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Showbiz Tonight
`Two and a Half Men` Star Apologizes for Dissing Show; Another Accuser Comes Forward Against Kevin Clash; Lady Gaga Praises `Liz & Dick`; Is Jessica Simpson Pregnant Again?; No Charges in Thanksgiving Day Beat- down; Top 10 Reality Show Countdown
Aired November 28, 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, a special top ten SHOWBIZ Countdown of the year`s most explosive reality shows that have us asking, "Click It or Kick It?" "Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo," "Dancing with the Stars." which shows will get the boot or live on in reality infamy? It`s a special SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Click It or Kick It."
Hello and thanks for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer.
We will be clicking it and kicking it in our countdown of the bottom of the hour, but we begin with our first SHOWBIZ Countdown of the night. It`s the five stories breaking today that were real "SHOWBIZ Shockers."
Kicking it off at No. 5, a shocker of an apology from Angus T. Jones. The 19-year-old star of "Two and a Half Men" who trashed his show in a shocking video made with the church he joined, calling the show that pays him a reported $8 million a year "filth."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGUS T. JONES, ACTOR: If you watch "Two and a Half Men," please stop watching "Two and a Half Men." I`m on "Two and a Half Men." I don`t want to be on it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, that was then, and this is now. Talk about a major about- face. I`m thinking that Angus got very yelled at by his bosses, because he`s now apologized and just released a lengthy mea culpa. I can`t read you the whole thing; it would take the whole show. But here`s what he said, in part, "I apologize if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed. I never intended that."
With me from Atlanta, Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of "JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL" weeknights, 7 p.m. here on HLN. Jane, he never intended that. What the heck did he intend if he didn`t intend that?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HLN ANCHOR: I just think, A.J., they`ve got to switch out the water cooler on that set, because whatever`s in that water, people are drinking it, and they`re all going off the deep end on "Two and a Half Men." I mean, there`s got to be a "Two and a Half Men" curse or something. Everybody gets crazy on that show.
This kid is out of his mind. He gets $350,000 episode. Young man, I say give all that money to charity right now if that`s how you feel. Put your money where your mouth is. Or shut it.
HAMMER: Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Because this is an absolute outrage that somebody would take that much money and then turn around and bite the hand that feeds them.
HAMMER: OK.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: What`s he thinking?
HAMMER: At least he`s kind of apologizing. Let me carve out a little more time to read a bit more of this "War and Peace," lengthy apology.
He also said, "Without qualification, I am grateful to and have the highest regard and respect for all of the wonderful people on `Two and a Half Men,` with whom I have worked and over the past ten years who have become an extension of my family."
Well, there is no word yet on exactly how Angus`s bosses and his costars on "Two and a Half Men" feel about all of this. Reports today say that "Two and a Half Men" does have two episodes left to shoot this year. And Angus never supposed to be a part of them. Sunny Hostin joining me tonight.
Are you thinking, Sunny, Angus was perhaps given an ultimatum for his employers, "Hey, apologize or there is no way you`re staying on the show"?
SUNNY HOSTIN, TRUTV`S "IN SESSION": I think it`s possible. I mean, he`s certainly under contract, right? And there are those little clauses in your contract that talk about morals and talk about speaking badly about the production.
I mean, he actually during that little clip said, "If you`re watching it, don`t watch." I can`t imagine that an employer would think that that isn`t some sort of contractual problem. And so I suspect either his agent or his lawyer or his boss told him, "You`d better fix this if you want to keep your job."
Perhaps he won`t keep his job. Perhaps we won`t see him anymore on "Two and a Half Men." Perhaps his contract won`t be renewed but I suspect this had a lot to do with some legal wrangling behind the scenes, A.J.
HAMMER: Yes. I have a feeling that the people who make 10 percent of 15 percent or whatever here sat him down and said, "Shut up, listen to us. Here is what you`re going to do."
All right. Well, the Angus T. Jones video is certainly taking on a life of its own. Because today, we saw some pretty hysterical spoofs by the cast of "The Office," as well as "The View`s" Whoopi Goldberg. Let`s look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAINN WILSON, ACTOR: Dwight from "The Office" is nothing. OK? "The Office" is nothing. All right? If you want "The Office," please don`t watch "The Office." I`m on "The Office." It`s filth. OK?
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, ABC`S "THE VIEW": If you`re watching "The View" right now, I want you to stop watching it, because this is filth. This show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Nice going, Whoopi.
Well, I`m not going to say the same about SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
There is certainly nothing funny as we move on about our No. 4 shocker of the day on our SHOWBIZ Countdown. Another man making sexual claims against the voice of "Sesame Street" character Elmo.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner in Hollywood tonight. So Nischelle, we`re up to accuser No. 3.
NISCHELLE TURNER, HLN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely, A.J. This is the third person to accuse Kevin Clash of engaging in a sexual relationship with them when they were minors.
You know, the first accuser recanted, but the second accuser filed a lawsuit against Clash. And now a third man has just claimed that Clash contacted him on a gay chat line when he was just 16 and lured him into a sexual relationship.
Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was there as the accuser`s attorney held a press conference. He says his client didn`t even want to come forward. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He thinks that Kevin Clash is an incredible man outside of the sexual demons and is really torn about whether or not he should come forward and wasn`t going to until these other victims were being essentially persecuted by not everybody but, you know, people were not believing them and challenging their, you know, their stories.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. So, Nischelle, Kevin has said that there is no truth to the previous two claims that he had sex with minors. What is he saying about the latest one?
TURNER: Well, he`s pretty much standing by that same thing, A.J. We reached out to Kevin, and here`s what his attorney told us. They said, quote, "The federal cases filed against Kevin Clash are without merit. The cases and Mr. Clash`s reputation will be defended vigorously."
And A.J., one more thing. Clash resigned from "Sesame Street" as the voice of Elmo after the first lawsuit was filed, but "Sesame Street" tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the next season of the show has already been taped, meaning he will continue to be the voice of Elmo through 2014 -- A.J.
HAMMER: Innocent until proven guilty. All right. Thanks so much, Nischelle.
This brings us to No. 3 in the countdown of the day`s top five shockers, and the shocker is somebody actually really liked Lindsay Lohan`s performance as Elizabeth Taylor on the Lifetime movie, "Liz & Dick." It`s Lady Gaga.
Now, Gaga`s a friend of Lindsay`s. She just sent out a brand-new tweet praising Lohan for her performance. Let me read to you what she tweeted. She said, "Lindsay Lohan, you did a beautiful job on `Liz & Dick.` Let no one bring you down. Liza didn`t. They always try to knock the greats down a few pegs."
Certainly is true. But Jane, what do you think that Lady Gaga saw about Lindsay`s performance that we`re somehow not seeing?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I think she was wearing a sleep mask and ear plugs when she was watching this, because I watched it, and to be quite honest with you, I couldn`t watch the whole thing.
I said I have now devoted 45 minutes of my precious life, and I cannot continue watching this. And I turned it off, because it wasn`t campy enough to be hysterical for me, and it just wasn`t well acted enough to be truly something that I became emotionally invested in. And it was almost like she was sleep walking through the part.
She`s beautiful. Lindsay Lohan is a gorgeous woman, but I did not get the inner Liz Taylor that I was looking for. Who can replicate that amazing actress, that icon? Not Lindsay Lohan.
HAMMER: Jane, I don`t want to torture you, but I`m going to ask you to stare straight into the camera. Do not take your earpiece out of your ear, because lest we forget what everybody has been trashing including you, I now present to you once again Lindsay`s desperate and often hilarious try at playing Liz Taylor. Roll it, Charles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re impossible.
LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: Elizabeth wants to play.
I love the man. End of story.
I won`t live without you.
You know you can never leave them. You were playing. I was just another notch.
What am I supposed to do? I`ve done 29 pictures since I was 9. Twenty- nine. I`ve never learned how to do just absolutely nothing.
I need a ring. A big ring.
I`m bored! I`m so bored!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOHAN: All right. Sunny, Gaga says it`s great. She`s sticking up for La Lohan. I like to think that if I ever stunk up the place in a TV movie you`d have my back, right?
HOSTIN: I sure would, A.J. I would say, you know, call the Emmy committee. I just -- I`ve got to tell you, I got to agree with Jane. I just -- I didn`t like it. I thought it was just such a stretch for her. And I wanted to like it, because everybody likes a comeback. And she`s had such a difficult time, but it just...
HAMMER: Yes, yes. I know.
HOSTIN: It was a stretch for her.
HAMMER: I know. We keep saying the same thing. We all want her to do well.
But this leaves us now with today`s top two SHOWBIZ shockers. Is it Halle Berry`s domestic drama. And a brand-new report concerning possible criminal charges in the fight between her old boyfriend and her current one.
Or is it a shocking brand new report about new mom Jessica Simpson that suggests she may not want to put away her maternity clothes just yet? We`ve got the big reveal coming up next.
And in another SHOWBIZ Countdown tonight, I can`t wait to do this one. Reality TV shows hit a fever pitch this year, thanks to stars like Honey Boo-Boo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALANA THOMPSON, REALITY TV STAR: I`m going to do the -- I want to get ready. Who likes my glasses? Who likes my glasses?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I like your glasses, Honey Boo-Boo. You also had Sugar Bear, Uncle Poodle. Such great entertainment this year. But have we had enough? Are people hoping for the next season to be "There Goes Honey Boo-Boo"?
And 15 seasons of "Dancing with the Stars." The blisters, dance challenges, the Mirror Ball trophy. Now that the all-star season is behind us, should it be the last show ever? Which reality hit will top the SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Click It or Kick It"?
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and our countdown of the top five shockers of the day.
At No. 5, we have Angus T. Jones apologizing for dissing his show "Two and a Half Men."
At No. 4, a third man accusing the former voice of Elmo, Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash, of having a sexual relationship with him when he was underage.
At No. 3, Lindsay Lohan`s friend, Lady Gaga, tweets praise for Lindsay`s much-maligned performance of Elizabeth Taylor in the Lifetime movie, "Liz & Dick."
That brings us to the No. 2 shocker on the SHOWBIZ Countdown. Apparently, it wasn`t a shocker just to us.
"Us Weekly" reported that Jessica Simpson is pregnant again. Yes, the pregnancy would come just seven months after she gave birth to her first child with her fiance, Eric Johnson, and just a short time after she apparently lost much of the baby weight.
Let`s bring in Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of "JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL," seen weeknights 7 p.m. Eastern here on HLN. Here in New York, CNN legal analyst Sunny Hostin.
Now ladies, please. Don`t get too excited. Simpson is not accepting any congratulatory gifts just yet. Today her rep told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "I won`t be commenting on the speculation made by `Us Weekly`." So not a confirmation, not a denial.
Jane, to you first. If they`re trying to deny something this big, I don`t think a "no comment" cuts it. Come on.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I don`t think so either. And all I`ll say is I never even got a chance to congratulate her on her 70-pound weight loss after her last child. So now, obviously, when you`re pregnant you`re going to gain the weight again.
We all know her story of how she ate junk food during her last pregnancy. I just hope she does it right this time around. Fruits and vegetables, honey. Keep it off as much as you can, and you won`t have to do that same yo-yo business afterwards.
HAMMER: Jane, I`m going to give you the opportunity right now. Go ahead and congratulate her.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Congratulations, darling. You look fabulous. That was also my imitation of you know who.
HAMMER: Yes. Very well done. Very well done.
All right. So, look, Jessica just lost that amount of weight: what, 60 to 70 pounds that she gained from her first pregnancy. She`s the face of Weight Watchers now, too, Sunny. Do you think that has as much to do with why this got so much attention today or are we simply obsessed with all things Jessica?
And let`s not forget her last pregnancy was, what, two years.
HOSTIN: Yes. You know, it troubles that we are obsessed with the fact that women, in general, gain weight during pregnancy. I gained 70 pounds with my son, and I gained 60 pounds with my daughter. And, you know, I`m on television, and I got to tell you I had producers tell me, you know, "What`s going on? How`s it going with the diet?"
And I say, hoorah for Jessica. She ate what she wanted. She brought a beautiful baby into this world. And if she`s pregnant again, let her eat whatever she wants. I see Jane shaking her head.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Not great for the baby to do a junk food binge. Let`s be real. It`s not good.
HOSTIN: You don`t only -- I`m sure she wasn`t only eating junk food. I`m sure she was eating other things, as well. And you do gain weight when you`re pregnant. And I just think, hey, give her a break. I mean, she`s a new mom, maybe another -- you know, going to have another baby. I say -- bravo for her.
HAMMER: Well, look. As long as she`s not sharing one of Jane`s Red Bulls, I think she`ll be just fine.
Out of all of the shocking stories breaking today, only one could be No. 1 on our SHOWBIZ Countdown. Here it is. The startling report that there may be no charges in the Thanksgiving day brawl and beat-down at Halle Berry`s house.
TMZ is reporting it is likely nobody`s going to be charged in this brutal fight between Berry`s fiance, Olivier Martinez, and her ex-, Gabriel Aubry. So Aubry just released these photos of his bruised face in court. I mean, look at the guy. Holy mackerel. That`s how he makes his money, that face.
This is part of a filing to get a restraining order against Martinez. You can understand why he wanted that when you see this. But here`s the thing. Aubry was the guy who was arrested after the fight after some reports said that he had started it, and now possibly no charges.
Now Sunny, I want to go back to you as our attorney on retainer tonight. What gives with this?
HOSTIN: You know, I don`t know what gives, but I will tell you, you know, this kind of violence, especially when we`re dealing with a child, because we -- I believe this sort of started in front of a child, and what is in the best interest of this child, certainly, not to see two men brutalizing each other.
And this is a story that is just so sad to me, having prosecuted child abuse cases, having prosecuted domestic violence cases. There`s just no place for this. And I think it could be a missed opportunity, quite frankly, by law enforcement to bring charges...
HAMMER: Yes.
HOSTIN: ... and put a -- you know, put an end to this kind of violence in front of children.
HAMMER: Somebody needs to be scared into behaving here, for sure.
All right. Jane and Sunny, thank you both so much.
As we move on, what a year it`s been for reality TV. But was the drama on "The Basketball Wives" too heated for TV?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shut up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did I say?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You shut the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Classy. The knock-down, drag-out fights on "The Basketball Wives" have a lot of people crying foul. But should the series stay or go?
Whitney Houston`s family gets real the same year we lost Whitney. Do we really need the show to go on? And which show will outdo the other in our top ten SHOWBIZ Countdown of reality shows that have us asking, "Click It or Kick It?"
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
Selena Gomez has been getting big buzz for her on-and-off relationship with Justin Bieber. Katy Perry knows about heartache, having divorced Russell Brand. So what advice could Katy be giving Selena? Fill in the thought bubble, HLNTV.com/ShowbizTonight. Tell me what Katy`s thinking.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You think this is more plausible than teachers?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we do. One, there are no more foreign teachers in Iran.
BEN AFFLECK, ACTOR: And we think everybody knows Hollywood people. And everyone knows they`d shoot in Stalingrad with Pol Pot directing if it would sell tickets. There are only bad options. It`s about finding the best one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It`s a big year for Ben Affleck and his film, "Argo." So much Oscar buzz already for his work in front of and behind the camera, and tonight more proof that this year may be his best year yet.
Ben Affleck, of course, made a huge return to Hollywood with "Argo." Everyone is saying that Ben is now at the top of his game. Tonight, I can tell you "Entertainment Weekly" agrees. They`ve named Ben its No. 1 entertainer of the year. His buddy George Clooney writes a tribute to Ben in the new issue of "EW," calling Ben "the good-looking kid turned world- class director." "EW" spoke with Ben, who seemed genuinely humbled by the honor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AFFLECK: It`s a pretty cool, exciting thing. I don`t spend a lot of time while I`m working sort of paying attention to all the, you know, huge amount of stuff that goes on around the movie business stuff. And I just sort of try to focus on what I`m doing. I think that makes -- gives me a better shot to do it well.
And -- but when it kind comes out and I look up and now, "Entertainment Weekly" has done this nice thing for me and the movie, it really makes me realize -- it really flatters me, because it makes me realize, you know, that I`m in the company of such extraordinary people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And such a well-deserved honor for Ben. We`re going to see if he gets gold come Oscar time. But for now, you can catch Ben on the cover of "EW`s" entertainers of the year issue. It will be out on Friday.
Well, someone not on the list but certainly very entertaining in her own right is Scarlett Johansson. Did you see this? Scarlett dropped by "The Today Show" on Tuesday to talk about her new film, "Hitchcock," but ended up fulfilling a lifelong dream. See, it turns out that weatherman Al Roker had laryngitis, so Scarlett, who has always wanted to do the weather, stepped in to help out. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you ready?
SCARLETT JOHANSSON, ACTRESS: Yes, I`m ready.
MATT LAUER, CO-HOST, NBC`S "THE TODAY SHOW": If you`re just tuning in, Al has laryngitis. So Scarlett Johansson, fulfilling a lifelong dream of doing the weather.
JOHANSSON: And here we go. Let`s look at the satellite radar right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There it is.
JOHANSSON: Showers in the southeast, snow developing in the northeast. Expect thunderstorms from New Orleans to Atlanta. Heavy rain developing in the northwest. Three to eight inches of rain. Look for one to three inches of snow from Western Pennsylvania to southern New England.
And that`s your latest weather report. Here`s what`s happening in your neck of the woods.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bravo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Look at that. She did a pretty good job.
Well, it has been a banner year for reality TV, and now that the year`s almost through, I have got a special top ten SHOWBIZ Countdown of reality shows that had us asking, "Click It or Kick It?" Like the return of "The Bachelorette."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Emily -- will you marry me?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: It is one of the longest-running reality shows, but is it time for the show to hand out its final rose?
"Dancing with the Stars," another fan favorite for sure. But now that the all-star season is over, should the show hang up its dancing shoes?
And which legendary reality show will top our SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Click It or Kick It?"
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Right now, on the SHOWBIZ Countdown, the top ten reality shows of 2012 that have us asking, "Click It or Kick It?"
"Dancing with the Stars" is one of the most popular reality shows on TV, but after the all-star season blowout, should we keep clicking it or kick it to the curb?
We also saw the worst of reality TV this year, like "Jersey Shore" spinoff "Snooki and JWOWW." Was it so bad it was good? Should it be brought back?
And who will top our top 10 countdown on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Click It or Kick It?"
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues, right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: Hello, and thanks for watching, I`m A.J. Hammer. Welcome back to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and tonight, we are counting down the top 10 reality shows this year that made us ask, "Click It or Kick It?" The competitions, the clashes, the real-life break downs, breakups and makeups that have kept us on the edge of the seats. Just wait until you see who made the top 10 list.
And coming in at No. 10, "The Bachelorette." Now, you know the routine, by now, right? We wait to see who`s going to get that rose and if that last man standing will actually put a ring on it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I want you to know that what I`m about to ask you aren`t just empty words, where in a few weeks or a few months or a few years or even a few decades, will be lost. What I`m about to ask you is a forever thing.
Emily, will you marry me?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Brings a tear to your eye, doesn`t it? Certainly, a beautiful proposal there, but with "The Bachelorette`s" new couple failure rate so high, and the happily ever after so low, why is it the fans are still holding out hope?
I want to bring in entertainment host, Jenn Hobby, she`s in Atlanta. From Hollywood, tonight, Hyla is the host of "Daily Buzz" on Celebuzz.com.
Great having you both here. And you guys know, we almost always know how it`s going to end each season. There is no suspense, they rarely find true love.
Jenn, off to you, first. Is it simply time to give the bachelor series the old heave ho, shall we kick it?
JENN HOBBY, ENTERTAINMENT HOST: Absolutely not, A.J. I love this show. I am one of the fans and it is every girl`s dream to be able to choose from this menu of men laid out before you at the beginning of the season and we all get to live vicariously through "The Bachelorette" and doesn`t matter that the relationships don`t work out, we love to see who she`s going to pick. And the romantic music, that really helps you get into it, doesn`t it?
HAMMER: Yes, it almost puts me to sleep, too, sometimes. But no, I appreciate the romanticism of it all. And the truth is, we know the contestants are going to make it interesting, they`re going to bringing the drama on the show. That, obviously can make for some great TV, but for a lot of them, the drama they bring could actually be their way of finding a more permanent place in the world of reality TV.
Hyla, for you, is that reason enough to tune in?
HYLA, DAILY BUZZ, CELEBUZZ.COM: Yes, absolutely. This is a "Click It," Maybe different reason than Jenn. First of all, her choice of words, "menu." Men are not meat, OK?
(LAUGHTER)
I took offense to that. No. 2, you know, I love watching it because Chris Harrison is kind of like the Madame of reality television, passing out the overnight suites to all these people. I love watching that. And you talked about they -- ABC has done a good job of making "The Bachelor" a tabloid fixture. It always wasn`t like that at the beginning, then you had like, producers hooking up with some people and they were on the cover of the magazines. This is an absolute keep it show.
HAMMER: OK, got it. Click it for both you and Jenn. How dare you objectify men like that.
Let`s move on to No. 9 on the SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Click It or Kick It?" Bristol Palin may have stumbled into a career in reality TV, you know, from the family`s TLC reality show, to a two-time appearance on "Dancing with the Stars." followed up, of course, with her own Lifetime reality show called "Life`s a Tripp."
Now, Lifetime touted that series as a way to get up close and personal with Bristol. She finds her way in life as a young single mom. Let`s look at a bit of that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRISTOL PALIN, FMR ALASKA GOVERNOR DAUGHTER: I want to make sure it`s, like, consistent.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s weird. See if he picks up. I guarantee he doesn`t.
PALIN: No kidding.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Or his girlfriend picks up.
VOICE MESSAGE: Your call has been forwarded to...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unreal.
VOICE MESSAGE: ...voice messaging center.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
VOICE MESSAGE: Is not available. The mailbox is full.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK, I`m thinking a lot of people obviously clicked it out of curiosity because there`s been so much Palin mania out there over the past few years, but right away the fans turned away from the show, Jenn. Were they shocked that they didn`t want to see more Bristol?
HOBBY: No, I`m not really socked. I say kick it on this one. She`s just kind of dull. I mean, I don`t mean to insult her and maybe being dull as a young single mom is a good thing in her life and for her son, but for reality TV, I just think it`s boring.
HAMMER: Yeah, I guess the question comes down to if she were not a Palin, what would the interest factor be in just her, as we her in the last scene? But when you think about it, at just 21 years old, she already does have a pretty amazing life story, however, as we said, the show has already been canceled.
Hyla, did Lifetime make the right decision to kick it?
HYLA: Well, here`s the thing, what else will the Palins do? Sarah left the governorship; she left Alaska so they could become famous. See, you have to understand; Bristol is now a fulltime reality star. You got to put her in a Lauren Conrad situation. I would feel bad. She has nothing else to do with her life. Click it just to save the family.
HAMMER: Well, sadly for them, not for this show, it`s not going to happen, already done. Next, the controversial "Basketball Wives" reality series, coming in at No. 8.
You knew the buzz, critics and fans outraged over the violent women on women clashes on this show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She`s being immature.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You was the one talking about we was cool.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m still fine with you. I don`t an issue with you. You got an issue with me. I`m over it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did you hear me say about you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pretty much cosigning everything that Evelyn says, basically.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What? What?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All you are is like her follower.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything that comes out her mouth is a lie or made up or this person told this or the Internet. Like, get out of here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did I say?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What, that you`re a bum.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did I say?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shut up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did I say?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, you shut the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You lucky. Oh, you lucky, you about to get it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know, I mean, every time -- every time that comes on, I just don`t know what to say. Everybody says that really, that right there is everything that is wrong with reality TV. And the mash-ups like that spark these major protests, people were boycotting the show, boycotting the network, demanding big changes from all of reality TV. This is fans who had just had enough of this but, Jenn, you had the fist fights, the verbal matches, I mean, isn`t that what reality TV has become, these days? Do you agree with the outrage calling to kick this series off the air?
HOBBY: Well, listen, I don`t want to be on TV, now, promoting violence or anything like that in real life, but when you `re watching reality shows, drama is what we want. And, and, you know, I mean, Jerry Springer learned it a long time ago, fights on TV keep people watching, so I think they`ve actually got something, here, and I say click it. I`m sorry, but it`s what makes reality TV a guilty pleasure. (INAUDIBLE) drama happen.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Don`t people feel shamed when they`re so amused by watching what we`re watching? I mean, I sit here and I`m laughing at this and the women finally caught on and they started the speak out saying they were ashamed of their own behavior on the show and they promised change.
But Hyla, is that enough to give it another shot or should we kick it? What are you thinking?
HYLA: No, you got to kick this. This is junk, this is garbage. You can have a good reality television. You know, "Bachelorette," we talked about that, and "The Bachelor" is good reality TV. All right, OK, I use the word, term, kind of loosely, here, but for the arena in which we are talking about, it`s good reality -- you don`t need a bunch of women just throwing junk at each other and fighting with each other. I understand it`s a cheap way to get ratings. I feel they can put another group of women, African-American women, who are doing like really good things, also apply some drama that doesn`t make them look like, you know, a bunch of idiots.
HAMMER: I don`t know. People really seem to be drawn to it and I can see from a producer`s standpoint and from the network standpoint it`s hard to resist that easy dollar and the easy ratings, but hopefully they will continue to evolve. Let`s at least ask for that.
So, Hyla, Jenn, stay with me. We`ve still got our top seven reality shows to click or kick, like "Jersey Shore" spinoff, "Snooki & Jwoww."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By the way, I`m pregnant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy (EXPLETIVE DELETED), you`re pregnant?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re pregnant?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yeah. That`s how we all reacted. The show may have been Jim Tan awful to a lot of people, but do the fans want to see more of Snooki as a mom? And Whitney Houston`s family stepped out on their own this year, but will you always love their reality show? Could the Houston`s top Snooki in the top 10 SHOWBIZ Countdown of reality shows that have us asking, "Click It or Kick It?"
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chest out.
GROUP: Chest out.
GROUP: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thumbs up.
GROUP: Thumbs up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
GROUP: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elbows in.
GROUP: Elbows in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chest out.
GROUP: Chest out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`ve actually done that. That`s ABC`s "The Glass House," it comes in at No. 7 on the SHOWBIZ Countdown, the top 10 shows that have us asking "Click It or Kick It?" The series debuted back in June, touching off a nasty legal battle between ABC and CBS who claim that the series too much like it`s hit reality competition "Big Brother."
Welcome back to the special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, and tonight, we`re counting down the top 10 reality shows this year that made us ask, should we "Click It or Kick It?" Bringing you the best and the worst reality TV has to offer.
We`re at No. 6 on the SHOWBIZ Countdown with the ever-popular reality TV duo of Snooki and Jwoww, who temporarily gave up life on the Jersey Shore for luxury apartment life in Jersey City and count on Snooki to always keep you guessing. She just stunned her "Jersey Shore" pals and fans everywhere revealing news of her pregnancy on the show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLE "SNOOKI" POLIZZI, REALITY TV STAR: It is desert time and Nicole looks like a bag of (EXPLETIVE DELETED) chicken bones.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Something is going on with this cake.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have never seen Nicole this type of nervous.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looks like you`re a bow.
POLIZZI: Right? It`s cute. It`s my cake. I love it.
You have to see the top design.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow, it is pretty tasty (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By the way, I`m pregnant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re pregnant?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oh, a classic TV moment that will live in infamy, Snooki a mom. Who would have ever thought we`d see the day. I want to bring back in entertainment journalist, Jenn Hobby. Hyla, is the host of the "Daily Buzz" on Celebbuzz.com.
So guys, Snooki has evolved, we have to give her that. We saw the changes take place in her life at the beginning of the spinoff series. Hyla, do we really want to see Snooki as a mom in this next season? Click it or kick it?
HYLA: Click it, man. I love meatballs. I love me some Snooki. I need more Snooki. I want to see what kind of mom she is. That is so fascinating. It`s a natural evolution. The "Jersey Shore" is over with; we`re done with that show. We want to see her. You know, she`s going to be the star coming out of this. This is a great way for her to continue this. What kind of mom is Snooki? This is amazing television.
HAMMER: OK, we`ll see what happens. Well, coming up next, VH1`s "Love and Hip Hop" in at No. 5 on tonight`s SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Click It or Kick It?" Now, critics complain that the show is degrading to women. Let`s watch a bit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(EXPLETIVE DELETED)!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait, wait, wait.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait, wait.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stop, stop. Oh my god.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no, no.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stop, ladies. Stop.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK, see the thing is, the fan base is just growing, they seem to love that what they see. Supporters have been granted did gift of an Atlanta-based spinoff. Jenn is our Atlanta-based talent tonight. Critics are complaining, fans are there. Do you stick with what works or is it now on shoulders of these new reality stars to actually change what we see? Click it or kick it, in your mind?
HOBBY: I say click it. I`m a little biased because I like any show based in Atlanta, but at the same time I think this does give us some insight in to the music community and inside making a hip hop album and being a part of that community, coming up. Now, I also think they need to chill out on the violence a little bit and maybe recreate those story lines a little bit differently.
HAMMER: Hyla, does it kick it for you? it`s looking that way.
HYLA: Yeah, this is a kick it. I mean, my takeaway is it`s just a bunch of rappers who don`t want to, like, commit to their woman. That`s what the show is about. That`s not a good representation for the ATL, is it, Jenn?
HOBBY: No, not really. Not really.
HAMMER: OK. Well, Jenn and Hyla, we`re just getting warmed up here on the SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Click It or Kick It?" and we want Atlanta to be well represented. Here`s a reality star, now, that we just couldn`t get enough of in 2012, Honey Boo-Boo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMPSON: I`m going to do the -- I want to get ready. Who likes my glasses? Who likes my glasses?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I likes your glasses, Honey Boo-Boo. Child who ruled on reality TV, this year, but can the pint-sized showstopper keep the train wreck rolling in to the new year?
And "Dancing with the Stars," a sure-fire reality hit, so far, but you know, after the all-star season, is it maybe time for the stars to hang up the dancing shoes? And can "Dancing" cha-cha its way to the top of our SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Click It or Kick It?"
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who doesn`t love America? This place a fantastic. It`s really the land of (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s all about cash, flash...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s $6,000.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I`m just going to have to take this, today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Crystal, gold.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Coming in at No. 4 on the SHOWBIZ Countdown of the top 10 reality TV programs, this year, that have us asking, "Click It or Kick It?" It`s Bravo`s "Shahs of Sunset" which follows a group of rich young Persian- American friends who like to party, an awful lot, of course there was a lot of controversy from critics who did say that the show did nothing but reinforce negative stereotypes. Still, after one season, "Shahs of Sunset" was renewed for a second, I guess enough fans said "click it" instead of "kick it."
We`re counting down the top 10 reality TV show this is year that have us asking, should we keep clicking on it or kick it to the curb?
Coming in at No. 3, the show that follows Whitney Houston`s family as they deal with life after Whitney`s death, it`s called "The Houston`s: On Our Own," and it actually features Whitney Houston`s only daughter, Bobbi Kristina. But since the show launched, a lot of critics have been questioning whether it`s just too much, too soon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOBBI KRISTINA HOUSTON, WHITNEY HOUSTON`S DAUGHTER: Nobody knows anything about our relationship and they never will because it was meant for us to understand and that`s it. I don`t think my family can handle that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Back with me now, entertainment gurus Jenn Hobby and Hyla.
And I get the Houston`s wanting to share their story, guys, but there have been so many reports about Bobbi Kristina struggling since her mom`s death. It just feels like too much, too soon, for her, to so many people. Jenn, off to you, do you say click it or kick it?
HOBBY: I think kick it, A.J. it`s just too much, too soon. It hasn`t even a year yet since Whitney`s passing and all of a sudden she`s living her life in front of cameras. This child needs some private time and some time to mourn and to heal and get through whatever it is that she`s going through. This relationship with the adopted step brother and all these other things that are going on, are a reaction of her mourning and she hasn`t given herself time to do that without the public scrutiny. I just think, kick it.
HAMMER: Yeah, easy to agree with that.
All right, from the Houston family`s drama playing out on TV, to dancing all-star drama. "Dancing with the Stars" all-stars, it`s at our No. 2 spot in the SHOWBIZ Countdown.
Melissa Rycroft, who became famous after getting jilted on "The Bachelor," and her dance pro partner, Tony Dovolani, were crowned all-star champions. This was a season of fan favorites, they returned for a second chance to win the Mirabal Trophy. But there`s something to be said about seeing new blood on the dance floor, Hyla. Kick it or click it?
HYLA: I`m going to kick this one. Why? Because I like the version where we`re bringing in new people and I like to see the growth every week. That`s what`s exciting for me about this show, is you see someone really bad and by the end of it, they could be a really good dancer. Here you had kind of like decent dancers getting a little bit better. Not so much fun to watch.
HAMMER: Yeah. Perhaps a good one off, but maybe leave it in the past.
That leaves us at No. 1 on our SHOWBIZ Countdown of the top 10 reality TV shows this year that have us asking, "Click It or Kick It?" Which show will be crowned with all the glory? Jenn, Hyla, do not move.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: I have been having a blast, counting down the top 10 reality TV shows this year that have us asking, "Click It or Kick It?"
It is finally time to reveal who sits at the top of the heap. Who else can it be? Coming in at No. 1, crowned with all the glory, it`s pageant princess turned bona fide reality star, Honey Boo-Boo Child, who took the world by storm on her family reality show, "Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUNE SHANNON, MOTHER: Sometimes when Glitzy does squeal it sounds like he`s saying, "Alana."
(PIG SQUEALING)
And Alana thinks that Glitzy`s talking to her.
THOMPSON: I hope mama don`t eat Glitzy. She eats everything else. I`m going to let you go, you stink. Our pig stinks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Mama didn`t eat her, Honey Boo-Boo. How could you go wrong with Glitzy the pig and how could we not give the top honor to Honey Boo-Boo? Of course, if you`re a true fan of the show, you know that Glitzy is gone because mama and Sugar Bear, Honey Boo-Boo`s parents, they couldn`t take care of him anymore, but the family is certainly really latching on to the hearts of millions of viewers.
Jenn hobby, back to you, click it or kick it for the next year?
HOBBY: I absolutely say click it. This is such an honest family. They are just living life and not caring what everybody else thinks about it. And how can you not love a show that coined a term "redneckognize?"
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Yeah, I would have to agree with you on that. But, people did have their issues with it. Let`s not forget it was Mama June horrified us with her go-to formula for Honey Boo-Boo called "Go-go juice," a nice little mixture of red bull and Mountain Dew, Hyla. I do agree, the family has a lot of charm, though. Click it or kick it, for you?
HYLA: OK. This one`s tough for me, because I`m down for laughing with people, not necessarily at people. In a lot of interviews you see June Boo Boo, if you will, saying, hey, they`re having a good time, so as long as they`re having fun, I`m OK with that. I say click it only on this.
If they can move forward by doing something positive, you know, maybe they get healthy, they could still be crazy, redneckognizing all they want to, but like the soda drinks, that`s got to stop, the restaurants that they eat at, that`s got to stop, maybe like a biggest loser type of intervention comes in to play. I like to see them become better.
HAMMER: But I will say, and I`ll ad this to what you`re saying, Hyla, I think where they do do good for the country is they do bust down some stereotypes, such compassion and sort of openness that you see coming from a family like this, you wouldn`t necessarily expect.
But we`re going to leave it there. Whole lot of fun counting them down with you, guys. Jenn Hobby, Hyla, thank you so much for being with us for this countdown.
Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Monday through Thursday, 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. HLN continues, right now.
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