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Showbiz Tonight

Hoaxer Confesses to Dr. Phil about His Motivations; Petition Calls for Ben Affleck to Run for Vacant Senate Seat; Whitney Houston`s Mom Would Not Have been OK With Her Being Gay; Kate Upton`s Racy Super Bowl Ad; Interview with Lingerie Football League Players; Tim McGraw`s Lifestyle Change

Aired January 30, 2013 - 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: Right now the SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Super Sunday Shockers." The sexy Kate Upton Super Bowl ad that`s sparking super-sized outrage.

Plus, the Lingerie Bowl gets a new name, but what`s the difference if the uniforms the women are wearing look like underwear. Two gridiron lingerie players are right here with the revealing changes.

Hello and thanks for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer.

And our SHOWBIZ Countdown of the top "Super Sunday Shockers" you do not want to miss is coming up. But we begin with our first big countdown of the night. It`s today`s top three "SHOWBIZ News Makers."

Let`s kick it off at No. 3 with Dr. Phil making big news. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the very first look at Dr. Phil in action, asking the hoaxster who pulled the catfish over Manti Te`o`s eyes why he did it. Why did Ronaiah Tuiasosopo concoct a fake online girlfriend for the Notre Dame football star? Why did he end it by pretending that the pretend girlfriend died of leukemia?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RONAIAH TUIASOSOPO, HOAXTER: I wanted to end it, because after everything I had gone through, I finally realized that I just had to move on with my life and had to get, you know, my -- me, Ronaiah, I had to start just living and -- and let this go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: You think? But wait. There`s more. So let me bring in Kim Coles, who is starring in "Oh, But Wait, There`s More." It opens in New York City Friday at the Laurie Beechman Theater.

So Kim, here`s the thing. The more is Ronaiah reportedly revealing to Dr. Phil that Manti Te`o was not in on the hoax. Something we have all wondered about. He says he created this unbelievable lie. But should we believe anything he says? I have a really hard time doing that.

KIM COLES, ACTRESS: I don`t know. No, I don`t think we should believe anything he says. And I think it`s interesting that he`s gone to "The Dr. Phil Show" to share his story or to break the news or whatever.

So I guess we`ll hear what he has to say and find out why he did it and what`s behind it. But I hope he gets some help, because this was a big -- this could have gone even worse than it did. Do you know what I`m saying?

HAMMER: Absolutely. And he is getting help, fortunately. But we`ve all been following this thing. It`s really been playing out like a nonstop soap opera since we first learned that Manti Te`o had been hoaxed.

So I figure let me bring in a genuine soap star, "General Hospital`s" Sean Kanan. He`s with us tonight in Hollywood. He, his character, has certainly seen it all. Far weirder than this stuff. Sean is also the co- host of the new UBN radio show, "Kanan`s Rules." It debuts next Wednesday. Good on you for that, Sean.

SEAN KANAN, ACTOR/RADIO HOST: Thank you.

HAMMER: So once a liar, always a liar; is that what you`re feeling about Ronaiah here?

KANAN: A.J., I have so many -- so many feelings about this. This guy Ronaiah is clown shoes. I mean, he`s obviously a sociopath. And you can tell, because what he said, "After everything that I`ve been through," and he really puts the focus on himself, as if he was the victim, which is I think really, you know, sort of a classic symptom of somebody that -- that is a sociopath.

Obviously Manti, not doing any research at Cal Poly Tech, naive. But this guy seems incredibly untrustworthy to me. I can`t believe that somebody would even do this to another person. It`s ridiculous.

HAMMER: It is ridiculous. It is stunning. And if you`re wondering, well, why would he go to Dr. Phil? Dr. Phil was speaking about this interview this morning on "The Today Show." And he told "The Today Show`s" Mike Taibbi that it was actually Ronaiah`s psychiatrist who asked Dr. Phil to interview Ronaiah, and no surprise here.

KANAN: But this is a guy -- this is a guy that`s clearly looking to sort of up his stock and increase his brand. I mean, he -- he perpetrated this entire scam against a huge celebrity. OK?

HAMMER: Right.

KANAN: And, you know, going on "The Dr. Phil Show" just extends this idiot`s 15 minutes.

HAMMER: Well, and that is the interesting part, and people may question, you know, was Dr. Phil doing a bad thing by getting himself involved? But it is "The Dr. Phil Show."

And to the point, I think, that everybody`s been making here, that Dr. Phil says Ronaiah is certainly a very troubled man. Let`s watch that part of the interview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. PHIL MCGRAW, TALK SHOW HOST: Ronaiah had a number of life experiences that damaged this young man in some very serious ways. Here we have a young man that fell deeply, romantically, in love.

MIKE TAIBBI, NBC`S "THE TODAY SHOW": Does he say that? Does he say, "I fell in love"?

MCGRAW: I asked him straight up, "Was this a romantic relationship with you," and he says yes. I said, "Are you then therefore gay?"

And he said, "Well, when you put it that way, yes." And then he caught himself and said, "I am confused."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: And so here`s the very interesting thing. All this is very interesting, and everybody really has wanted more insight into what has been behind Ronaiah perpetrating this massive hoax. So to that point, I guess, I can basically understand why Dr. Phil would want to do this.

But here you have Dr. Phil basically saying Ronaiah was in love with Manti. And Kim, I`m thinking this may put to rest once and for all any speculation that Manti may have been in on this hoax to further his football career. Something I never really believed anyway.

COLES: Well, I didn`t believe either. And so that would be one of the good outcomes of this, that now we no longer blame him or indict him in any way.

I will say that, if this man is this troubled and if he has these issues he has to deal with and come to terms with his possible homosexuality, then he really should do that with a -- it shouldn`t happen on a public stage. He should have the time for whatever -- whatever he went through, as Dr. Phil said, his troubled childhood, he should find the time to privately work on that, heal on that.

HAMMER: Yes.

COLES: Heal that instead of going public so soon.

I just find it interesting. And we`re not going to hear -- this is not going to be the end of this. That`s for sure.

HAMMER: No, it`s not. And he is seeing a psychiatrist, as we mentioned. We`ll definitely learn more when we hear the full interview airing tomorrow and Friday on "Dr. Phil." And we expect more news to break out of those parts of the interview.

But now onto No. 2 on our "SHOWBIZ News Makers" countdown. It`s a call to Ben Affleck. "Argo" to Washington.

Yes, the Oscar-winning actor, screenwriter and director who is just racking up award after award for his movie "Argo" is now being urged to run for the open U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts.

Now, there`s been chatter about this before. He`s blown it off. But today a new "draft Ben" movement really took off. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner is in Hollywood, following this story. Do you think, really, Nischelle, could we see a Senator Affleck?

NISCHELLE TURNER, HLN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we could, A.J., if the people behind the new online petition have their way. This petition is from RawNews.com. They started the petition to convince Affleck to run in June`s Massachusetts special election to fill the Senate seat of John Kerry, who will be the next secretary of state.

Now Affleck was asked about a possible political future on CBS`s "Face the Nation" just last month. Watch what he said then.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN AFFLECK, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: I do have a great fondness and admiration for the political process in this country. It`s a big deal for me to come down here and be on your show I`ve watched so much, but I`m not going to get into speculation about my political future.

I like to be involved. Right now I`m really happy being involved from the outside in government: advocating for the Congolese. Taking this movie that I made, "Argo," and it`s really become a springboard for dialogue about our relationship with Iran. Which as, you know, Hillary Clinton said is the most pressing foreign policy issue today. So...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TURNER: I`m going to pick his words apart here, A.J. You`ll notice what was missing in his statement there were the words "I`m not interested in running for office."

HAMMER: Right.

TURNER: Didn`t hear that one. So who knows? Maybe this online petition will change his mind.

HAMMER: Yes, but I think about what his good friend, George Clooney, has always said and has told me in the past. He felt he could effect more change from outside, as Ben mentioned there. So maybe he`ll continue to be involved with policy, just not from the confines of an elected office. But we`ll see.

And of course, first he has to get past the next few weeks and the Oscars, which are coming up.

So while Ben`s political future is making news, it is an explicit comment that landed one newsmaker in the No. 1 spot today in our SHOWBIZ Countdown. It`s Whitney Houston`s mom, Cissy.

Now listen to this: Cissy just told Oprah that she would not have been OK if it turned out her daughter, Whitney Houston, was gay. On "Oprah`s Next Chapter," Oprah actually asked Cissy about the longtime rumors that Whitney had a lesbian relationship with a longtime friend. And Cissy did not mince words at all when she was asked if Whitney would have had her blessing. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OPRAH WINFREY, MEDIA MOGUL: Would it have bothered you if your daughter, Whitney, was gay?

CISSY HOUSTON, WHITNEY`S MOTHER: Absolutely.

WINFREY: It would have bothered you?

HOUSTON: Uh-huh.

WINFREY: You would not have liked that?

HOUSTON: Not at all.

WINFREY: Not at all. You wouldn`t have condoned it or...

HOUSTON: No.

WINFREY: No.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: OK. So right there, Cissy`s reaction, obviously, is getting a lot of attention. But Oprah`s question is raising a lot of eyebrows tonight. Even though Cissy writes about it in her new book. So here`s our "Countdown" question. Was it OK for Oprah to ask Whitney`s mom about the gay rumors?

Kim, let me fire that off to you.

COLES: If she wrote about it in her book, and I think Oprah being a journalist and Oprah being Oprah should have asked. Absolutely.

HAMMER: Yes. And it was interesting that she didn`t challenge her at all.

Sean, do you agree? I mean, it was something that Cissy`s put out there.

KANAN: I agree that that`s fair game. You know, I think that it`s important, though, to differentiate the fact that Cissy may not have been thrilled that her daughter may or may not have been gay doesn`t necessarily mean that this person is homophobic or anti-gay or anything like that. And you have to be very careful not to draw an analogy there that may not be there. You know, she`s also from a different generation.

So I would want to hear a little more about her thought process before rushing to judgment and sort of labeling her as someone that`s maybe homophobic or anything like that. She`s also probably undoubtedly in a tremendous amount of pain.

HAMMER: Sure.

KANAN: She`s probably really angry still. And you know, I kind of give her a pass.

HAMMER: All right, Sean. Thank you for that.

Kim, thank you, as well. Great having you both here.

And tonight, it is another spectacular SHOWBIZ Countdown. I can`t wait for our top three "Super Sunday Shockers," including this Kate Upton Super Bowl ad.

Oh, yes. A "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit model looking sexy in a car commercial. So what`s the real shocker here?

Plus the Lingerie Football League sheds the lingerie. The gridiron galls get a brand-new look and a brand-new name. But is the massive transformation a major fumble? Well, we`ve got two of the league`s biggest stars right here with us. Just look at them. But will their "Super Sunday Shocker" score the biggest SHOWBIZ Countdown touchdown tonight?

This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Geico`s 15 Minutes of Fame," a "15 Minutes of Fame Flashback." Do you remember this Diet Coke commercial from back in 1994?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s 11:30.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s 11:30.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s 11:30.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Diet Coke break.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Diet Coke break.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Diet Coke break.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Yes. You remember that, don`t you? That was male model Lucky Vanous, who got very famous for sucking down a Diet Coke with those ladies ogling at him from a nearby office building while in the background we`re hearing "I Just Want to Make Love to You."

Now there`s a new guy who`s getting lucky and enjoying his 15 minutes of fame, because Diet Coke is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a brand- new ad featuring a brand-new hunk, and he`s handling a lawn mower this time. His name, Andrew Cooper. And he`s a British model. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC: "I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU")

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: OK. There you go. Comedian and actress Kim Coles back with us in New York tonight. Her new show is "Oh But Wait, There`s More." It opens this Friday in New York. And I assume it`s going to be air conditioned in the theater, Kim. I think you could use your...

COLES: Yes. I`m going to need the air conditioning after that commercial. I`m going to need the air conditioning. Woo-hoo!

HAMMER: So I was about to ask you hot or not. I think I have my answer.

COLES: Yes. Hot. Hot. And fun. It`s really poking fun at the old commercial and done in a really fresh, fun way. I think it`s absolutely adorable. He is. The Coke is. Whatever that is.

HAMMER: Right. You`re talking about the soda, the label, right?

COLES: Yes, sure.

HAMMER: Yes. Let`s put the new commercial side by side, Charles, if we can, with that one from 1994. Can we do that? OK. Here we go. This one features Andrew, who is showing a lot more skin. You know he`s showing more abs than Lucky did back in 1994.

So Kim, Lucky`s 15 minutes of fame, and I remember people were really talking about him back then, but it has long since faded. He got a couple of acting gigs but nothing really notable. Do you think Andrew, for any reason, has a better shot of extending his 15 minutes?

COLES: Well, I think we`re in different times. We have a huge -- I`m sure they`re launching a huge social media campaign for him. And I`m sure he will tap into it. So I think that nowadays you have an opportunity to extend those 15 minutes of fame.

The truth -- the truth will be in the -- in time. And what we see him do and what he does with this 15 minutes. He could come to my house and spend 16 minutes any day.

HAMMER: OK. And he -- so you`re supposing that maybe he`s single. But I`m going to have to break news to you right now and really to anybody who`s out there wondering if he`s still available. He`s married. So you know...

COLES: Well, she`s a lucky, lucky girl.

HAMMER: Did we just -- did we just hear collective hearts breaking all over America, Kim? What just happened?

COLES: Oh, he`s not going to have 15 minutes. Now he only gets 12.

HAMMER: It`s been reduced because of his marital status.

COLES: No. It`s all good. And it all depends on what he does after this. That`s going to be the key.

HAMMER: All right. Well, I`m sure there will be no shortage of, you know, sort of people approaching him for all the attention that this is going to bring him.

Kim Coles, great seeing you. And good luck with this new show. Looks fantastic. "Oh, But Wait, There`s More." It opens on Friday.

COLES: Thank you.

HAMMER: Well, another classic Super Bowl is just four days away. And tonight I am counting down the top three "Super Sunday Shockers," including this brand-new Beyonce shocker. Now, there`s some stunning reports out there about her outrageous Super Bowl diva demands. We`re talking Blue Ivy`s room filled with rose-scented candles, cigar and alcohol specially shipped from New York. Could this actually be true? What`s going on?

Well, we`ve got a superstar singer right here tonight with some insight. It`s Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray weighing in on today`s Super Bowl drama.

Plus, I can`t wait to give you your moment of SHOWBIZ awesomeness tonight. We`re unleashing the puppies. The Sunday bowl game that`s just too cute for words. Our little sneak peek of the Puppy Bowl is coming up.

This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Tonight "SHOWBIZ on Location" at the Super Bowl in New Orleans. And yes, the Super Bowl is all about the game. But of course, when you`re in the Big Easy, come on. You`ve got to be thinking about the food, right?

Gumbo, po boys, crawdaddies. Getting your grub on just doesn`t get any better than in New Orleans. It`s a raging Cajun Super Bowl this year, and HLN`s Carlos Diaz is on the streets of New Orleans with a taste of what is to come this weekend -- Carlos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARLOS DIAZ, HLN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I have a very big warning for both head coaches, John and Jim Harbaugh. Do not let your players go to the French Quarter. No, it`s not because of the night life. It`s because of the food. Your players could put on hundreds of pounds before the big game on Sunday, as I found out myself.

New Orleans is about more than just football. It`s also about great food. So we wanted to visit the best places in the French Quarter to find out where the most amazing food actually is.

So we thought we`d start at Oceana, where they have, allegedly, the best crab cakes, the best grilled oyster, and I think this...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s gator bites.

DIAZ: ... is gator bites?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s right. Real alligator.

DIAZ: Alligator. Tastes like alligator.

I`m no expert, but if the name of the restaurant is Gumbo Shop, I think they`re going to have great gumbo. This place allegedly has the best chicken Andouille gumbo in all of New Orleans. Let`s go.

There`s the chicken. There`s the Andouille. There`s chicken Andouille gumbo. Mmm. Chicken and sausage never tasted so good. The Gumbo Shop, they know what they`re doing.

My belly. I cannot eat another bite. I forgot about the world-famous po boys at Johnny`s. This looks to be a surf and turf po boy, which means it`s got shrimp and roast beef. I`ve got to try this. Mmm.

If you`re going to come to the Super Bowl, make sure you bring your appetite.

Yes. And in case you`re wondering a po boy, which is a surf and turf, is not steak and lobster. It`s shrimp and roast beef.

And if you`re wondering what gator tail tastes like, it doesn`t taste like chicken. It tastes like gator.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) HLN`s Carlos Diaz for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you, my friend.

Well, there`s more big Super Bowl Sunday news tonight, including this controversial Kate Upton ad.

Oh, yes. Tonight the brand-new outrage over the supermodel`s Super Bowl car commercial. Is it just way too sexy for the family-friendly game?

And what about the stunning reports that Beyonce is making some outrageous demands for her half-time performance? Is Beyonce having a diva moment? Will her alleged over-the-top demands top our SHOWBIZ Countdown of the top three "Super Sunday Shockers"?

This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.

Time now for "SHOWBIZ Say What?" Take a look at "Modern Family`s" Sofia Vergara on the SAG Awards red carpet. What do you think was on her mind? This picture got snapped right before Sofia snagged the award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series, along with her cast mates.

Share your thought bubble with us. Head to HLNTV.com/SHOWBIZTonight. Just fill in the thought bubble. We`re going to share our favorite answers tomorrow right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Right now the SHOWBIZ Countdown, "Super Sunday Shockers."

The Lingerie Football League gets a major, major makeover. Will fans still watch the sexy showdowns? Well, I figure who better to ask than the players themselves? Two members of the Los Angeles Temptations are right here and clearly suited up for an unforgettable "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview.

Another "Super Sunday Shocker". Is Kate Upton`s racy Super Bowl add preview too hot for TV? And which "Super Sunday Shocker" will top tonight`s SHOWBIZ Countdown?

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues right now.

(MUSIC)

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer and you do not want to miss this. Because we are counting down the top three "Super Sunday Shockers" right now.

Kicking things off at number three with a stunner from the Lingerie Football League. Getting a major makeover at least in its name. The women will now be playing in the Legends Football League. Now, that`s a big switch. But is a name change enough to change an image? Who better to ask than the players themselves?

Natalie Jahnke and Ogom Chijindu are the players in the "L.A. Temptation." They`re the newly named Legends Football League. I`m still trying to get used to that. They join me tonight from Hollywood. So nice to have you here.

NATALIE JAHNKE, PLAYS FOR L.A. TEMPTATION: Thank you for having us.

HAMMER: Sure. And I have to ask you before we start, did you drive to our studio today in those outfits? Or did you change when you got there? Because I`m thinking you would have caused some car accidents for sure.

JAHNKE: The eye black definitely gets a lot of attention, so we do refrain from getting into our uniforms when we come to the studio.

HAMMER: Yes, I figured that that would be probably best. Well, you had the sexy name.

JAHNKE: Right.

HAMMER: Of course, we have the lingerie. You have these beautiful women all battling it out on the field. Isn`t the league mostly about sex appeal, Natalie? I mean, why change the name now?

JAHNKE: Well, we piggybacked off it being sexy. And we tried to get the fans through this sex appeal. Now that we`ve moved away from just being models and playmates to actually having athletes, it`s better to basically change the name, so people understand that we`re here to play football ...

HAMMER: Yeah.

JAHNKE: Instead of just be sexy. So, it puts the priority of sexy below being an athlete.

HAMMER: OK.

JAHNKE: It`s still sexy but athletic and football players in the line.

HAMMER: Listen, I get it, I totally get the idea. And appreciate what you guys are trying to do. And I say this with all due respect, Ogom, do you think a new name is going to change people`s opinions about the league? I know you want it to and I get that, but really?

OGOM CHIJINDU, PLAYS FOR L.A. TEMPTATION: You know, I don`t know if a new name is going to change everybody`s opinion. But what it is going to do is give us an opportunity to showcase that we`re athletes. It`s going to let people know that we`re real athletes out there doing the best that we can and playing this sport the best way that we can, which is like bad asses. You know, everybody like gave us attention with the lingerie and that name. And that was great. But now we`re ready to reach a bigger demographic. And I think Legends Football League is going to do that.

HAMMER: OK, and I wish you the best of luck and again, I completely get it. But we`re showing some stills we`re looking at you guys right now. But Charles, put up those pictures again that we are seeing from the game. OK.

(LAUGHTER)

HAMMER: Look at -- I mean, let`s be realistic here. When you look at your uniform, you got to know a lot of people are going to be turning away from the biggest football match of the year not to see more football. But to see you ladies in those uniforms as spectacular athletes as you may be. So, Natalie, what do you hope at the end of the day, at the end of Super Bowl Sunday, what do you hope people are going to get out of watching your team play?

JAHNKE: Basically I want them to understand that we`re athletes. The uniforms may get you to watch it, but the football is going to keep you there. And the biggest thing is, that we`re out, day in and day out training to be football players. We are not training to get attention in these uniforms. So, that`s the underlying messages. Hey, we`re athletes. Come and watch us because we have passion for the grid iron, passion for football.

HAMMER: OK, all right. So, if wearing those particular uniforms gets people to tune in and hopefully get the rest of your message -- more power to you, guys. Good luck on Sunday.

JAHNKE: Absolutely.

HAMMER: Natalie, Ogom, it`s great to meet you both. Thanks for being here.

JAHNKE: Thank you so much.

CHIJINDU: Thank you so much.

HAMMAER: OK, as we move on tonight, from downplaying sex appeal to possibly pushing the limits.

We`re up to number two on our SHOWBIZ Countdown of "Super Sunday Shockers". It`s Kate Upton`s new super sexy Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl teaser ad. Let`s watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

KATE UPTON, MODEL/ACTRESS: You missed a spot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: OK. So, there it is. An ad that got a lot of attention, but some people are saying it`s for all the wrong reasons. I can`t wait to get our guests to weigh in on this one.

I want to bring in actor Sean Kanan from "General Hospital." He`s the co- host of the UBN radio show "Kanan`s Rules." Sean in Hollywood tonight. Here in New York, comedian and actress, Kim Coles who is set to star in her one woman show. Oh, wait, but there`s more. It opens this Friday at the Laurie Beechman Theater in New York.

So, guys, that was just a teaser ad from Mercedes. But look at it. We`ll show it to you again. The Parents Television Council is reportedly saying that the ad is too racy and sending the wrong message to women. Now, Kim, I`m sitting here thinking it`s 2013, are they crazy? But whose side are you on?

COLES: I actually think that those guys are too young in that commercial. I think that they`re too young. And I think for me that that sort of sets a tone that it`s just a little over the edge for me.

HAMMER: OK. So it`s not so much about how sexy Kate Upton looks, but it`s the age of the guys for you.

COLES: Well, yeah. And that`s what makes the balance a little offish. She is so sexy and that they`re so young.

HAMMER: OK.

COLES: For me that`s a little -- I like them young, too, but not that young.

(LAUGHTER)

HAMMER: All right. From a male perspective, I go to my friend Sean. Critics overreacting ...

KANAN: Hey, A.J.

HAMMER: ... overanalyzing this one, Sean?

KANAN: Well, you know, I think compared to some of the previous ads like the burger ads with Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, this really isn`t that salacious. I mean I don`t know, I think there is the possibility that as a society we`re getting a little too politically correct. But, you know, there`s another issue at hand here. I think they strategically made a mistake. I think they missed their demographic. I know when I was in college, I was more on a top Ramen budget ...

HAMMER: Yes.

KANAN: ... than on the Mercedes-Benz budget.

HAMMER: Yes. Yes.

KANAN: So, it doesn`t seem like they`re really catering to the demographic of the people that are going to buy a Mercedes. I mean I think the commercial itself is actually, you know, tame compared to a lot of the stuff that we`ve seen.

HAMMER: I absolutely agree. I can recall one specific Jessica Simpson commercial just a couple of years ago. I believe it was for a burger. But you barely knew that. And I should point out again, this was just the teaser ad for Mercedes-Benz. An extended look is what you`re going to get of the real deal Sunday. And it was just released for Upton to be showing off her wares there. But apparently on Sunday on the ad it`s only five seconds of her. But since the teaser has everybody talking, Sean, I`m thinking, you know, obviously a win/win for Mercedes-Benz regardless of who their target are.

KANAN: Well, listen, you guys just played the entire commercial for them. And I`m sure they didn`t pay for it. So yeah, it`s definitely a win. The other thing, too, to think about is she`s actually not washing the car. Think about it.

HAMMER: Right.

KANAN: The guys are the ones washing the car. So yes, she`s, you know, dancing provocatively and God bless her for that, too, but ...

COLE: You don`t even get a really good look at the car, though.

KANAN: Well ...

COLE: You don`t see the lines of the car ...

HAMMER: It`s not for that car. And I have to tell you.

COLE: And you`re right, most guys ....

HAMMER: Kim, we don`t need to see the car. So stop that.

COLE: Those guys ...

HAMMER: We don`t need to see the car.

COLE: We don`t even see the -- a Mercedes-Benz is beautiful and sexy as it is. We don`t need to see these young guys, you know, washing the car.

HAMMER: Right. Just get rid of the guys and just keep Kate.

KANAN: Just Kate in the car.

COLE: Drive -- have her drive the car.

KANAN: We don`t need the car ...

COLE: That would tell me the car ...

KANAN: We don`t really need the car, A.J. let`s be honest.

HAMMER: I`m going to give a little insight as to how my mind works. All I`m thinking is, these guys, I`m a car guy, and these guys are using these abrasive sponges cleaning the hood of this car. And I`m here with my OCD freaking out about that. That`s just wrong.

But Kim, can you give some credit to Mercedes-Benz? I mean look. We`re talking about this in great detail, playing this whole commercial. You can`t deny the success they`re having.

COLE: Well, my interest is piqued. I now want to see what the actual car looks like.

HAMMER: OK.

COLE: And I`m not even a car girl. Like now I`m like OK, OK, get rid of the guys, get rid of the girl. What does the car look like?

HAMMER: All right. Got it. And Sean, by the way I was just sitting here before when I was speaking to the legends of football ladies and couldn`t help but think, oh, I`m glad Sean is married. Because they`re in the studio next door. We`ll leave it there, Sean and Kim.

KANAN: Yes.

(LAUGHTER)

HAMMER: We`ll leave it there, Sean and Kim, and stay where you are because that brings us to number one on the SHOWBIZ Countdown of "Super Sunday Shockers".

It`s Beyonce. So, everybody is wondering if she`s making outrageous diva demands. I promise you I will get to the bottom of that. I`m going to be joined by Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath for a headline making SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.

Well, Beyonce is certainly going to bring it at the half time show, but that`s still not enough to get you to watch football`s biggest night, wait until you see this awesome alternative. I love this.

It is tonight`s SHOWBIZ Awesomeness: the Puppy Bowl. Puppies on the grid iron. Hedgehog cheerleaders. And a kitty half time show. I mean, come on. How cute is that? Your sneak peek at tonight`s SHOWBIZ Awesomeness.

This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Welcome back. We are counting down the top three "Super Sunday Shockers". And here`s where we are so far.

Coming in at number three, the Lingerie League gets a major makeover changing their names to the Legends Football League. Number two, critics blast super model Kate Upton`s Mercedes Super Bowl ad calling it too racy for TV. Imagine that. And number one on the SHOWBIZ Countdown of the "Sunday Super Shockers", Beyonce`s reported diva demands leading up to her much-anticipated Super Bowl half-time show.

Now, Beyonce`s rider was reportedly leaked. That`s the contract that says what the artist`s requirements are at a show, and it reportedly claims that Beyonce required daughter Blue Ivy`s $60,000 cedar cot be transported from their New York home to New Orleans. That along with more than $6,000 in personal cigars and alcohol and that Blue Ivy`s room be furnished with rose scented candles and, by the way, kept at 26 degrees Celsius.

Now, the NFL is saying it`s all bunch of pulp fiction. So are people just out to bring Beyonce down?

I`m so pleased to welcome my good friend, Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath is with us tonight in New York for the SHOWBIZ Newsmaker interview. And Mark, along with his band Sugar Ray and some of the biggest multi-platinum bands from the 1990s, are set to kick off what`s going to be a very cool, special music themed cruise. It fires up on October 18th for three fun- filled days of great music and I imagine a little bit of partying, Mark.

(LAUGHTER)

HAMMER: I just have a feeling you, guys, are going to have some big fun. Great having you here.

MARK MCGRATH, SINGER, SUGAR RAY: You, too, A.J. and you`re so good at what you`re doing, my brother.

HAMMER: Oh.

MCGRATH: Thanks for having me.

HAMMER: Thank you, my brother. Now, taking it over to Beyonce at this moment. She is on the top of everyone`s minds these days. First, we had that lip-synch gate. I excuse her over that, a lot of people still hold that against here. But now we have this. Do you think we`re at the point, Mark, where people are just looking for reasons to pile on really one of the greatest stars we have right now?

MCGRATH: I think so, A.J. If people are thinking hey, can Beyonce not sing? Are you crazy? The lady can sing that text -- the telephone book and make it sound great. It`s just more scrutiny. And by the way, superstar demands -- as superstar talent gets superstar demands. But it makes me feel a lot better for having boxers and socks on the Sugar Ray rider. I`ll tell you that right now.

HAMMER: Yeah, I would like to know, actually, Mark. You know, back in 1997, when Sugar Ray`s song "Fly" was number one for, what, a month and a half ...

(LAUGHTER)

HAMMER: You know, you were never known as a diva, Mark, but you guys have to have been feeling pretty good about yourselves. What beyond the boxers and what else was, like, one of the maybe diva items on your list?

MCGRATH: Well, that bottle of Jagermeister might not have been the best idea either back then. That`s one thing we got to learn how to -- get our -- check our spots. You know, what I`m saying. But we were never that much diva-esque. I think the boxers and the socks were the extent of our divadom, if you will. But Beyonce, she deserves those items.

HAMMER: Yes.

MCGRATH: Superstar talent deserve superstar demands. So.

HAMMER: Yeah, it`s not so unusual, right?

MCGRATH: No, come on.

HAMMER: People shouldn`t be freaked out even if it is true.

MCGRATH: No, but it makes Van Halen`s green M &M`s seem tame these days, I`ll tell you that.

HAMMER: Yes, that`s so funny. They said only green M&Ms in our bowls back in the dresser room. Trust me. I`ve been at a lot of backstage events as have you and we do see a lot of weird, weird requests and stuff back there.

MCGRATH: That`s for sure.

HAMMER: Well, people as we`ve been talking about, are really being coming down hard on Beyonce since she reportedly lip-synched at the inauguration. Now everybody`s talking about will she do it again at the Super Bowl this weekend? But Mark, does it really matter?

MCGRATH: Well, my question to you, A.J., is that traditionally for my understanding except some of the rock bands, everybody lip-synchs at the Super Bowl due to technical possibilities that can go wrong. So, I think people are going to be extra speculating, extra scrutinizing Beyonce`s performance, and I`m curious to see she was going to come out and sing live and just put everybody`s minds at rest.

HAMMER: Yeah, but give us a reality check on that, Mark. You know what it`s like to be in a big stadium, to have the sound bouncing back at you. And one little technical glitch, a level not being right, not being able to use your monitors in your ears, it`s a tough gig. And I don`t think people fully grasp that.

MCGRATH: No, they don`t. And A.J., I`d like to say, if I had sung -- if I had lip-synched on the Tonight Show or some other like performances, I`d probably still be selling out Madison Square Garden with Sugar Ray, you know what I mean?

HAMMER: So, was that the problem?

MCGARTH: Yeah, sometimes an off-key is off key. And I was pretty good (INAUDIBLE) back in the day, but you`re right. There are so many things that can go wrong. Sounding ear, these little monitors can go awry. So, it might as well be safe with the Super Bowl. Again, if people don`t think Beyonce can sing, you`ve got another thing coming, to quote Rob Halford.

HAMMER: Yeah, and by the way, you guys are going to sound flawless on your big cruise coming up in October.

But from -- let`s move from what is sure to be a great performance from Beyonce on the Super Bowl to what`s going to be a great night of performances in a couple of weeks. The Grammy Awards are coming, Mark. I`d like to get your take on the Best Album category of this year, because I think it`s some pretty competition from The Black Keys with "El Camino". Fun nominated for an amazing album, "Some Nights." I love Mumford & Sons, they`re nominated for "Babel." Frank Ocean is nominated and so is Jack White.

For me, this comes down to a battle on two ends of the musical spectrum from The Black Keys to Fun. Who are you rooting for and who do you think is going to win?

MCGRATH: Everybody, a worthy candidate, A.J. to win, the coveted Grammy, but without a doubt it will go to Frank Ocean and "Channel Orange." A revolutionary R&B album kind of dictating the tone of what the future of R&B is going to be. I think it`s without a doubt Frank`s to lose.

HAMMER: All right. Mark McGrath, Frank Ocean, "Channel Orange." I`m holding you to that. Great to see you, Mark.

MCGRATH: A.J., you`re a great man. Thank you so much.

HAMMER: You got it. And do not forget the Mark McGrath and French cruise sails away on October 18th to the 21st with some of the biggest multi- platinum bands from the 1990s. It`s going to be a blast.

Well, coming up next, Tim McGraw`s dramatic new confessions. You`re going to find out how the country super star transformed his body, his health, and his secret TV addiction. You`ve never seen McGraw like this before.

This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where are you going?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That hunter Jack Tyler Lockwood (ph) was a werewolf last night, so basically he`s got vampire poison in a bottle. And I`m going to find him and I`m going to eat him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`ll go with you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don`t want your help. I just want to kill this guy and get the hell out of town.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Who doesn`t? "The Vampire Diaries" takes a bit bite out of social media. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that the CW Network program was the number one trending prime-time show of this past week. So congrats to our corporate cousins. Time Warner is the parent company of the CW and HLN.

Right now, Tim McGraw`s dramatic life transformation. Country superstar graces the cover of this week`s "People" magazine, and he explains why he had to change his life.

"People" magazine reporter Carlos Greer is joining me with in New York with this SHOWBIZ star confession.

So, Carlos, Tim McGraw in my mind and I think in the eyes of many of his fans, seems to have it all. He`s got dozens of awards, his Soul to Soul tour with his gorgeous wife Faith Hill is the highest grossing country tour ever. And he`s got three lovely daughters. What in the world did Tim have to change in his life?

CARLOS GREER, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: AJ, Tim was drinking and partying too much. He had to -- and he wasn`t just drinking light drinks. He wasn`t just drinking beer. This is someone who was a heavy whiskey drinker. And he would have whiskey after whiskey, so he had to stop partying, stop drinking, and start eating right in order to be a better father and to be a better husband.

HAMMER: Well, he made a good decision replacing that drinking with working out. Come on. Look at the results. Look at Tim`s eight pack there. Take a look at this behind the scenes video of his "People" magazine photo shoot. Carlos, what was the secret behind a pretty amazing body transformation to Tim?

GREER: A.J., he literally works out three times a day, 90 minutes each session. That`s over four hours of working out. He`s changed his diet. He doesn`t eat wheat. He cut out sugar. And he upped the protein. He has a high-protein diet, and he`s lost 40 pounds. He`s been doing push-ups, swimming, squats. And as you can see, it`s paid off.

HAMMER: Yeah. I`m happy for him. He doesn`t think that`s a little too obsessive?

GREER: It`s working for him, you know. That`s his tour workout. But even leading up to the tour he does all of that. Even while he is touring, he works out two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. And this is how he found his balance and got happy again.

HAMMER: All right. More power to him. And he says that his health was really only one of the driving forces behind him getting sober and healthy. What`s the other?

GREER: It was important for him to be there for his family. He wanted to be there for his girls. He wanted to be there for Faith. He said that he felt like he was embarrassing them. And it had become an issue, his drinking and his partying. It was a little scary. So he wanted to be there for them. And as you may or may not know, he didn`t have the best childhood, and so he wanted to make sure that he wasn`t repeating his childhood for his girls.

HAMMER: Well, I think he`s a great inspiration to so many people. And this may shock some people more than his transformation, perhaps, that his Sunday night addiction is "Downton Abbey." Now, I get it as a "Downton" addict myself, but is that really one of his favorite shows?

GREER: It`s one of his favorite shows. He`s on the bandwagon, too. Everybody is watching "Downton Abbey." And that`s one of his favorite things to do on Sunday night, is to watch it with his family. So you know, this really is the best we`ve seen Tim McGraw.

HAMMER: Tim McGraw, just like us. All right, Carlos, thank you so up much. Be sure to get your copy of "People" magazine. It is available everywhere on Friday.

Well, coming up, is all of the Super Bowl hype just kind of getting to you? What the heck is a 49er anyway? Well, look at this. We`ve got a super cute, super awesome, Super Bowl alternative. This is actually one of my favorite moments of the year. It is the Puppy Bowl, and I`m about to introduce you to perhaps the cutest starting lineup you`ve ever seen.

Why are we doing this? Because it`s our favorite moment of the day. It`s SHOWBIZ Awesomeness. And it`s next.

This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: It is time for SHOWBIZ Awesomeness. This is where we name the most awesome moment of the day. And tonight I am so pleased because it`s the Puppy Bowl. Now, if guts and glory on the gridiron aren`t for you on Sunday, listen carefully. We`re ready for the ninth annual Puppy Bowl. And as SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staffer, the lovely Joan said so perfectly today, this video truly makes my heart happy, and I`m sure you`ll agree. Let`s watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right off the bat we can tell these pups have come to play. This is the early aggressor. Taking the toy into an immediate scrum.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: I mean, come on. Did I mention the kiddie half-time show and the hedgehog cheerleaders? It is going to be cute overload, I tell you. You want more? Just watch the Puppy Bowl IX, Geico Stadium, Animal Planet Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern.

Next on "DR. DREW ON CALL," the woman who is suing Match.com for $10 million after she was brutally attacked by a man she met on the site. She speaks with Dr. Drew. "DR. DREW ON CALL " starts right now.

END