own network and now has, you know, a show coming with Tyler Perry. I think she`ll be on the top for years and years to come.
HAMMER: Yes, I wouldn`t be surprised about that. And I actually think OWN is going to turn around for her. She`s got some good momentum there.
I`ve got to say, though, I was kind of shocked to see Britney Spears made a whopping $58 million last year. Yes, she is getting a big paycheck from "The X Factor." But Ryan, everybody thought Britney`s music career had slowed to a standstill, and everybody is wondering where is all the other money coming from?
SERHANT: I don`t know. It seems like only yesterday she was going crazy, right? I`m pretty -- I`m pretty sure. I think our attention span is so short these days. But I`m actually glad to see that she`s back on top. And No. 2 right below Oprah?
HAMMER: That`s huge.
SERHANT: That`s a huge step.
HAMMER: Yes. It`s amazing. And I was pleased to see this. Another young pop star grabbing third place just behind Britney Spears. Not surprising at all. I guess all those breakup songs are paying off for Taylor Swift, earning an estimated 57 million bucks.
She`s 22 years old. She`s the youngest woman to be making anywhere near that kind of cash, Ryan. Do you think that Taylor is basically rewriting the formula for success?
SERHANT: Yes, I think so. I think so. And at such a young age. I mean 22 is so young. I think about what I was doing when I was 22. And she -- you know, she just makes me feel bad.
HAMMER: Well, you know, I think she would make you feel better, like I said, if she also spent some of her money on real estate with you.
Ryan Serhant, thank you so much. Good to see you.
SERHANT: Thanks, man.
HAMMER: Now here is what`s coming up on the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I cannot wait to show this to you. It is a remarkably emotional military reunion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What the...?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is going to have you in tears. It`s a surprise visit from Afghanistan that brings two brothers back together. I cannot look away from that. So will that incredible reunion take our top slot in the SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Can`t Look Away"? Or will it be that bizarre biting attack on former "Partridge Family" star Danny Bonaduce? Danny is right here. He is going to help us with tonight`s SHOWBIZ Countdown and give us the whole deal.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Right now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, it`s the SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Can`t Look Away." We dare you not to be mesmerized by Liam Neeson`s nearly naked body. Or the bizarre Danny Bonaduce-biting fiasco. Danny Bonaduce is right here to tell us all about how a peck got painful. But will Danny`s story be No. 1 on the SHOWBIZ Countdown, the biggest stories we just can`t look away from?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues right now.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, and thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer.
And tonight in the SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Can`t Look Away." And believe me when I say we`ve got the top five stories that will have your eyes fixed to the screen.
So let`s kick it off at number five. It`s biting Bonaduce. Never thought I would actually say that on television. Former "Partridge Family" star Danny Bonaduce is certainly no stranger to the weird and wild ways of fame, but this has got to take the cake.
Now Danny was just at a Meet and Greet at a casino in Washington state. And a fan asked to kiss him. Well, then she leaned in and bit him, right there in the cheek. What the heck was she thinking? And what does he think about getting mauled, literally by a fan?
I`m going to ask him right now as Danny joins me tonight from Seattle. What, Danny, what? I`m giving you your big intro here and you already interrupting me.
DANNY BONADUCE, STAR, "PARTRIDGE FAMILY": I`m sorry. I was freaking out man because I`m up here in Seattle, which is the greatest city in the world. We lie to you people because we don`t want you to move here. But in Washington state, that`s where they shot all "Twilight" movies. So this chick is latched on to my face and biting me and there is a lot of blood. I mean, a lot of blood. And everybody is yelling, "Werewolf, werewolf, werewolf." And I`m yelling, "Bath salts, bath salts, bath salts."
And have been asked this a couple of times. I really thought it out. I think she hung on for a full minute because she was biting so hard when people tried to pull her off me, I thought she was going to take a hunk of her face with her so I had to hold onto her. Finally the police got her off. They put some salve on. They measured how big the bite mark was, and they got her away. And I refused to press charges, but it was at a tribal casino, and their laws are different. So I don`t know what will happen there.
But I didn`t want to press charges. I`ll tell you why real quickly. My hero is Johnny Carson. And if the night Johnny Carson passed away, I had a great joke, I would tell it. And the reason is it doesn`t make somebody less dead because you told a joke. I thought I won`t be any less in pain if this girl gets to go see the show, but they arrested her anyway.
HAMMER: Wow, it`s just great to see you in one piece, Danny, I must tell you. Do we have the picture that Danny`s wife took of the injury? Look at that. I mean, there is blood there, Danny. I saw this and I`m thinking, you know what? You put yourself out there. You have always said look, I`m in the public eye. People are going to want things from me. She wanted to taste you, Danny.
BONADUCE: She did. She want a taste of Danny. I`m thinking about putting out my own fragrance.
HAMMER: Maybe you should. OK, so you didn`t press charges. I have respect for you for doing that. But now the question is, as much as you`ve been through, does this sort of take the cake of all of the things you have encountered and the craziness with fans that you have seen over the many years you`ve been in the public eye?
BONADUCE: No, and that`s the weird thing. When a girl bites your face, it should take you at least a second to think of a weirder thing that has happened to you, but it didn`t. A police officer said to me is that the weirdest thing that ever happened to you? And I said no. And I told a story.
I went to see the premier of the movie "The Song Remains the Same" in 1977. I went with the ex-wife of a very famous drummer, so she knew Robert Plant very well, and said something to him that he didn`t like, so he spit at her. And I didn`t know that nobody knew that I didn`t really know this girl, so it looked like he spit on my date. I got to go be a tough guy.
So I went up and made a fist near Robert Plant and everybody just beat my brains in. So I went home, and I went to sleep, fully dressed. I wake up in the morning fully dressed. The girl is in my bed fully dressed. My girlfriend comes in my apartment. She has a target pistol her father gave her. The girl jumps in the closet. My girlfriend goes boom, boom, boom, boom, five shots right down the middle of the door. So, all I can think is, well, I got a dead giant in my closet. This is going to be a long day. And she has one in the chamber left for me.
And I swear to you that this is true. I said, "Are you really willing to spend the rest of your life -" And I was only 15. I said, "Are you really willing to spend the rest of your life in jail over a cheater and liar like me?" And she said yes. And she pulled the trigger. That was a weirder night.
HAMMER: Well, you`re still here. Although both stories involved saliva. But, Danny, as traumatic as that bite was for you, I have to tell you, it did not beat our number four story on the SHOWBIZ Countdown of stories that made us say we can`t look away, unless of course you wore some pink swim trunks on national television.
At number four, Liam Neeson`s near naked stunt on the Ellen DeGeneres show. Ellen just kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a celebrity splash tank for charity. Now Liam happened to be lucky celebrity guest number one who, if he got splashed, would earn cancer research $10,000. So that`s a good deal. And I can tell you, the ladies here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT could not look away for very obvious reasons.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHEERING)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "ELLEN": Oh my God. If someone is just tuning in, you look naked in there. All right. You get as many as you want. Go ahead. Hit that.
(CHEERING)
DEGENERES: All right. That`s $20,000.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Spectacular. And he did look naked. But to his credit, Liam actually convinced Ellen to double the cash if he took off his rove to $20,000. I got to bring in VH1 "Hollywood Exes" star Sheree Fletcher who is in Hollywood tonight.
Sheree, Liam`s sequel to his hit movie "Taken" will be out on Friday. Were you taken by what he did there? He was such a good sport, pink shorts and all.
FLETCHER: Yes, I was absolutely taken. And I think that some things shouldn`t be taken, like his robe.
HAMMER: I`m going to read into that.
BONADUCE: I disagree.
HAMMER: Yes, go, Danny.
BONADUCE: I disagree completely. This is a complete coincidence, because I didn`t know the stories. I hope this frame is right for you. This is a coincidence.
HAMMER: What is happening? Pink shorts. You are kidding me. Danny Bonaduce --
BONADUCE: No, swear. That`s a complete coincidence.
HAMMER: Look at that. You`re keeping the rest of your clothes on, and I guess Sheree`s point, maybe that wasn`t the best thing for Liam to do.
BONADUCE: If I had known this was happening, I would have walked in there like and you would have thought what a great sport Danny is. This is just a coincidence.
HAMMER: Well, I think Ellen needs to donate more money for breast cancer research right there because Danny Bonaduce is wearing pink skivvies tonight.
All right, listen. If Liam`s skipping near naked splash on scenes like a bare of a task and then it was on national television after all, and Danny was too just showing his.
Well, out number three story on our SHOWBIZ Countdown of stories that make us can`t look away -- I love this. The brand-new viral video of the woman who yelled at a bear like a child to get off her porch. And what did the bear do? He got off her porch. Let`s watch what happens as the bear approaches.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bear is here. Let me go in your office, because he might come after me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get down, right now! Go! No! Down!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That poor bear!
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: I mean, she actually just yelled at him. You know, people yell at their dogs or their kids. Sheree, is that how you would have handled that? I mean it could have wound you up on you tube with nearly a million hits like this woman has gotten?
FLETCHER: Can I tell you, she is my hero of the day. I love her. I want a new doorbell chime with that sound bite. She is amazing.
HAMMER: I think Danny Bonaduce might have gone after the bear`s face, personally. So, listen. If a near-naked Liam Neeson, a woman chastising a bear and a bitten Bonaduce didn`t top our countdown of "Can`t Look Away", well, imagine what we have in store for our top two. Just think about it.
Danny, Sheree, stay right there as we find out the top two-stories we couldn`t look away from. They`re next.
Also ahead, from "Family Guy" to Oscar guy, Seth MacFarlane the talk of Hollywood now that he has been named the host of the 2013 Oscars. And his quirky humor is already going into overdrive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SETH MCFARLANE, ACTOR: I have invited you here today to tell you I`m hosting the Oscars. This should be huge news to you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, that`s wonderful news. But also the fact that you`re getting almost brand-new bathing suits is also good news.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Will Seth be the precise burst of energy the Oscars show desperately needs to stay relevant?
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight we are counting down the top five stories that we can`t look away from. And here is where we are so far.
Coming in at number five, biting Bonaduce. Former "Partridge Family" star Danny Bonaduce reveals how he was literally bitten in the face by a fan. Imagine that.
And number four, "Taken 2" star Liam Neeson takes off his clothes for talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, all to raise money for breast cancer charity.
And number three, what would Mama Bear think? A woman yells at a bear to get off her porch and he actually obeys.
That takes us to number two of the SHOWBIZ Countdown of the top five stories that we can`t look away from.
Nick and Vanessa`s big bundle of joy. Look at this. Nick Lachey and his wife Vanessa showed a brand-new photo of their brand-new bundle of joy. It`s a bundle of boy named Camden John. They put this up on their Twitter accounts. Vanessa hosts the ABC family reality show "Wipeout." She was the first the tweet out the photo of 2-week-old baby with this message: "Nick and I are honored and humbled to introduce you to the new love of our lives, born at 6:54 p.m. He came in to this world at eight pounds and nine ounces and 21 inches. Love has truly been redefined for both of us."
That`s sweet. Mazel tov to both of you, Nick and Vanessa.
And that leads us to number one on the SHOWBIZ Countdown of the top five stories that we can`t look away from. And I can assure you, you will not want to look away. Two brothers, Meyers and Bailey Leonard, endured a tragedy when their father died suddenly when they were kids.
Well, fast forward to the boys as young men and brother, Bailey, joins the Marines. His younger brother, Meyers, is crushed when Bailey leaves for Afghanistan. And its Bailey`s emotional homecoming that is going to leave you in tears. This video first aired in March, but right now it has gone beyond viral on the web. It is our number one show in the SHOWBIZ Countdown of the top five stories that we can`t look away from. Get the tissues ready.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BAILEY LEONARD, U.S. MARINE: Despite me only being 22 months older than Meyers, I like to think of myself as somewhat of a fatherly figure to him. After our father passed away, me, Meyers and my mom slept on the living room floor with no furniture. No electricity, no water, no furniture. With hardship, and getting through hardship, that only helps bring people closer together.
August 2008, that was the day I left for boot camp.
MEYERS LEONARD, BAILEY`S BROTEHR: It was just a shock to me. I went in my room and cried. I`d never not had my brother. Now that he is in Afghanistan fighting for our country, it kind of scares me every day that, you know, he is in the line of duty. But, you know, he has always been there for me.
B. LEONARD: The last time I saw Meyers play was in January of 2010. I`m guessing he has absolutely no idea I`m even outside this stadium right now. The reason I wanted to come see him play so bad is the fact that he didn`t know I was going to be here.
Hey Meyers!
M. LEONARD: What the --!
B. LEONARD: Come here!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
B. LEONARD: You all right?
M. LEONARD: I`m good. I can`t believe this is happening. I`m so glad to see you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s so great. Just amazing to see that. And I told you, you wouldn`t be able to look away. That`s why that was our number one tonight.
Well, as we move on, Tyler Perry is a Hollywood powerhouse. TV shows, movies, plays, his empire is growing. So could his Midas touch become just the thing for his good friend Oprah Winfrey`s floundering network? We`ve got good news about Tyler and O, just ahead.
This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: I`m very happy to be here as myself, Seth MacFarlane, even though the voices did kind of get me where I am tonight. You`re doing good, doing good, you are very likable so far, keep it up. Do not look at the lady in a front row with the big knockers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s the very creator of "Family Guy," Seth MacFarlane. That`s when he was hosting "Saturday Night Live" just a couple of weeks back. Seth just got tapped to host Hollywood`s biggest night, the academy awards. So is this just a taste of what we will see come Oscar night?
Well, Seth MacFarlane is not the only movie director making a big buzz today with his big hosting duties for the Oscars telecast. Director Tyler Perry is also taking on a new role and reuniting with his good friend Oprah Winfrey. That story tops the buzz today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tyler`s OWN deal. Tyler Perry just struck an exclusive deal with Oprah Winfrey`s O Network. The television producer behind sitcoms like "House of Pain" will now exclusively write for OWN, helping the cable network transition to scripted series with two shows set to premier in 2013. OWN has only broadcast unscripted series until now. The collaboration with Perry is the network`s biggest programming change since its 2011 launch.
Oprah, who is close friends with Perry, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "We are all energized by the opportunity to collaborate with Tyler, who has a proven track record of producing highly successful cable series. He has an incredible ability to illuminate life stories and characters in his unique voice, and inspires and encourages people all over the world."
Seth thanks the academy. Seth MacFarlane will make his first appearance on the Oscar stage as the host of the 85th Academy Awards. The academy made the announcement Monday, just weeks after "The Family Guy" creator hosted "Saturday Night Live`s" season premier. MacFarlane also announced the new hosting gig to his Twitter followers with a spoof featuring his dad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So here is what you didn`t see when Seth told his dad about hosting the Oscars.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anyway, listen, I brought you these bathing suits. And I want you to have them. They don`t fit me anymore, obviously.
MACFARLANE: I don`t - I`m not -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take them, take them. I wore them only once and I had on underwear underneath there, so nothing of importance every touched them.
MACFARLANE: I`ve invited you here today to tell you I`m hosting the Oscars. This should be huge news to you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, that`s wonderful news. But also the fact the you are getting almost brand new bathing suits is also good news. And I think that thank you is an order --
MACFARLANE: Fine. Fine. Fine. Thank you. Thank you for this. Wow. Three new bathing suit, or kinda new. This - I will issue a press release.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give me those. I`m going to give these to Billy Krystal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I want to give there to Billy Crystal. Just Brilliant.
With me now from Hollywood Ken Baker, the chief mews correspondent for E! Ken`s new novel is called "Fangirl," and it is out today.
Ken, you and I are at the Oscars every year, watching what goes on behind the scenes as they get ready for the show. I think this is going to be such a cool thing and bring such a great vibe to the Oscars this year. Do you think that Seth can do for the Oscars what Ricky Gervais did for the Golden Globes?
BAKER: I think he totally can. In fact, I know he can. I went to the comedy central roast of Charlie Sheen last year, and guess who hosted that? Seth MacFarlane. And he was awesome. He was so funny. There were all these comedians that they had up on the stage. But Seth was the funniest.
And he does a really good job because he also has that baritone voice, and he can kind of very much control the ceremony and bring some dignity to it when it needs to be done. But at the same time, he is very funny. He is very alternative in his humor. But he just basically does know how to make people laugh. And I think that`s what people are looking for out of the show. They really need it. I mean, when you look at how far they have come now, a couple years ago we had James Franco and Anne Hathaway, that did not go very well.
HAMMER: No.
BAKER: This is much better.
HAMMER: It will be a great shot in the arm for them.
All right, Ken. Thank you so much. And by the way, good luck with your new novel "Fangirl" and I must offer, congratulations. As soon as I saw this news, I thought it was so cool. Elijah Wood in the starring role- playing you in "Late Bloomer."
I mean, I can`t -- your head must have exploded when you got that news. The film is based on your memoirs. Congratulations on that.
BAKER: Thank you. I suggested you for the lead role. But they passed.
HAMMER: I`ll give you five bucks the next time I see you.
As we move on tonight, you could call it the house that Jay-Z built. As Jay-Z celebrates the opening of the Barclay Center with eight sold-out concerts, you have got to see this amazing video of how the Barclay Center grew in Brooklyn.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
HAMMER: Jay-Z has paid homage to stomping grounds in Brooklyn with so many hits like "Empire State of Mind." Well, now his ultimate tribute stands tall in the heart of BK. It`s the new Barclay Center where the new Brooklyn Nets will play.
Tonight, we`re taking a look at how the arena was built from the ground up. This is an awe-inspiring video that is trending big tonight. It took more than two years to build the stadium, but there`s this time lapse video that has everyone talking tonight where we get to see construction completed in just two minutes. Let`s watch.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)
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