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Showbiz Tonight
NBA Star Comes Out; New Owners of Travis Alexander`s House Reveal What It`s Like to Live in a Crime Scene; Reese Witherspoon Says She`s Lost Her Mind Since Having Baby; Kim K. Turns Down Baby Gifts; Jodi Arias Trial; Interview with Joey Lawrence
Aired April 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: We watched on HLN AFTER DARK that "Bold Accusation," does Jodi love being on trial? And tonight on the "SHOWBIZ Countdown," it`s the top three reasons stars are obsessed with the Jodi Arias case. The made-for-Hollywood drama, the over-the-top characters, what is the No. 1 reason stars are obsessed with Jodi?
Plus, SHOWBIZ groundbreaker, Jason Collins.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JASON COLLINS, NBC STAR: It`s incredible. Just try to live an honest, genuine life and the next thing you know, you have the president calling you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The first major pro athlete to come out while still playing speaks out for the very first time. We`ve got the brand-new revelations about the NBA star.
And we have got a must-see SHOWBIZ Newsmaker interview with the great John Amaechi, who was the first NBA player to come out after he retired.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT starts right now.
Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer.
And tonight, "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of what has celebrities obsessed with the Jodi Arias murder trial, as it heads to the jury, is coming up.
But first, the absolutely remarkable response today to NBA star Jason Collins telling the world he`s gay, becoming the first active pro athlete to come out of the closet.
And today for the very first time, Jason sat down for a television interview to explain his brave decision, as everyone from Ellen DeGeneres to President Obama cheered him on. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the groundbreaker who has truly achieved a hoop dream.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: I think the country is ready for supporting an openly gay basketball player.
HAMMER (voice-over): Jason Collins speaking out on ABC`s "Good Morning America" this morning for the first time since he made history. In a "Sports Illustrated" article, the 12-year NBA vet has become the first male athlete actively playing in a major U.S. team sport to come out as gay.
COLLINS: All the support has been overwhelming.
HAMMER: And in an interview that aired this morning on "Good Morning America," he told George Stephanopoulos what it`s like to become an instant groundbreaker.
COLLINS: It`s incredible. Just try to live an honest, genuine life and next thing you know, you have the president calling you.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I told him I couldn`t be prouder of him.
HAMMER: At the press conference today, President Obama recounted his phone call with Collins.
OBAMA: I think a lot of young people out there who, you know, are, you know, gay or lesbian who are struggling with these issues, to see a role model like that, who is unafraid, I think it`s a great thing.
ELLEN DEGENERES, TALK SHOW HOST: It was more challenging for him. He`s 7 feet tall. So when he came out of the closet, he had to duck.
OBAMA: Ellen DeGeneres, who knows a thing or two about coming out publicly, also praised Jason Collins in today`s show.
DEGENERES: I would high five you, but I don`t think I could reach you, but when I see you, I`m going to hug your knees so hard.
OBAMA: But Collins`s coming out hasn`t been without controversy. ESPN`s Chris Broussard is feeling heat for remarks he made about homosexuality while talking about Collins on "Outside the Lines".
CHRIS BROUSSARD, ESPN COMMENTATOR: If you`re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be -- not just homosexuality, adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be -- I believe that`s walking in open rebellion to God.
HAMMER: Broussard later clarified that he thinks Collins showed bravery with his announcement, and he supports him playing in the NBA. But this kind of attention is part of why Collins kept his secret for so long.
COLLINS: You don`t want to be, you know, that distraction, because for me it`s always been about the team.
HAMMER: But Collins reveals he did make a subtle acknowledgement about who he was when he was playing with the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards this season, he wore the No. 98 as a silent tribute to Matthew Shepard, the gay University of Wyoming student who was tortured and murdered in a hate crime in 1998.
COLLINS: Every time I put on that jersey, I was already making that statement to myself.
HAMMER: But now Jason Collins is making that statement to the whole world. The day Collins came out, every single personalized jersey sold by his old team, the Washington Wizards, reportedly was Collins`s 98. And today, Collins says he has no regrets.
COLLINS: I know that I right now am the happiest that I`ve ever been in my life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So great to hear. And of course, Jason Collins has every reason to be happy tonight. I mean, come on, even President Obama praising him today. How great is that?
Tonight in the "SHOWBIZ Countdown," the big burning question still out there tonight about what Jason did. And while he`s the first active NBA player to reveal he`s gay, he`s not the first NBA player to come out of the closet.
John Amaechi is with us tonight from London. John is a former NBA star who let the world know that he was gay back in 2007, four years after he retired.
It is a pleasure to see you, John.
JOHN AMAECHI, FORMER NBA STAR: Good to see you too, A.J.
HAMMER: So even though you were retired when you came out, you must have eventually -- you must have known that eventually an active player would come out. This takes us to No. 3 on our countdown tonight. Did you ever think an active NBA player coming out would get this kind of overwhelmingly positive reaction?
AMAECHI: Yes. This is exactly what I hoped for. I think the times have changed. The sentiment of society has moved on from ten years ago, even. Even from five years ago.
Now polls that used to say the majority of people didn`t support gay and lesbian people, they`ve switched and so the majority do. So that`s why I think this is a perfect time for Jason to be the vanguard, if you like, for some sea change.
It won`t be him alone. There`s lots of work to do. But he has such remarkable personal quality that, regardless of what`s happened in the last two days, had we talked about Jason Collins a week ago, I would have said the same thing. He`s a compassionate, thoughtful, smart -- you know what, he`s everything that we wish our athletes would be. And all he`s done in these last couple of days is become more of that.
HAMMER: And it is remarkable, as you said, how quickly things have evolved, even just in the last couple of years, to where we think it should be and it certainly is heading in the right direction.
Let me bring in sports reporter Jackie Pepper. She`s in Hollywood tonight. You definitely have to check out her site, PepperonSports.com.
So Jackie, you`ve been covering this stuff for a long time. Jason Collins between teams right now. He does want to play somewhere next season. No. 2 in our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of big Jason Collins questions is this. Will Collins`s announcement that he`s gay cause problems for him with other players? We certainly hope not, but give me a reality check.
JACKIE PEPPER, SPORTS REPORTER: Hey, first of all, it`s such a pleasure to be on with John. I`ve followed him since he came out many years ago, and he`s a really fascinating admirable guy, so it`s a pleasure to share this with you. And second of all, I think...
AMAECHI: Thanks.
PEPPER: You`re welcome. I think that the NBA is such a diverse group of players, publicly I believe 99.9 percent of guys will support him. Privately, there`s just no way that number is going to be as high.
That doesn`t mean that a player in his future locker room will let him know that they have any issues with his sexuality. But we`re just not 100 percent there yet in terms of being a gay-friendly culture. And as a woman who`s been in every locker room you can imagine, these places ooze machismo. It is a tough, tough life to live. I would think especially for a gay man.
But this is the first step, and other people paved the way for him. He`s not going to be alone. He will be fine moving forward. The majority of what I think his future holds and his career will be positive.
HAMMER: Well, John, let me get your firsthand take on that. Because when you came out, a fellow ex-NBA star, Tim Hardaway, said some pretty hateful and nasty comments about you and gay people in general. You know, there is still a lot of ignorance out there. Is Jason Collins inevitably in store for the same thing?
AMAECHI: Yes, and the part that we can always be sure of with humanity is that there is a tiny percentage who are threatened by change. There is a tiny percentage who are ignorant beyond belief, and they will cause him issues.
The good part, and I think that`s been well-illustrated already, is that the vast majority of people are way past this.
HAMMER: Well, let`s get quickly to No. 1 on our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of big Jason Collins questions being asked today. Does Collins`s announcement make it more likely a household-name athlete may someday come out and maybe someday soon? I have to believe so. John what`s your professional take?
AMAECHI: Jason is just one part of this. Public opinion is just one part of this. The support that the NBA staff, David Stern, and the players have shown is just another part of this.
But there`s also logistical and legislative hurdles. What my biggest fear when I played is the fact that I knew that I could be fired. Because you can be fired as a gay person in 29 states right now, even more when I play. I knew that the owner of my team gave money to anti-gay causes. And I knew that the coach of another one of my teams just didn`t like gay people very much and was pretty vocal about it. So those are the main worries there.
I think he`s got a good -- he`s -- Jason right now is going to set a great precedent.
HAMMER: yes.
AMAECHI: But there are more things that need to come together in order to make everyone feel safe to come out.
HAMMER: But at the moment, we`re tipping our hat to him and, John, it is a pleasure having you here again and getting your special insight.
And Jackie, it`s always great to see you. Thank you so much, both of you.
AMAECHI: Thank you.
HAMMER: All right. I`m firing up a megawatt "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview tonight that you cannot miss. You have to get ready for the top three reasons stars are just obsessed with the Jodi Arias trial, including the characters, who are straight from central casting, right? Also, all the made-for-Hollywood drama. I`ve got stars Sheryl Lee Ralph and Sean Kanan right here tonight to help me reveal the No. 1 reason celebrities can`t stop watching the Jodi Arias trial.
And it seems like the world is obsessed with young stars like Justin Bieber and their wild, reckless ways. Doesn`t it? I`m one on one with somebody who certainly knows a thing or two about surviving child stardom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOEY LAWRENCE, CO-HOST, NBC`S "SPLASHED": You just have to be a step ahead and realize, "Hey, man, if I do this, it`s going to be everywhere, and is that -- is that really the choice that I want to make?" And it`s not easy to do, but, you know, at 19, you`ve got to start to sort of get a handle on that, you know?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: "Blossom`s" Joey Lawrence has some serious words of wisdom for the Biebs.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMANDA KNOX, SPENT FOUR YEARS IN PRISON IN ITALY: For all intents and purposes, I was a murderer, whether I was or not. And I had to live with the idea that that would be my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So powerful. That`s Amanda Knox telling her story just moments ago to ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer in a primetime special. Amanda now speaking out fully for the very first time since spending four years in prison.
She was released when an Italian court threw out her murder conviction. She thought she would be free forever after initially being accused of killing her roommate for sexual thrills, but now the Italian supreme court has nullified Amanda`s acquittal, and she`s waiting to go back to trial yet again.
Not only are we finally hearing Amanda Knox`s full story tonight, but SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you a really creepy tale about the house in Arizona where Jodi Arias is accused of killing her boyfriend, Travis Alexander. This, of course, is the place where Jodi killed Travis inside his bathroom, shooting him in the head and stabbing him almost 30 times.
But tonight, the people who bought Travis`s home are speaking out about what it`s like to live inside one of the most infamous crime scenes in American history. You`ve got to watch this. It`s Crystal Cruz from HLN affiliate KTVK for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CRYSTAL CRUZ, KTVK REPORTER (voice-over): It`s the home of one of Arizona`s most notorious murders. The new homeowner is sharing her story for the first time and wants to remain anonymous.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s a very loving home. It`s got a very sweet spirit in the home.
CRUZ: She now owns the home in Mesa where Travis Alexander was killed by girlfriend Jodi Arias in 2008. A year later, the new homeowner bought the place, knowing little about its past.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So when we viewed the home, there were things missing. There were faucets missing, showers. There were -- carpet was missing and so we thought the home had been vandalized.
CRUZ: It`s no longer just a home where something bad happened. It`s her home, and her family and kids live here. That`s why videotaping inside wasn`t allowed.
Off camera, we got a tour of the place, and it`s far from eerie. Instead, homey or comfortable.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything is new in the home. The dishwasher is new in the home. The carpet is new in the home. The paint is new. The shower is new. The faucets are new. The baseboards are new.
CRUZ (on camera): The home is so popular, people drive by, and some of these people get out and knock on the front door.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`ve had people pull in our driveway and stop and park and get out and get their cell phones out and take pictures of the house.
CRUZ: Does that bother you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, yes. Yes.
CRUZ (voice-over): Rachel Fry (ph) is giving her family one of these drive-by tours.
RACHEL FRY (ph), TOURIST: We all want to see what it`s like now.
CRUZ: The national coverage has made this home famous, along with the prosecutor and defendant.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I very much love Travis, and I love Juan Martinez, and I love Detective Flores.
CRUZ: And when the trial is over, she`s hoping the parade of lookie-loos ends, too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am hoping that, once this trial is over, this can kind of become our home instead of Jodi Arias`s home or Travis Alexander`s old home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I don`t know how you can ever forget what happened in that house. That was Crystal Cruz for HLN affiliate KTVK.
Let`s move on to Kim Kardashian`s big no tonight. The queen of reality TV has just revealed she doesn`t want any baby gifts. Not a one. Is she finally making the right move after all that wedding gift backlash when the marriage ended after just 72 days?
Also, did you see this?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Inzers just finished handing out their last treat when the camel, still looking for more treats, did its best impersonation of "Jaws."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Some people are calling that mom and dad worst parents ever. I mean, would you let a camel chomp on your kid`s head? You`ve got to watch this wild ride, and you can decide for yourself.
Time for the "SHOWBIZ Buzz List." These are the top five things the SHOWBIZ staff is buzzing about.
"Silver Linings Playbook" now out on DVD and Blu-Ray. Got to check that out.
And while you`re picking up "Silver Linings Playbook," you`ve got to grab Kenny Chesney`s brand-new album, "Life on a Rock."
We just love Alec Baldwin`s new role on Broadway in "Orphans."
Roku 3 will change the way you watch TV, letting you stream just about anything on your TV.
And get ready for the season finale of the great spy series "The Americans" on FX.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have something truly vital for us, but can only give that to us in person. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) But in this case it is worth the risk.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Easy to say that from the sidelines.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Topping tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Quick Hits," Reese in pieces? Reese Witherspoon says she`s lost her mind, and her baby boy is to blame. Right now, we`re running through today`s hottest buzz makers at lightning speed. And first up on "SHOWBIZ Quick Hits," Reese Witherspoon.
She gave birth to her son, Tennessee, last October, and she`s just told the British magazine "Red," "Ever since I had the baby, I can`t remember anything. Serious, this child stole my brain. I`m losing friendships over forgetting to get back to people."
Well, Reese, I found someone who just may relate. With me in New York, Jenny Hutt, sometimes crazed mom and the host of "Just Jenny" on Sirius/XM Radio. She laughs with a relatable laugh.
So Jenny, let`s get to it. Reese has this 13-year-old daughter, a 9-year- old son and now a 7-month-old son, as well.
JENNY HUTT, HOST, SIRIUS/XM RADIO`S "JUST JENNY": Yes.
HAMMER: Can you relate to Reese saying she`s lost her mind ever since she had the baby? Thirty seconds to sound off.
HUTT: You bet I can. Poor Reese is what I have to say. It`s the greatest joy in the entire world to have lots and lots of babies, but my goodness, you lose everything about yourself. Certainly, for a period of time, and that period of time, I think is forever, A.J.
It`s really hard having kids. It`s the most wonderful, extraordinary joy, but they take over every ounce of your existence in your mind, in your body. And so I get it, I know how she`s feeling, and I do empathize completely.
HAMMER: Yes. I have a lot of friends who are forgetful parents.
HUTT: Not easy.
HAMMER: Next on "SHOWBIZ Quick Hits," Kim K. says no to baby gifts. This is wild to me. There are brand-new reports that Kim Kardashian is actually not accepting gifts for her baby with Kanye West. Instead -- and I love this -- she`s reportedly having friends make donations to a Chicago hospital.
Now, we all remember how Kim just got slammed over her wedding gifts from her 72-day marriage. She did later donate those to charity. But Jenny, what`s going on here? Is Kim just trying to avoid getting slammed again? Or is she genuinely being generous? Thirty seconds.
HUTT: OK, in answer to your question, I`m not sure what her motivation is, A.J., but I don`t care. I`m happy that she`s asking people to give to charity. That`s a good thing.
I personally like presents. So if you want to send me a gift, feel free. But I`m just kidding, obviously.
But I think it`s all well and good. I think she`s right to do it this way because, really, they don`t need a thing. That baby is going to be what I like to refer to as a gourmet baby.
HAMMER: Yes.
HUTT: Every little thing that baby has will be gourmet because they can do it that way.
HAMMER: Well, let`s hope it`s for all the right reasons. And if Kim follows through on this plan, do you actually think that the Kardashian hater nation will take a little break and actually cheer Kim on?
Put up the clock, Charles.
HUTT: No. No. I think the people who hate the Kardashians are going to continue to hate the Kardashians. I, for one, happen to enjoy them a lot. I think it`s fun to watch people live a life that`s so completely different from the lives that the rest of us are leading, and so why hate?
I like to go back to that old commercial from years ago, don`t hate, congratulate.
HAMMER: Yes.
HUTT: That`s how I feel about it, A.J. I support that.
HAMMER: That`s fair enough. And look, I think maybe the lesson we`re all learning, no matter what you think of them, is even a Kardashian can evolve.
Jenny Hutt, it is always great to see you and your craziness.
HUTT: Thanks for having me.
HAMMER: You`re welcome.
Well, we switch gears now to a star-powered "SHOWBIZ Countdown" tonight. I`m giving you the top three reasons stars are obsessed with Jodi Arias, just like you. Is it the drama that could have been ripped straight from a Hollywood script? The outrageous characters on the stand every day? Well, I`ve got these two big-time stars right here tonight. That`s Sheryl Lee Ralph and Sean Kanan. And they`re going to help us count down to the No. 1 reason stars are obsessed with the Arias case.
Plus, check out this awesome YouTube hit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, man. It smells good. I wish -- I wish you could smell what I`m smelling, YouTube. Mmm. Oh, boy. Dig that. Dig that fry right there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I love this guy. That is off-the-hook fast-food critic who is so hot right now. He just landed his own TV show. You have got to see him in our "SHOWBIZ Moment of Awesomeness." The next best thing to really biting into those delicious fries.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Right now, the "SHOWBIZ Countdown," the top three reasons stars are obsessed with the Jodi Arias case. The made-for-Hollywood drama, the over-the-top characters. What`s the No. 1 reason celebrities are obsessed with the Arias case?
"Smash" star Sheryl Lee Ralph and soap star Sean Kanan right here to reveal their own Jodi Arias obsessions.
And what about the obsession with young stars like Justin Bieber, who keep making headlines with their bad behavior? Well, I`m one on one with former child star who might have the advice the Biebs needs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOEY LAWRENCE, ACTOR: You just have to be a step ahead and realize, "Hey, man, if I do this, it`s going to be everywhere and is that really the choice that I want to make? And it`s not easy to do, but, you know, at 19, he`s got to start to sort of get a handle on that. You know?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Blossom`s Joey Lawrence right here tonight for a SHOWBIZ Newsmaker interview. And wait until you hear what he says about the Biebs and Miley Cyrus. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" continues right now.
Welcome back to "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight on the SHOWBIZ Countdown, we`re counting down the top three reasons that stars are obsessed with Jodi Arias murder trial. Just days before the case is expected to go to the jury. Arias, of course, is accused of shooting her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander in the head, stabbing him nearly 30 times and slitting his throat from ear to ear. And the nation has just become obsessed with this trial, carried live daily here on HLN.
Well, there are two stars who are obsessed with this case. With us tonight, it is actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, star of NBC`s "Smash." Soap star Sean Kanan reports from "General Hospital." He`s hooked too. Sean also co-host of the new UPN radio show "Rules." Sean and Sheryl with us from Hollywood tonight. All right, guys, we`ve got to kick out this countdown with number three. It`s our number three reason of the stars` obsession, the extreme cast of characters from Jodi to arch nemesis, bulldog prosecutor Juan Martinez, and, of course, the moment that he challenged her claim that she couldn`t remember killing Travis because she was in a fog.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUAN MARTINEZ: But tell me, whether or not this fog that you`ve been telling us about, increases your ability to remember, even as you`re going into this fog?
JODI ARIAS: I would not say that it increases, but I don`t know.
MARTINEZ: Jodi has claimed that she stepped into this fog during the precise moment she was killing Travis. Sheryl, I begin with you. When you first heard her make that claim, what went through your mind?
SHERYL LEE RALPH, ACTRESS, "SMASH": Of course, she was in a fog. She was also out of her mind. She didn`t have any clear idea what she was going to do except she was going to kill somebody named Travis. And that became clear. The fog for Jodi was a fog of blood. If that`s not the start of a great Hollywood movie, I don`t know what is.
HAMMER: Yes, this Jodi fog almost became a character in its own right. And, of course, Jodi is not the only character that`s been playing up all the drama in this awful, awful case. Prosecutor Juan Martinez has become an obsession for so many people. I mean this guy actually has fans lining up outside of the courthouse trying to get his autograph. He`s outraged another character in this case, the domestic abuse expert, who has been testifying on the stand for Jodi`s defense. Let`s revisit that moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTINEZ: Are you saying that Mr. Alexander, when he was speaking with the defendant, was in the same relationship as you were with the defendant when you were speaking to her?
ALYCE LAVIOLETTE: If you were in my group, I would ask you to take a time- out, Mr. Martinez.
MARTINEZ: Judge, would you please admonish the witness ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
MARTINEZ: ... with (inaudible) comments and ask her
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ms LaViolette.
LAVIOLETTE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen, disregard the witness` last statement. Ms. LaViolette, please just answer the questions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know, if we were to make up a tape of greatest hits from this trial, that moment right there, that confrontation right there. Now, Sean, you star on the soap opera, so I love the fact that you`re so obsessed with this trial as well, because of course, it is playing out just like a soap. Is this drama a big part of why stars like you have been obsessing over the trial?
SEAN KANAN, CO-HOST, "KANAN`S RULES" ON UBN RADIO: I think absolutely. But here is the thing, A.J. You know, as much as this seems like a soap opera, this is way more salacious than a lot of the story lines that we have on TV. We at least have to answer to the censors. I mean the stuff that is going on in this case is real. And I think it is definitely heightened drama compared to what we do on TV.
HAMMER: Yeah, anytime you say you can`t make this stuff up, it perfectly makes for a great soap opera material and that`s what we`re getting here. And it`s drama that takes us to number two on our SHOWBIZ Countdown of why stars are obsessed with Jodi Arias trial, the made for Hollywood drama is being turned into a movie on Lifetime. It`s called "Dirty Little Secret: the Jodi Arias Story." You got to wonder how much of Jodi`s childhood years is going to be included in this movie. Because now, remember, it was Jodi`s own mother who revealed to investigators she believed Jodi had mental problems early on. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How could somebody say - you say she didn`t come back and just be adorable?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don`t know. I don`t ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And Jodi doesn`t - Jodi has mental problems. Jodi would freak out all the time. I had quite a few of her friends call me and tell me that I needed to get her some help. I just - I can`t even imagine. I can`t. I can`t even think about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yeah, I mean see how broken up she is in that interrogation room. I can`t even imagine what Jodi`s mom is going through, having to sit in that courtroom day after day. Sheryl, are you hoping the movie really spends some good time exploring that mother/daughter relationship because I`m fascinated by it.
RALPH: Absolutely. Because that mother talks about - the mother and the father talk about how Jodi used to abuse her mother, verbally, all the time. How Jodi would be sweet one day and off the chain the next moment. That was the signal early that Jodi needed some serious mental help. Set aside the fact that she had her own little tupperware weed farm on the roof of the house. Wow.
HAMMER: Yeah.
RALPH: I`m telling you.
HAMMER: There was that. And it`s certainly apparent that there are definitely two sides of Jodi that we`ve really come to know from this trial and this is fairly typical on a lot of trials, but is playing out so dramatically here. You have the side portrayed, of course, by Jodi`s defense and the people who were speaking out on behalf of the boyfriend that she killed, Travis Alexander. It was Travis` closest friends, of course who discovered him dead, and first suggested that Jodi had something to do with it. Listen to the 911 call. It`s Travis` friends, the call that they placed shortly after they found him dead. It is fascinating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Has he been threatened by anyone recently?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, he has. He has an ex-girlfriend that`s been bothering him and following him and slashing tires and things like that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you know if he`s ever reported it to the police?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His -- her name is Jodi.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Really interesting hearing that on the call that they made. Sean, clearly, those two sides are playing out in court. How do you hope to see Jodi portrayed in this movie that`s being made for television?
KANAN: I think it would be interesting if she`s portrayed honestly. And we really get a clear view of who this person was, you know, in the years leading up to the Jodi that we know now. You know, I go back to what you said about her mother being interrogated. I mean, wasn`t it interesting that her mother under interrogation didn`t say, hey, hold up a second, I want an attorney or, you know, she really didn`t seem utterly surprised that Jodi was possibly capable of this. I thought that was very telling.
HAMMER: I love - I mean this is just prove right here, Sean Kanan, how obsessed you are that you know these intricate details and we have been watching them play out right here on HLN day after day. We`re getting ready for this whole thing to go to the jury, probably at the end of this week. And now it is time for us to reveal the number one reason on our SHOWBIZ Countdown that stars like you two have been obsessed with the Jodi Arias trial. It`s got everything to do with sex, of course. Jodi has revealed so many kind of freaky details about her sex life with Travis. And her defense team has painted a very unflattering portrait of Travis when it comes to sex, even phone sex between Travis and Jodi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRAVIS ALEXANDER, MURDER VICTIM: I`m going to tie you to a tree and put it in (CENSORED)--
JODI ARIAS, ACCUSED OF MURDERING TRAVIS ALEXANDER: Oh, my gosh.
ALEXANDER: The way you moan, it sounds like - sounds like you`re a 12- year-old girl having her first orgasm. It is so hot.
(LAUGHTER)
ALEXANDER: I mean, it`s going to be like, legitimate porn.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Sheryl, I mean you know as well as I do, those are some of the tamer moments we learned about Jodi`s sex life with Travis, but this has to be a big part of the major stars obsession with the case, doesn`t it?
RALPH: Now, you know that`s right. What do we love about these stories? Sex, drugs and rock `n` roll, kinky boot sex.
(LAUGHTER)
RALPH: These folks were off the chain. They did -- he did -- they did everything but tie her up with a wet bra and make her call out his name. I was like, oh, my god, 51 shades of Jodi.
HAMMER: I believe Sheryl just said, kinky boots sex. All right. Sheryl, Sean, thank you both so much.
And guys, I know you`ll be watching when HLN is providing live coverage of the closing arguments, just as HLN`s brought you every moment of the gripping live testimony every day. We`ll bring it to you all live including the very moment, of course, the jury comes back with its verdict.
Well, we`re moving on from stars obsessed with the Jodi Arias trial to the obsession with young stars in crisis like Justin Bieber. This bad boy ways constantly grabbing headlines. So, does another former child star and just the advice Justin needs to avoid a meltdown? I see that there are haters and there are lovers and then there are people that are indifferent. The ones that you always listen to are either the people who hate or love, because the indifferent ones don`t really care. But the haters, their job is to hate. You know, they want to set you off, they want you to fail. So, you have to be aware of this.
Smart guy. I`m one on one with former "Blossom" star Joey Lawrence, he`s talking about Justin, Miley, and his own new hit show "Splash". Plus, did you see this?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Inzers had just finished handing out their last treat. When the camel still looking for more treats did its best impersonation of jaws.
MARCIE INZER, ALIYAH`S MOTHER: Au! Au!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What do you think? Worst parents ever letting a camel chomp on their kid? It`s a big debate tonight. Watch the whole seen caught on tape and decide for yourself. This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" is revealing some tough love for Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus from somebody who has been in their shoes. It`s another headline-making SHOWBIZ interview. Joey Lawrence, of course, became a child star with big roles in the shows "Blossom" and "Gimme a Break." And now some 30 years later - 30 years - he` still going strong. He co-hosts ABC`s newest reality TV sensation "Splash," the big finale is coming up next Tuesday night. But with so many young stars becoming victims of the fame game, what can be done to save them? Well, I just got Joey to reveal his secrets for surviving child stardom and wait until you hear what he told me about Miley and the Biebs.
Congratulations on the massive success of "Splash". What a hit that has become! We`re going to be getting to that in just a moment. Of course, you became a star when you were very, very young. Am I right? I think you were five year old when you appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.
LAWRENCE: Yes, sir.
HAMMER: And you`ve emerged.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNNY CARSON, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": Man, it`s been forever.
HAMMER: Well, look, you`ve emerged just fine on the other side. And as we know, and as you`ve seen through the years, not so many other young stars or stars that started out young have been so lucky. So, what really has been the key to you, the secret, if you will.
LAWRENCE: You know, I don`t know. I mean, you know, I think I was at the tail end of a generation where it was all about work. And it was about, you know, appreciating, you know, the opportunity and how rare it was and how many people are waiting right behind you to take it. How many people deserve it just as much as you do, but you were the lucky one that got the break when you got it. You know, and for me, I mean, it is just always been about the -- about the work. And about getting better with every project that I do, taking nothing for granted. And just realizing how lucky I am, you know, 32 years later to still be doing what I love to do and making a living at it.
HAMMER: I think you make a great point. That was an era that in a way has really waned. It`s a lot different now. Although, I`ll tell you , I look at a guy like Justin Bieber.
LAWRENCE: Yes.
HAMMER: He has an incredible work ethic, obviously. I mean he worked really hard to become the superstar that he is. However, you know, he`s also 19 years old, and he is still a teenager and one quite frankly, who lost a lot of time as a teenager and now we see him accused of, well, everything, acting out a whole lot. What would you tell the Biebs so he can keep his head on straight and navigate through the whole thing? Because that`s a tough time.
LAWRENCE: You know, man, I mean, look, you know, we all know what`s right and wrong. You know, it`s a maturation process as to, you know, how well you can control yourself in situations where people make you angry or, you know, or set you up to fail. You know, he just has to realize and, you know that a camera is on him 24/7. It is part of what he does. I mean he buys into it, too. You know he`s constantly on Twitter. He puts every facet of his life out there, you know, to be judged and to be critiqued and therefore when you do that, you know, you`re setting yourself up.
HAMMER: Of course, you star on ABC Family`s "Melissa and Joey," and we`re looking forward to the new season premiere on May 29th.
So, then, what do you say, I`m going to throw another name at you, Miley Cyrus. She is doing everything possible to distance herself from her Hannah Montana image. She just appeared very provocatively on the new cover of LUK. Do you see that and think here is someone who`s trying a little too hard?
LAWRENCE: I think so. And, you know, I mean I think that a lot of people can see through that and you talk about setting yourself up for people to critique you, I mean they`re going to critique you anyway, but, look, a career is a series of jobs that hopefully lasts, you know, over a long period of time. You know, to say that you don`t want to talk about it or, you know, you look at past "American Idol" winners or runner-ups or people that got kicked off and have gone on to do great things and don`t want to talk about it. You know, that`s part of what makes you you.
HAMMER: We loved seeing you this season on NBC "Splash." What a massive hit, from the breakdowns to the injuries. I got to know, has it shocked you at all, seeing the other stars keeping it so real and really in a dangerous way, psychologically, physically, putting it all on the line for a show like this?
LAWRENCE: You know, it is extremely dangerous. The fact that they`re even trying it and they`re trying to accomplish something in six, eight, ten, 12 weeks that would take somebody two or three years to do, is, you know, it`s part of the sport, it`s part of the competition. It is a competition show. So, you know, if you`re going to game up, then it`s game on and that`s kind of what we`re dealing with. But so far, so good.
HAMMER: Pretty impressive. I have nothing but respect for those guys. And my thanks to Joey Lawrence. You could check out the season finale of "The Splash" Tuesday May 7 on ABC. And you`ll see more of Joey on - excuse me, premier of "Melissa and Joey", May 29 on ABC Family.
And now from Joey` Lawrence`s hit show "Splash" to the Youtube food critic who was making a huge splash of his own.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAMON PATTERSON, YOUTUBE FOOD CRITIC: It smells good. I wish, I wish you could smell what I`m smelling, Youtube. Mm. Oh, boy. Youtube, dig that fry right there.
Keep gain on the fries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That guy has gotten more than 3.5 million hits for that awesome fast food review. And I`m going to show you why he`s the hottest guy on Youtube in our SHOWBIZ Moment of Awesomeness.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: All right, did you see this? It is a camel gone wild. Now, imagine if a camel got this friendly with your toddler. I mean would you think it was cute, but just plain terrifying. That`s the question parents are asking tonight after this video went crazy viral. So, would you have flipped out or seen it as, I don`t know, nothing but a hump in the road? CNN`s Jeanne Moos has the case of the curious camel for "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a family just horsing around with the camel.
MARCIE INZER, ALIYAH`S MOTHER: Not a horsey, baby. It is a camel.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Camel, yes.
MOOS: The Inzers had just finished handing out their last treat at a drive through zoo near Branson, Missouri.
M. INZER: Ew.
MOOS: And their almost three-year-old daughter Aliyah had a constant case of the giggles. When the camel, still looking for more treats did its best impersonation of jaws.
M. INZER: Oh, oh!
MOOS: Aliyah`s dad, Tyler, calmly pushed the camel away.
TYLER INZER, ALIYAH`S FATHER: I don`t have any more, buddy.
MOOS: When the camel persisted, they took off.
M. INZER: Oh, he`s coming with us.
MOOS: But many Youtube commenters weren`t giggling. "Great, another example of moronic parents placing their child in harm`s way."
M. INZER: No, no. We never - we never felt that it - we never felt we were unsafe when we were there.
T. INZER: Oh, no, not at all.
M. INZER: And we - even with what was happening, you know, Tyler had control of the car.
MOOS: Aliyah says she wasn`t scared and she calls the camel her friend.
(on camera): Did you want to take that camel home?
ALIYAH INZER, CHILD IN INTERNET VIDEO: No.
MOOS: Don`t want to take him home?
A. INZER: I did.
MOOS: She says the horsey felt soft, eating her hair. We have seen this happen before with much deadlier animals, but with one big difference. Who could forget the lioness at the Oregon Zoo that reacted to young Jack as if he were what zookeepers call a prey item. The kid resembled a zebra. Aliyah`s mom teaches baby sign language.
INZER: Can you sign camel?
Oh, good job. You showed the hump of the camel`s back, right?
MOOS: The camel left its own sign on the steering wheel.
M. INZER: Oh.
A. INZER: Gross!
M. INZER: Look what he did to our steering wheel.
MOOS: The two opposing camps may argue about the encounter. "Shows how stupid some people can be," versus "I love this. When the parents don`t freak out about every mishap and fall, children learn not to freak out too." Aliyah sure wasn`t freaked. She was even tickled when the camel tinkled while walking their way. For Aliyah, it was just a hump in the road.
M. INZER: Do they have a good breath or a stinky breath?
A. INZER: A stinky breath.
M. INZER: Oh.
Oh, oh!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: We have a very loving camel. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT."
Now, moving from that hungry camel to the hottest food critic on Youtube.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATTERSON: Oh, it smells good. I wish, I wish you could smell what I`m smelling, Youtube. Mm. Oh, boy. Youtube, dig that fry right there.
Keep gain on the fry.
I wish I could smell that fry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Damon Patterson is his name. He`s blowing up with his in your face reviews of fast food. I`m telling you, they`re awesome. To get ready for the next best thing to actually eating those fries. Your hunger inducing moments of SHOWBIZ Awesomeness. This is SBT. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Time for SHOWBIZ Awesomeness. Tonight, this is where we name most awesome moment of the day. And tonight, this is the man of the moment, Damon Patterson aka Daym Drops. So, this guy reviews fast food on his Youtube channel, but Damon is not your ordinary food critic, oh, no. Dame takes his love of food to a whole new level. And he`s so popular, that the famous Gregory Brothers, you know, the guys who auto tune just about everything, just made a remix of Dane. That`s already gotten more than half a million hits. But I want you to see Dame unadulterated, so watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATTERSON: Oh, it smells good. I wish -- I wish you could smell what I`m smelling, Youtube. Oh, boy. Let me dig - let me dig past the fries. I`m not even digging past the fries. Let me light one of these joints on fire. Mm. Youtube, dig that. Dig that fry right there.
Keep gain on the fry!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Yeah, there is there brand-new reports that the Travel Channel just gave Damon Patterson his own show on the network. No big surprise. He`ll be going to landmark fast food joints doing what he does so well and I`ll be watching.
Next, on "Dr. Drew on Call, Another Close Friend of Travis Alexander speaking out for the first time tonight. Why now? What does he now? That starts right now.
END
