Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Did Travis Abuse Jodi?; Could Urine Be Key to Pistorius Case?; Teen Asks Supermodel to Prom; Kim Kardashian Critiqued for Maternity Fashion Choices; Duchess Double Take; Bieber`s Mom in the Spotlight; The Timberlake Experience
Aired March 27, 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: We saw tonight on "HLN AFTER DARK" the bold accusation. Was Travis Alexander a sexual deviant? Now SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is counting down today`s top three "SHOWBIZ Justice Shockers," including the big questions about Jodi Arias`s abuse claim.
And the Amanda Knox shocker. Her book tour blitz continues, even though she could be retried for murder.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT starts now. Hello and thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer.
And we saw tonight "HLN AFTER DARK" with that very bold accusation that Jodi Arias`s boyfriend, Travis Alexander, was a sexual deviant. Tonight, another possible Jodi Arias defense is kicking off our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of the top three shocking stories breaking today in the justice system.
Vinnie Politan, who co-hosts "HLN AFTER DARK" weeknights, 10 p.m. here on HLN, is with us tonight from Atlanta. Jane Velez-Mitchell`s live coverage of the Arias trial is seen weeknights, 7 p.m. Eastern, on "THE JANE VELEZ- MITCHELL SHOW," here on HLN, of course. Jane`s with me in New York.
And guys, we begin with No. 3 on the countdown. It is yet one more possible Jodi Arias defense that`s playing out in court. So a domestic abuse expert testified for the defense, Alyce LaViolette painting a picture suggesting it may not be so outrageous to suggest Jodi was abused by her boyfriend. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALYCE LAVIOLETTE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EXPERT: A lot of women have no proof of physical abuse because they haven`t reported. You`re not wanting to get your partner in trouble, so you don`t make the report. You don`t tell anybody. You don`t -- and you lie about what happened in a medical report. So if you go to the doctor and you`ve got, you know, if you have to have stitches, you say that you fell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Looking at her on its own merits, that seems very logical, but Vinnie, on "HLN AFTER DARK," we saw you argue very passionately that Jodi is lying when she says Alexander abused her, and the in-studio jury really agreed with you. They voted 11-1 that Travis was not guilty of abuse. So why are you and apparently the jury so convinced that Jodi is lying about this?
VINNIE POLITAN, HOST, "HLN AFTER DARK": Well, because No. 1, it has a lot to do with her words. I mean, she doesn`t have the independent corroboration of any of this stuff. All she has are her words, and she`s been demonstrated in court time and time again, and admittedly, has lied and lied again.
So a lot of people, myself included, have a real difficult time believing any of these allegations without independent corroboration, which doesn`t exist.
HAMMER: Jane, is that basically your story, too? Because you`ve essentially said she`s been lying about everything, so why should we believe her about this?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": What she`s trying to do, A.J., is make the leap from kinky sex games to abuse, and it`s a leap you can`t make because she was a willing participant in the kinky sex games.
Prosecutors produced texts where she said, "Ooh, I`m looking forward to that well-deserved spanking." She also describes on that phone sex tape, "Oh, yes, that`s so degrading. Ooh, I like it." Does that sound like a victim to you?
HAMMER: No. Not from my experience, no.
We`ve seen another woman Travis Alexander dated testify. And I want to play for you now how she responded to questions about possible abuse. This is interesting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDGE SHERRY STEPHENS, PRESIDING OVER TRIAL: "Did Travis ever call you names?"
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
STEPHENS: "Did you personally feel threatened by Travis?"
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
STEPHENS: "Was Travis ever abusive to you?"
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
STEPHENS: "Did he ask you to have sex with him?"
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
STEPHENS: "Did you feel pressured to do anything?"
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
STEPHENS: "Did Travis ever make sexual advances to you while you were dating?"
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, just all it was, was making out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So right there, a whole different story from a different witness.
But let me play devil`s advocate for just a minute here. Jodi`s expert witness says something that we`ve heard before: many abused women do not report it, and they even lie to cover it up.
So Vinnie, given that context, is it so outlandish to suggest that maybe Jodi was also covering it up?
POLITAN: Well, you have to look at the full context, then, of those other domestic violence victims who don`t report it. Are they on trial for their life? Have they made up stories to the contrary? Are they on tape, you know, stalking? Are they going after, are they traveling thousands of miles to be with their alleged abuser?
Because when you put this all in the context of Jodi Arias`s world, it`s much different than the classic domestic violence abuse victim. And to me that`s part of the tragedy here, is that a lot of people feel, myself included, they`re making a little bit of a mockery of real victims of domestic violence.
HAMMER: Really a terrific point. I think a lot of people are backing you up on that, Vinnie.
There is another big murder case that`s making big news today. And it is No. 2 on our "SHOWBIZ Justice Countdown." So tonight, TLC aired, "Blade Runner: The Untold Story." This is a British documentary that looks at the case of Paralympic athlete, Oscar Pistorius, who of course, is accused of killing his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.
Now, Pistorius claims that he shot Reeva through his bathroom door, because he thought that she was a burglar. Prosecutors believe that Oscar killed her intentionally, maybe during an argument.
But the documentary includes one defense expert`s "CSI"-like explanation as to why Oscar`s story does make sense.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A pathologist highlights one aspect of the case that is important to the Pistorius defense. Evidence suggests that Reeva went to the restroom for natural purposes, weakening the theory that she was fleeing from danger.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Most individuals would have had some urine in the bladder at 3 a.m. in the morning. In this case, the bladder was completely empty. We couldn`t even get a millimeter or two for toxicology. That says that, in all probability, she voluntarily emptied her bladder, because there was no evidence of urine on the scene itself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right, Jane, you heard it. Does that sound plausible to you?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s the most absurd explanation I`ve ever heard. It`s so insulting to this victim.
Remember, neighbors heard arguing before the first shots rang out. And we know that the trajectory of the bullets show that he was wearing his prosthetic legs, even though he denies that and says that he wasn`t.
And we also have learned that there were other incidents. That`s what the police said right after the shooting: there were incidents to that home before. I mean, let`s use some common sense here. This woman is not here to defend herself anymore, unfortunately.
HAMMER: Yes, Jane, it sounds like, from your description of things, that that`s not going to get him off the hook.
But now we`ve got the big reveal of what is No. 1 on our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" on today`s top "Justice Shockers."
Hard knocks for Amanda Knox. They are not keeping her down. She just learned, of course, that a court in Italy ordered her retried for allegedly killing her roommate, even though she was previously acquitted of that crime.
And today, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT learned that Amanda`s memoir of her previous trial and years in prison will be released on schedule on April 30. And NBC still plans to air her first interview that night with Diane Sawyer.
Now Vinnie, she still faces this retrial. She doesn`t have to show up for it, apparently, but with the retrial now impending, should she kind of cool it with the big media blitz or just continue on with her life?
POLITAN: You know, that`s an interesting question, and I think tactically, as a lawyer, I would say let`s not do this media blitz. Let`s not do anything that may appear that we`re insensitive, that may appear that we`re trying to profit off of what happened here.
The timing is really bad for her, but if she can control it at this point, I would advise her to pull back on all this. It may be out of her hands.
HAMMER: Sounds like -- sounds like some good advice. We did see the story of Amanda Knox play out in the hit Lifetime movie with Hayden Panettiere playing the title role. You remember this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYDEN PANETTIERE, ACTRESS: They say that I`m calm. I was not calm. I`m scared of having this massive crime pinned onto me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So now, you have Knox`s case headed back to court, and everybody`s wondering, will we see a sequel? Today, Lifetime told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT there are no plans for a sequel, but Jane, is there any doubt that somebody`s going to do it if Lifetime doesn`t?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Of course they`re going to do it and, of course, we`re all be talking about who`s going to play her this time around?
But I will say this. She`s got a book coming out. I think that the Italian prosecutors have it out for her. I don`t think anything she does or doesn`t do is going to change the fact that this is a grudge match right now. And I just know that, even if the worst happens, I don`t really think she`s ever going to be extradited back there, so I say, do whatever you want, honey.
HAMMER: Yes. It is hard to imagine, and Jane, she`s listening. Jane and Vinnie, thank you as always. Make sure you catch up with the very latest in the Jodi Arias trial with HLN`s newest hit show. It is so cool: "HLN AFTER DARK: THE JODI ARIAS TRIAL." It`s on Monday through Friday at 10 p.m. Eastern, right here on HLN.
And I hope you are ready, because I am firing up today`s top three "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interviews, including the Duchess Catherine double is actually helping to fuel the royal baby bump frenzy. This woman looks so much like the duchess, she is actually getting the royal treatment herself. Look at her. The duchess double right here tonight. I can`t wait.
So is Justin Bieber`s mom. Now the Biebs getting accused of all sorts of bad-boy antics lately, including reports that he just spit in his neighbor`s face. Justin`s mom, Pattie Mallette, is right here, and she is setting the record straight in our top 3 "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interviews.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Geico`s 15 Minutes of Fame."
JAKE DAVIDSON, SEEKING PROM DATE: Kate. Can I call you Katie? OK, Kate works. I`m going to be real with you here. I don`t have a girlfriend, and with prom season rolling around, this would be problematic for some. But not me. I`m Optimus Prime. I see the glass half full.
Kate, opportunities are borne from great opportunity, and that is what you have here today, a chance to make a nice guy`s senior year the best ever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now that is how you ask a supermodel to the prom. So will supermodel Kate Upton make high school senior Jake Davidson`s wish come true?
Jake, who lives in L.A., really pulled out all the stops to convince Kate to go to his prom. His video, which is full of charming moments and a dozen red roses to boot, went crazy viral, and even got Kate`s attention. So is she going to be his date? We`re about to find out. Jake is with me tonight from Hollywood. It`s great having you here, Jake.
DAVIDSON: Hi. Thanks for having me on. How are you doing?
HAMMER: I`m absolutely. I`m doing great. And good on you great job here. Kate thought your video was so adorable that you could call into "The Today Show" when you were on and she tweeted that you could call her Katie. You weren`t so sure at the beginning of your video. She said she had to check her calendar about that prom date, though. So I`m looking for some big news from you right now. Has she finally accepted?
DAVIDSON: I don`t know yet. I think it`s still a maybe. There were some reports that said no, some reports that said she`s still thinking about it, but as far as I`m concerned, it`s still a maybe. Obviously, being a realist, she`s probably very busy. And`s a very in-demand professional. And she`s probably busy. I just appreciate everything she`s done up to this point.
And it`s just awesome that she`s so cool and respondent and stuff. But I don`t know yet.
HAMMER: She is so cool. And I`m not surprised. She was right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right when the "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit issue with her on the cover was coming out, and I can say, she`s lovely.
But I`m also thinking, watching that video, how can she resist? I mean, the last time I checked, the video had over 2.2 million hits on YouTube. Let`s take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIDSON: We have our commonalties. You like sports, I like sports. You like fine dining. I like fine dining. You`re on the cover of "Sports Illustrated." I read "Sports Illustrated."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You make a great point there. How can she resist? But I have to know, Jake, if she`s not able to come to the prom, anybody else in mind that you`re going to ask?
DAVIDSON: I haven`t really considered that yet. I definitely think I`ll still be attending prom that night, but until -- I like to go all in. Until I hear a no or yes, I`ll reconsider other options after. Right now I`m focusing on Kate, and I`ll see down the road what happens after.
HAMMER: Good move.
DAVIDSON: I will definitely be attending prom, no matter what.
HAMMER: Go big or go home. I think you`re going about it the right way.
But what has it been like for you experiencing what really has become your 15 minutes of fame, even though you`ve got your eyes fixed on Kate? I mean, do you have all these other girls, you know, hitting on you because they are seeing you on TV and everywhere?
DAVIDSON: Not really. I mean, I don`t really, like I was never big on Twitter before. I mean, I wasn`t -- I don`t even read all the, like, gossip things and stuff, and I don`t -- I`m not really big on the computer. So I see Twitter occasionally, and there were some prom requests, which is awesome, and I appreciate that. That`s pretty cool. I never thought that would happen. But I haven`t been really -- to be honest, looking. I`m just -- the NCAA tournament has been taking more of my attention than all of this stuff.
HAMMER: OK. Signing a few autographs, though, I hope?
DAVIDSON: Not really. I did get recognized once in Jamba Juice. That was pretty cool.
HAMMER: How cool is that?
DAVIDSON: I didn`t expect to get recognized at all.
HAMMER: All right. Do me a favor, Jake. Promise me that you will let us know how the night goes, take some pictures, however it works out, and join us back here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
DAVIDSON: Absolutely. Thanks for having me on.
HAMMER: All right, man. Thank you. And best of luck with getting Kate to your prom.
And now you have to get ready for the battle of the baby bumps. Kim Kardashian is just getting slammed, big-time, tonight for this baby doll maternity dress. The tabloids are on the attack, with headlines like, "What the frock?" And "Dressed to ill." I think they`ve gone too far, finally.
Plus, it`s Justin Timberlake`s path to global domination, with his brand- new, record-breaking CD.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The thought pattern was "We`re going to make a record, put it out for the summer just to have some new music out there." And in 20 days, they made 20 songs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You`ve got to see this: "20/20 Experience" has just shattered iTunes` worldwide record as the fastest selling album ever there. I`m bringing you a "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview with the people who know Justin Timberlake best.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: It`s the battle of the baby bumps, and wow, Kim Kardashian just can`t seem to catch a break when it comes to dressing hers. She`s getting slammed today for wearing this baby-doll dress on "Live with Kelly and Michael."
Kim Kardashian is always under the microscope, but you would think people would lay off, since she`s expecting. Well, not so much.
Check out the cover of today`s "New York Post." Look at this headline: "Would someone please tell Kim she`s pregnant? What the frock?" And it has a photo of Kim wearing the very same dress. Makes you wonder how the newly-pregnant reality star isn`t just, you know, hiding out somewhere until her baby is born.
So what the frock is going on? Should people just leave Kim along already? Let me bring in Jenny Hutt, who is the host of "Just Jenny" on Sirius XM; has given birth herself, knows what this is about.
And it`s obviously not your average maternity dress here that Kim is wearing, Jenny, but I must say, from my perspective, I`m getting a little sick and tired of people bashing her about this. I get she`s fair game as a public figure, but seriously, what difference does it make to any of us what she wears?
JENNY HUTT, HOST, SIRIUS XM`S "JUST JENNY": Well, I think she`s fair game as a public figure, yes. I would agree with that. And I do think she puts herself out there in terms -- in a way of wanting to be a style icon.
HAMMER: Of course.
HUTT: But I`m not sure she is exactly a style icon.
But what I think is going on is that, typically, when a woman gets pregnant, and certainly in the public eye and it`s announced, we expect all of a sudden the baby bump dresses accentuating the baby bump. Whereas she seems to be downplaying the baby bump, but like everything else is played up in a way, and so that`s maybe a little off-putting.
I remember when I was pregnant, all I wanted was the baby bump to show, because the rest of me looked so fricking round to begin with, I wanted people to know, like, yes, there`s actually a baby in my belly.
HAMMER: Well, she feels good. And I guess everybody does know there`s a baby in her belly...
HUTT: Right.
HAMMER: ... so I guess she doesn`t have to make it so obvious. And fortunately, not everybody was so critical of Kim`s baby-doll dress. Kristin Chenoweth was filling in for Kelly Ripa on "Life with Kelly and Michael" on Tuesday, and she gushed over this dress.
HUTT: Oh, yes.
HAMMER: And she`s admitted that she expected to be criticized. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR: My sister, Kourtney, warned me. She said -- when I wasn`t pregnant, she said all of the criticism that you get, just being pregnant or a new mom, is insane. So just wait for that to happen.
And it`s like I wore this black leather skirt the other day.
KRISTEN CHENOWETH, GUEST HOST: Adorable (ph).
KARDASHIAN: Thank you.
CHENOWETH: Loved it.
KARDASHIAN: And people were like, "Why are you wearing black? Are you ashamed? Are you trying to hide it?" And I`ll tell you, I was trying to show the bump. And, you know, "You`re suffocating the baby." And I had this skirt, like a maternity skirt, made for me, like, especially.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`ve got to tell you, Jenny, I think she`s got a really healthy attitude, and I even like her more now.
HUTT: Yes. I liked -- liked the reaction there, too. And the fact that she had a custom-made maternity skirt, I think, is fantastic.
HAMMER: Yes. And I`m sure it will be part of her custom maternity line that she`s going to take all the way to the bank and laugh all the way, too.
HUTT: Yes.
HAMMER: Jenny, thank you so much.
HUTT: Thank you.
HAMMER: Good seeing you.
Well, talk about baby bumps. I want you to get ready for the Duchess Catherine double who keeps it so real that she`s rocking her very own baby bump. You know there`s a Duchess Catherine frenzy right now, don`t you?
I`ve got the Catherine look-alike who is so popular she`s getting the royal treatment herself. This is just one of today`s top three "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interviews.
I`m also firing up an incredible newsmaker interview with Justin Bieber`s mom tonight. Biebs` neighbor just accused the superstar of spitting on him. So is Justin really out of control or just kind of getting a bad rap? I`m going one on one with Justin`s mom, Pattie Mallette. I`m going to find out the real story.
Time now for "SHOWBIZ Buzz List." These are the top five things the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff is buzzing all about today.
Drinking "Game of Thrones"? HBO is teaming up with a beer company to launch a series of series inspired by the show, "Game of Thrones." You can use the beer to toast season 3 of the series, which debuts on Sunday.
The truth about Pink. Pink is extending her "The Truth about Love Tour." She`s adding 34 new shows. You can buy tickets right now.
All right. If you`re a Trekkie, listen up. You only have until Sunday to use the "Star Trek" app to win one of 50 costumes from the upcoming movie, "Star Trek: Into Darkness."
From F. Scott to Z., "Z" a novel by Zelda Fitzgerald," takes on the life of the wife of famed author F. Scott Fitzgerald.
We cannot wait to see "The Place Beyond the Pines." It stars Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, and Eva Mendes, an all-star cast, and it will be in theaters this Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EVA MENDES, ACTRESS: You just took off.
RYAN GOSLING, ACTOR: My son and I should be around him. I wasn`t around my dad and look at the way I turned out.
MENDES: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Right now, the Kate Middleton frenzy and the duchess look-alike who is living the life of royalty. Walking red carpets, flying around the world, photographed everywhere she goes. Lookalike Heidi Agan is right here tonight for a "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview to tell us how she went from being a waitress to the duchess double.
And I`ve got another epic SHOWBIZ Newsmaker interview for you. This one is with Justin Bieber`s mom. Just as the Biebs` neighbor claims that he was assaulted by the superstar. I`m going one-on-one with Pattie Mallette to find out what the heck is going on with Justin. Plus she`s telling all about her controversial new anti-abortion movie.
Get ready for today`s top three SHOWBIZ Newsmakers. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues right now.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer and tonight we are kicking off our SHOWBIZ countdown of today`s top three newsmakers with a royal stunner.
The stunning duchess double who is setting off a frenzy in Britain as a royal impersonator. Look at this. She`s a spot-on Kate Middleton look- alike. That is the real Duchess on the left and the impersonator Heidi Agan on the right. I think. I can`t tell.
Heidi made the big leap from being a waitress in a UK burger joint to being a quite fashionable fake royal. The resemblance is just uncanny, isn`t it?
I`m so delighted to have Heidi Agan with me tonight from England. She`s joining me for the SHOWBIZ Newsmaker interview.
I feel like I should call you "Your Royal Highness." Would you mind, Heidi? Is that OK?
HEIDI AGAN, IMPERSONATOR: No, you don`t have to call me that. I`m just Heidi.
HAMMER: Well, OK. I`m going to call you Your Royal Highness, anyway. So listen, you`re traveling the world as Kate, you get photographed everywhere you go. Literally I`m looking at your life and you seem to be living the dream. Give me a sense of what it`s been like for you since Kate announced her pregnancy because I have to imagine while business was probably good beforehand, it is booming now.
AGAN: Business is pretty good at the moment. It did slow down a little bit when she was ill, but thankfully she`s healthy and recovering and doing appearances again, so obviously, work has picked up quite a bit since she`s come back on the scene so it`s --
HAMMER: Yes, I`m sorry to hear that work was off a little bit when she was in the hospital, but I`m happy to know that people had the sensitivity to not necessarily be trotting you out all the time at events and so forth. But all eyes have been really trying to keep up with that growing royal baby bump, and I understand you`re playing right along with your own fake baby bump. Show me what you got.
AGAN: I do. I have a couple. I have the smaller one that I`m wearing at the moment because she is quite tiny at the moment. She doesn`t look like she`s very pregnant. As she gets bigger, then we progress on to the big baby. So I`m quite excited to dress the big baby and see what she`s going to be like.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: So do you look for images of her on television or in the newspapers and magazines to decide when it is time to advance the baby bump?
AGAN: I watch her mannerisms, what she`s wearing, the way she interacts with William. It`s kind of a full time job making sure that I can get everything right, to make sure, you know, that when a client does book me, that they are happy with what they get.
HAMMER: I love how seriously you`re taking this. You have the greatest work ethic of any impersonator I`ve ever met. And of course, before the addition of the bump, you were already bringing in a whole lot of money like 1,000 bucks an appearance. So now I`m thinking that you`re posing for two, being an impending mother with child. I got to ask, have the rates just skyrocketed? Are they going up?
AGAN: No, no, it`s still the same. People are just happy, I think, that when I come to events that the royal bump has come as well, so it`s just adding to the effect and adding to the fun of the whole joke. So, no, I`m not charging for a bump. That`s unfair.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: I think you should. But Heidi, I really hope the rest of your fake pregnancy goes smoothly and the birth of your fake child also goes very well, and it`s great having you here, Heidi. Thank you so much.
AGAN: Thank you.
HAMMER: Well, as we move on tonight, Justin Bieber has been making some big news. So has his mom, Pattie Mallette. Pattie is our number two Newsmaker on the SHOWBIZ countdown.
Justin`s mom is the executive producer of a new movie called "Crescendo," which she hopes will raise awareness and funds for crisis pregnancy centers.
It is dealing with a hot button issue so of course Pattie`s film is not without controversy. She`s with us tonight from Hollywood.
Pattie, it`s great to have you back on the show. Thanks for being here.
PATTIE MALLETTE, JUSTIN BIEBER`S MOTHER: Hi. Thanks for having me.
HAMMER: Of course. We`re going to get to this movie in a moment because there is a lot of heat surrounding it. But first let`s talk about Justin`s latest controversy, because SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did confirm today that police, as you know, are investigating the shouting match between Justin and a neighbor. Now the man told cops that Justin got physical and even spit on him, which Justin denies.
As you know, Pattie, there have been an awful lot of stories lately that have really not put Justin in the best light. Do you think he`s being unfairly targeted?
MALLETTE: You know, it`s crazy some of these headlines, you know, that I see them sometimes at the same time as everyone else. And, you know, as a mom, I just look at them so differently from everyone else. It`s not just a story to me. It`s -- you know, I`m his mom, so -- yes.
HAMMER: Yes. Does he call you when something like this happens to say, here`s the deal, mom. Here`s what really happened. I did have this interaction with this guy but it`s not what you`re reading about?
MALLETTE: You know, I think that it`s -- I don`t know, it`s hard because - - come on, what 19-year-old, you know, wants his mom talking about his personal life, you know?
HAMMER: Yes. Yes. I guess so, but when your son is a worldwide superstar, I`d suppose there`s a bit of a gray area there.
I think you mighty like this. Jada Pinkett-Smith just wrote a really heartfelt message on her Facebook page in defense of Justin and other young stars. Her son, of course, Jaden, is friends with Justin.
Let me read to you what Jada wrote. She said, "Are we bullying our young artists? Is it OK to continually attack and criticize a famous 19-year- old." That`s Justin, of course. "Who`s simply trying to build a life, exercise his talents while figuring out what manhood and fame? Are these people not allowed to be young, make mistakes, grow and eventually transform a million times before our eyes?"
Pattie, do you agree with Jada there or do you think, actually, that Justin should be more cautious because he is so famous and such a role model?
MALLETTE: I think that it`s a tough call. I think that it`s tough not having privacy, but it`s also -- you know, it`s a great platform to be able to use it to do -- to do so much good.
HAMMER: There`s got to be a balance there somewhere. And you yourself have been making big news with your movie "Crescendo." This is a story about an abortion attempt by the mother of another young musical protegee, Beethoven.
You had Justin, as you and I talked about before, when you were just 18 years old. What kind of pressure did you face at that time to possibly have an abortion?
MALLETTE: You know, there was definitely pressure for me, you know, to have an abortion, but at the time, it was -- you know, I just knew for me it wasn`t an option.
HAMMER: How did you come to that conclusion? Was it inside of you? Was it your spirituality?
MALLETTE: Yes.
HAMMER: Was it other people counseling you?
MALLETTE: I just -- just I think a combination of a bunch of things. I just knew that I didn`t think I could go through with any other option. I just knew that I really wanted to keep him and do my best at being a mom. And I ended up living in a pregnancy home the whole entire time I had him. So I was pregnant with him, so, you know, I think that`s another reason why I`m so attached to this film is the main goal of it is we`re trying to raise $10 million for pregnancy centers.
The one I lived in actually closed down because of lack of funds. So they`ve already raised over a million dollars and it`s only been a little over a month.
HAMMER: Now as you know, some of these pregnancy centers have been criticized for using scare tactics to convince young women to not have abortions. How do you respond to those critics?
MALLETTE: I think for me I`m not up here to make a political stance at all. I`m just interested in, like, helping the girls that are in the same situation that I was that need a place to stay. You know, this place fed me, clothed me, taught me and gave me parenting skills, and I don`t know where we would be today without that place.
HAMMER: So basically paying it forward. Well, Pattie, it`s good to see you. Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate it.
MALLETTE: Thank you so much.
HAMMER: And be sure to get Pattie`s memoir, "Nowhere But Up," and to find out about her movie "Crescendo." Go to cpcmovie.com.
Well, tonight`s number one SHOWBIZ newsmaker is just moments away. Get ready for this. You might want to get all dressed up for it in perhaps a suit and tie in our big reveal.
Moving on now to SHOWBIZ`s first look at a Hollywood blockbuster that is stirring up a blockbuster controversy tonight.
"White House Down" is bringing down the White House and the U.S. capitol building with massive explosions like you`re seeing. Is it all just too much at a time when, you know, the threat of terrorism is still all too real? You can watch and decide for yourself. It`s showbiz`s first look at "White House Down."
Plus what do you think of -- we have named tonight as our moment of showbiz awesomeness.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back. I`m A.J. Hammer and we are counting down today`s top three SHOWBIZ Newsmakers.
Coming in at number one, it`s Justin Timberlake. I can tell you J.T. is now on the path to global domination. His new album, "The 2020 Experience," just shattered iTunes` worldwide record as their fastest selling album ever. Here in the U.S. Justin`s new album was the third biggest digital debut in sound skin history. And the CD just became one of Target`s top three best-selling albums of the past decade.
Nice going.
In fact Justin is so successful it`s easy to forget he was a bona fide boy band star with `N Sync, and then of course he took a huge risk when he went solo. Well, obviously that leap of faith has certainly paid off and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner spoke with the people who know Justin best to get the real story behind his amazing transformation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, SINGER: Very, very, very excited to be here.
NISCHELLE TURNER, HLN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In 2002, Justin launched the solo career that would define his next decade.
JOHNNY WRIGHT, MANAGER: Everybody was kind of figuring out, well, what are we going to do for the next six months? And then Justin kind of tapped me and said, I know what I`m going to do. He says, I`ve had this music inside me for quite a while. I`m going to take this time and I`m going to go make a record.
TURNER: That album "Justified" was hot enough to land his solo act at the Super Bowl half time show. But when a, quote, "wardrobe malfunction" exposed Janet Jackson`s bare breast?
PHIL GALLO, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE: He has now apparently committed the crime of a century.
TRACE AYALA, JUSTIN`S BEST FRIEND: He was very, very -- it was definitely emotional roller coaster. Because that was, you know, coming off the thrill of performing at the Super Bowl. Whoa, you know, you have airplanes flying around L.A. saying convict Justin and Janet, you know, put banners, like it was pretty crazy.
TIMBERLAKE: It was completely, completely, completely regrettable.
TURNER: A swift apology put Justin back on track and his star continued to rise. His career would expand from music to movies, including --
TIMBERLAKE: I`m Sean Parker.
TURNER: "the Social Network."
TIMBERLAKE: A million dollars isn`t cool. You know what`s cool? A billion dollars.
TURNER: Two business ventures. For starters, a clothing line called William Rast with best friend Trace Ayala.
AYALA: We build this brand and then released William Rast.
TURNER (on camera): Was he hands on?
AYALA: Justin?
TURNER: Yes.
AYALA: Yes. He`s too hands-on.
(LAUGHTER)
TURNER: You`re like, step back, bro.
AYALA: No, no, no. He -- yes, but he`s very hands on, I mean, he rivets buttons, stitching, you know, he was definitely very, very hands on.
TURNER (voice-over): Add to the business ventures, two Grammys for the man who brought sexy back. And even an Emmy for this guy on "SNL." But best of all.
TIMBERLAKE: I`m ready.
TURNER: Justin would likely say finding the real Mrs. Timberlake.
AYALA: He was also into Jessica.
TURNER: Trace was the best man when Justin and actress Jessica Biehl were married in October.
AYALA: You know, it was always a celebrity crush.
TURNER (on camera): Really?
AYALA: For sure. Yes. Yes. Absolutely.
WRIGHT: You would hear him order something for her, it`s like, wow, you know, in the middle of us having a discussion about 100-city tour. Something sparked in him where he felt the need that he had to do something special.
TURNER (voice-over): A new wife, and a new album, with his old friend Timbaland.
AYALA: Tim will come in. Had his headphones on him. Sat there and we`d playing something, you know, and then it`s Justin sitting there in the corner, and he -- then he starts picking up on it, he`ll run over it, and go do this, do this, it`s crazy watching them work.
WRIGHT: Him and Tim had basically four weeks. And the thought pattern was we`re going to make a record, put it off for the summer just to have some new music out there and in 20 days they made 20 songs.
TURNER: Twenty songs released in two parts and featuring a notable collaboration between Justin and Jay-Z.
WRIGHT: You know, obviously there was a chemistry that happened when they came in the studio together and make "Suit and Tie" and it became the leadoff record.
GALLO: By working with Jay-Z, he`s getting an artist who was as well formed as he is, and in a way it is a grown up approach to singing and rapping together on the same song.
TURNER (on camera): He makes what folks around my way called grown folks` music.
CHRIS KIRKPATRICK, `N SYNC MEMBER: Right. Exactly.
(LAUGHTER)
TURNER: He makes girl folks music.
KIRKPATRICK: And he`s doing a great job at reinventing himself. He always has an eye and an ear for what`s next. Not what`s cool, but what`s next.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: It`s really so surprising how well that album is doing. That was SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner with today`s number one SHOWBIZ newsmaker.
We switch gears now to a shocking SHOWBIZ first look.
It`s "White House Down," the upcoming big budget summer movie that is causing some serious controversy. Is it just too much to blow up the White House and the capitol when everyone is so worried about terrorism? You can watch and judge for yourself tonight.
Plus, wait until you see what we named as our moment of SHOWBIZ awesomeness.
This is SBT. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
It is time now for SHOWBIZ say, what? Tonight Kristin Stewart gets slimed at Nickelodeon`s Kids` Choice Awards. But, man, Sandra Bullock got it a lot worse. So what was on Kristin`s mind besides, yuck? Share your thought bubble with us. Just head on over to HLNTV.com/showbiztonight. Please fill in the thought bubble. We`re going to share our favorite answers tomorrow right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now a shocking SHOWBIZ first look that you will not be able to look away from. "White House Down" is hitting theaters this summer. It`s got a huge budget, it`s got huge stars and a huge action director right behind it.
This thing also stars both Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx. But what`s even more powerful than all of that and the all-star team are the images in the movie. We see the White House exploding, we see the capitol dome collapsing, and the president under constant fire.
I can tell you "White House Sown" is not messing around. See what I mean.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you are just tuning in, we are going to breaking news out of Washington.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, this is a developing story. There has been an explosion.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely shocking.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Officials searching for answers as to who, what or why.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are also getting unconfirmed reports of explosions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The situation has changed completely.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What the hell is happening?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move, move, move.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody tells me something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I got to tell you, I find that tough to watch. The images look so real and a lot of people are saying with the all too real threat of terrorism these days, it is hard to watch. The White House under attack like that, even if it is just a movie.
With me right now Jenny Hutt. She`s the host of Sirius XM show "Just Jenny."
JENNY HUTT, HOST, SIRIUS XM`S "JUST JENNY": Hi.
HAMMER: Hey, Jenny. So look, it`s not the first time Hollywood has blown up the White House.
HUTT: Right.
HAMMER: In fact, the same director who made "White House Down" had aliens attack it in his blockbuster hit "Independence Day." But look, we`re living in this world where terrorism is such a serious threat. Do you find it to be all too much?
HUTT: Listen, for someone like me it`s definitely all too much because I get intense anxiety to begin with, so watching something like this fully puts me over the edge. I didn`t expect to have a strong reaction as I did, but seeing it I --
HAMMER: Yes.
HUTT: I got increasingly uncomfortable and I don`t like those images in my mind.
HAMMER: No. Same with me. But do you think that`ll keep people who are really the target of a movie like this, from going to the movie?
HUTT: No, they`re all going to go see it. I think everybody is going to go see it.
HAMMER: Yes.
HUTT: I just -- I just know that I like that we have these kinds of movies because I think it in a way invites just bad juju. I just -- I don`t like it.
HAMMER: Yes. No, I`m right there with you. I`m still feeling a little uncomfortable about it.
HUTT: Yes, me, too.
HAMMER: All right. Jenny, I do appreciate you chiming in. Thanks.
HUTT: Thanks.
HAMMER: Moving on now from our blockbuster to our moment of SHOWBIZ Awesomeness tonight. Get ready for Mr. T versus a hockey puck. And I pity the fool who doesn`t stick around to watch it.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Time for SHOWBIZ awesomeness. This is where we name the most awesome moment of the day and let me tell you, I pity the fool who does not want to watch tonight`s moment of awesomeness. Tonight we`ve got Mr. T just punishing a hockey puck from center right.
Yes, the famous `80s star with the even more famous catch phrase was at a Chicago Blackhawks game for a shoot the puck competition, and he showed the puck who was boss. Comcast Sportsnet Chicago and their reporter Susannah Collins caught it all on tape. So I want you to watch Mr. T clobber that puck on his first try.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MR. T, ACTOR: I pity that puck. I pity it. I`m ready, Savannah.
SUSANNAH COLLINS, COMCAST SPORTSNET CHICAGO: All right. Here he goes. Second shot. Wide to the left. One last chance here for Mr. T.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Nice. OK. Mr. T was so fired up he actually got Susannah`s name wrong and called her Savannah but you know, he still got the goal. Nice work, Mr. T.
Coming up next on "DR. DREW ON CALL" as the Jodi Arias trial continues an abuse expert takes the stand again but what do abuse survivors think of her testimony and Jodi`s claims. Dr. Drew starts right now.
END
