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Showbiz Tonight
Three Different Sides of the Zimmerman Verdict; Autopsy Results Show Cory Monteith Died of Combination of Heroin, Alcohol
Aired July 16, 2013 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
NATASHA CURRY, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: Tonight on the "SHOWBIZ Countdown", we have three sides of this story. The juror, the star witness and the parents. The key players in the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case. We`re taking you inside the legal drama like never before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RACHEL JENTEAL: It was racial. To be honest, racial.
If you were -- if Trayvon was white, he had a hoodie on, would it happen?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: All right, whose side are you taking? And can you guess what`s going to be number one on the "SHOWBIZ Countdown?"
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Until the stand your ground law is abolished in Florida I will never perform there again.
(APPLAUSE)
CURRY: Stevie Wonder stands his ground against Florida himself. The music legend is vowing to boycott Florida and anywhere else with a stand your ground law. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" starts right now.
What`s up, thanks for hanging out with us tonight. I`m Natasha Curry in for A.J. Hammer. You know, the expression is there are two sides to every story. Well, tonight in the "SHOWBIZ Countdown" we`re counting down the three different sides to the story of George Zimmerman`s acquittal on charges that he murdered Trayvon Martin. The anonymous juror known as B37, George Zimmerman`s parents, star witness Rachel Jeantel. Their very first interviews about how they feel about the verdict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RACHEL JEANTEL: Upset, angry, question and mad.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think George Zimmerman is a man whose heart was in the right place.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I knew that he`s a truthful man, that I knew from the beginning that he was saying the truth and it was in my heart and I knew that the truth will come out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: Yes, not two but three sides to this story. Keli Goff is with us tonight. She`s a special correspondent for theroot.com and Jane Velez- Mitchell also here, of course, covering every moment of the Zimmerman trial and hosts "The Jane Velez-Mitchell Show" weeknights at 7 P.M. Eastern here on HLN. So, first, ladies, thanks for joining us.
I`m going to kick off the countdown with number three, what made the Zimmerman trial so controversial and emotional and that is race. What role do you think did it play in the trial and Trayvon`s death. Well, the prosecution`s star witness in the case, Rachel Jeantel just told CNN`s Piers Morgan that Trayvon`s death was all about race.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENTEAL: It was racial. Let`s be honest, racial. If you were -- if have was - Trayvon was white and he had a hoodie on, would it happen? Because that was around 7:00 o`clock or something. That`s around that people walk their dogs, people stay outside, all that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: Now, Kelly, what do you think? Do you believe that Trayvon was killed because of the color of his skin?
KELI GOFF, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, THE ROOT: Well, you don`t even need me for this segment because I think that Rachel actually articulated that perfectly, which is that - and even the juror conceded that George Zimmerman should not have gotten out of his car and so I keep coming back to the question of why did he get out of the car? Why did he get out of the car? And if it had been a white teenager, wearing a hoodie, walking down the street minding his own business, I just don`t know how anyone can say with a straight face George Zimmerman would have felt the threat to his community and his neighborhood and would have gotten out of that car. And if that`s what you believe, then, of course race had something to do with this. And I don`t see how anyone could argue otherwise.
CURRY: And there are two more sides, too, to this explosive race question. So let`s watch here with the anonymous juror known as B37, just told CNN`s Anderson Cooper and then we`re going to watch here what Zimmerman`s mom Gladys just told ABC`s Barbara Walters. First, though, the juror.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I think just circumstances caused George to think that he might be a robber or trying to do something bad in the neighborhood because of all that had gone on previously. There were unbelievable number of robberies in the neighborhood.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you don`t believe race played a role in this case?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don`t think it did. I think if there was another person Spanish, White, Asian, if they came in the same situation where Trayvon was I think George would have reacted the exact same way.
BARBARA WALTERS: There are people who say that your son targeted Trayvon Martin because Martin was black. How do you answer them?
GLADYS ZIMMERMAN: Absolutely not. Absolutely not.
WALTERS: Tell me more.
GLADYS ZIMMERMAN: Georgie is not racist. We are not racist. We don`t see colors. I mean we are color-blind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: So a very different take from Rachel Jeantel. So, Jane, I`m wondering what you`re thinking. Which voice do you think is most convincing to you?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: I am certainly not going to jump in on a story that has almost equally divided the nation and presumed that I had an answer and know what was going on inside that guy`s head except that I think he showed very poor judgment as the shrinks would say, it`s probably multi-determined. In other words, a lot of things caused him to do what he did that night and I think part of it is his psychological neurosis, the fact that his dad was a judge, the fact that he was a cop wanna-be. I think on a very deep level this is a guy who wanted attention, wanted approval from his father, wanted to be either a cop or a judge because daddy was a judge and he didn`t really succeed in daddy`s eyes. This was all about some kind of twisted desire to gain approval and be a hero. As to whether or not he was thinking racist thoughts in his head, I cannot tell you that. I don`t know.
GOFF: Can I just say?
CURRY: And Keli, you want to jump in. Yeah.
GOFF: Can I just say, Natasha, though, to Jane`s point. I wrote a piece for "The Root" where I explained how the racists that we`re talking about now is very different from sort of the 1966 definition, which I think people are used to throwing around. Racism in - of its essence today, modern day racism, is not someone wearing a Klan robe during and throwing around the "N" word while they are beating up a black person and thinking racists thoughts. That I call the kind of racism that can be sort of surgically removed like a tumor. You can take down the whites only signs and pass a bunch of laws. But today there`s subtle racism, which is someone can vote for Barack Obama and yet still see a white teenage boy and not feel in fear for their life and see a young black teenage boy and think he`s up to no good and he`s a bad person.
CURRY: Yeah.
GOFF: That`s the kind of subtle racism that a lot of us believe was at play.
CURRY: Yes.
GOFF: I don`t think he was walking in the street saying I hate black people. I think that if he saw a young black man, his reaction was vastly different than if he had seen a young white man. And that`s form of racism, and I think that`s what we`re talking about here.
(CROSSTALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, let me say - I believe, I agree with Stevie Wonder. Let`s get rid of the stand your ground law and we could focus on these personalities all we want, but the fact is, that there`s a law on the books that encourages people to go out and play judge and jury.
GOFF: Yeah, she is right.
CURRY: Yeah, we all have an opinion about it. That`s for sure. But let`s move on now to number two on our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of the three sides to this story, the question asked to all of us was, was the not guilty verdict a fair one? Here is star witness Rachel Jeantel. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIERS MORGAN: They concluded he had acted in self-defense. What do you say to that?
JENTEAL: B.S. Just B.S.
MORGAN: In your heart what do you believe happened?
JEANTEL: He was trying to get home and he was and that`s a fact.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: So, Keli, you`re just trying to get home, she says. Do you believe that Rachel Jeantel has that correct?
GOFF: Look, here`s the bottom line. I just don`t understand how you can be following someone else and then standing your ground from them. I mean that`s just really all I can say and that`s what I think is frustrating. You can say that George Zimmerman was defending his life possibly, but from a fight that he started by assaulting someone or following someone or harassing someone. I mean if I`m walking down the street and someone`s following me I just don`t understand how I`m endangering that person`s life so that they need to stand their ground.
CURRY: And, of course, there is no question that Zimmerman`s family that they thought that acquitting him was absolutely the right thing to do. I mean watch Zimmerman`s mom and juror B37`s dramatic revelations about that verdict, first, though, his mom. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLADYS ZIMMERMAN: I love him with all my heart and that I knew that he`s a truthful man, that I knew from the beginning that he was saying the truth and it was in my heart and I knew that the truth will come out. I`m sorry that it has to come this way, painful for the whole family, but the truth will set you free.
ANONYMOUS JUROR B37: It`s just hard. Thinking that somebody lost their life and there`s nothing else could be done about it. I mean, it`s what happens, it`s sad, the tragedy this happened, but it happened. And I think -- I think both were responsible for the situation they had gotten themselves into. I think both of them could have walked away. It just didn`t happen.
CURRY: So, Jane, I mean you`ve got both juror B37 saying that both Zimmerman and Trayvon were responsible for what happened. Do you buy that middle ground position?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I will say that I believe that the prosecution bungled this case and they did not start out by trying to explain why George Zimmerman had injuries. Had they done that, had they co-opted that piece of information and owned it, they may have I think fared better. They never presented a theory of what they believed happened that night. All they did was accuse George Zimmerman of lying and that didn`t beat the burden.
CURRY: And, Keli, quickly, what`s your response?
GOFF: You know, what I love about my mom is that she doesn`t believe in defending me when I`m wrong and I have a hard time believing she`d go on Barbara Walters if I -- what I did resulted in another person`s death.
CURRY: Ladies, thank you. So as we`ve heard there, then really are three sides to this very complicated story, but of all the explosive questions debated, which one is going to be number one in the "SHOWBIZ Countdown?" The big reveal coming up in just a moment. Jane, Keli, stay right there.
GOFF: And we are arguing three sides from the Zimmerman insiders now -- Stevie Wonder, he is also taking a stand in this case. The music legend making a dramatic decision about his future performances. New York City, it`s always setting the trends, well, the latest trend might be re-electing freaky disgraced lawmakers. Eliot Spitzer slept with hookers and Anthony Weiner sent a tweet with no pants on. Now, let`s look in live in New York City is about to put these two back in office. Right now at the streets of the Big Apple and "SHOWBIZ" dares to ask, who would you rather not?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You would say Weiner?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you`re saying Weiner.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Weiner. I said Weiner.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re saying Weiner?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m agreeing with her. Weiner. I have two out of three women saying Weiner.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CURRY: Welcome back to the "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" countdown here. We`re counting down the three amazing sides to the story of George Zimmerman getting acquitted on charges that he murdered Trayvon Martin. The anonymous juror known as B37, George Zimmerman`s parents and star witness Rachel Jeantel all speaking out for the very first time.
Keli Goff is back with us, she is a special correspondent for the Roots.com. And so is Jane Velez-Mitchell back with us again who hosts the Jane Velez-Mitchell show right here on HLN. All right, ladies, let`s get right to the big reveal. Number one on the countdown, the dramatically different views about who was the real Trayvon Martin. You know, a lot of people knew that Trayvon, you know, they insist that he was a good kid and he loved his family, he had big dreams about his future, but then there are many sides to that story so watch here beginning with star witness Rachel Jeantel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: What kind of guy was he?
JEANTEL: He was a calm, chill, loving person who loved his family. Definitely his mother and a good friend.
MORGAN: What would you talk about?
JEANTEL: Really what we`re going to be in life, how life is going to happen.
MORGAN: The phrase "creepy ass cracker," what did you think of that?
ANONYMOUS JUROR "B37": I thought it was probably the truth. I think Trayvon probably said that.
MORGAN: And did you see that as a negative statement or a racial statement as the defense suggested?
ANONYMOUS JUROR "B37": I don`t think it`s really racial. I think it`s just everyday life, the type of life that they live and how they`re living in the environment that they`re living in.
GLADYS ZIMMERMAN: We are deeply sorry for this tragedy, deeply sorry. We pray for Trayvon Martin to be in a better place. It`s always in our prayers.
CURRY: Wow, so while Zimmerman`s mom doesn`t exactly say what she thinks of Trayvon, I mean clearly like the juror and Rachel Jeantel, they look at this as a tragedy, Jane, so seems that`s one thing that everyone can agree on.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: It is. It`s a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the parents of Trayvon Martin. A young man who went to get skittles and a soft drink and died on the way home needlessly. This is a tragedy that we need to learn from. I don`t want it to further divide people. It should bring people together and we should realize that we are all the same. We are all human beings. We are all earthlings and that`s it.
CURRY: Yeah, so some people are wondering maybe, you know, why did Zimmerman`s family, why did they wait until now to say so publicly that they`re sorry for Trayvon`s death. Keli, should they have done it sooner?
GOFF: In a word, yes. I mean they`ve talked about this before, but they`ve done studies that have shown that doctors who apologize, the moment a mistake is made and someone, you know, egregious error is made that cost someone their life, or a family member that they are less likely to be sued but often you have lawyers saying, don`t say anything. Don`t take responsibility, don`t apologize. And that costs a measure of good will that you can`t put a price on. I think that`s what happened to the Zimmerman family.
CURRY: Well, Jane, Keli, thank you so much, ladies. And as we know, Trayvon`s death - it thrust Florida`s stand your ground law into the national spotlight and now Stevie Wonder stands his ground against Florida.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVIE WONDER: I decided today that until the stand your ground law is abolished in Florida, I will never perform there again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: So, will other stars follow Stevie`s stand? Get ready for our next big "SHOWBIZ Countdown" tonight. "SHOWBIZ" justice of fear factor. So, what`s coming in at number one? Plus, a basketball wife gives her husband permission to sleep with one woman a year. I just want to know what she`s up to herself, hmm. It`s our hot topic in tonight`s "SHOWBIZ" quick hits.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CORY MONTEITH: The only thing in the world she wanted to do was to come visit the cast of "Glee." I mean to put a smile on somebody`s face in such a bad situation like that. I mean is there anything more important than that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: Wow, that is the late "Glee" star Cory Monteith talking about making a dream come true for a terminally ill fan. Monteith who died over the weekend in Vancouver said that he was just happy to be able to use his star power to do some good.
Tonight, a "SHOWBIZ" mystery solved. Shocking news late today in the tragic death of Cory Monteith. Late today "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" confirmed that Cory died of a lethal combination of heroin and alcohol. He was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room last Saturday. Cory had just checked out of rehab last April, plus another mystery on the horizon, new reports out today revealing that the new season of "Glee" may be delayed while producers try to figure out how they are going to address Cory`s death on this show. Meanwhile tonight, we`re getting a SHOWBIZ first look at Cory`s final acting role and in the Indie film "Mechanic" he plays a drug addicted hustler.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MONTEITH: You just cost me 50 bucks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ever think about getting a real job?
MONTEITH: I got a job and I make really good money when I .
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My mistake?
MONTEITH: Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We found your boy. His (inaudible) name is Peter Kurtner (ph), he is from Queens deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: Yes, such a huge cry from Cory`s role as Finn Hudson on "Glee." I mean the movie`s plot has a lot of people asking if Cory`s own past troubles with addiction might have caught up with him. To talk more about that, TV and radio host Michael Billy joining me now from New York. So Michael, I mean Cory just got out of rehab for the second time in April. First stint was years ago and by all accounts he was doing great and on the right track. But now we know that drugs did, indeed, play a role in his death. So what do you make of the fact that he played a drug addict for his last acting role? Kind of eerie.
MICHAEL BILLY, TV AND RADIO HOST: Well, I mean it`s the reality for a lot of addicts out there but I think Cory`s death may shed light that addict behavior is not just what you just saw in that film. I mean we come in all shapes and sizes, some very high functioning. Myself I`ve been to rehab about five times throughout my career, successful and not. And I think if we can learn from this it`s that addiction is something that lives with us, it`s not something to be forgotten and that, you know, rehabilitation is a very critical part of someone`s life especially when they`re going through -- they`re going through the rehab process.
CURRY: Yeah. It`s just heartbreaking. It`s cool that you`ve been so public about your struggles in the past.
BILLY: It`s important.
CURRY: I mean .
BILLY: It`s the only way to be.
CURRY: Yeah. And maybe if we talked about it more it wouldn`t be such a huge issue where people could tackle it together. Now, "Glee" is also - it`s up in the air right now. (inaudible) - I mean he was dating co-star Lea Michele. He had a big role on this show, so you know the producers right now that are trying to figure out how to handle his death on the show, right?
BILLY: Oh, yeah, I mean, now, I think "Glee" has been - not shy about tackling some horrific issues of bullying, suicide, death. I mean they`ve really -- school shootings so hopefully they`ll be able to make this a teaching moment.
CURRY: Yeah, you know what, I think you might be on to something. We`ll see what happens and we`ll be watching for sure. Michael Billy, thank you so much for your insight on that. And as outrage continues to boil over in the George Zimmerman verdict, Stevie Wonder is standing his ground against the state of Florida.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WONDER: I`ve decided today that until the stand your ground law is abolished in Florida, I will never perform there again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: So, Stevie who is one of the biggest artists in the world has said that he refuses to perform in Florida, or anywhere that stand your ground laws are in place. It`s the "SHOWBIZ Countdown". SHOWBIZ Justice: A fear factor. So will the star`s boycott be number one?
And you know Kris Jenner`s debut her new talk show walking out with a new little bundle of joy. So, was it Kimye`s baby North West? This is SBT SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CURRY: Right now the "SHOWBIZ" countdown. SHOWBIZ Justice the fear factor. George Zimmerman`s parents, startling revelations about the threats against him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTERS: Are you concerned for George`s safety?
GLADYS ZIMMERMAN: Yes, I do.
WALTERS: Yes?
GLADYS ZIMMERMAN: Yes.
WALTERS: Why? What do you think could happen?
GLADYS ZIMMERMAN: There`s a lot of death threats, you know, in the social media.
CURRY: So is George Zimmerman really in danger tonight? Plus, Stevie Wonder`s dramatic stand following Zimmerman`s acquittal. And now he`s taking on Florida`s stand your ground law.
WONDER: I decided today that until the stand your ground law is abolished in Florida, I will never perform there again.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
CURRY: Wow, will Stevie`s jaw-dropping declaration top the SHOWBIZ Countdown? "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" continues right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CURRY: Hey, welcome back to "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." I`m Natasha Curry in for A.J. Hammer. And tonight on the "SHOWBIZ Countdown," "SHOWBIZ Justice, the Fear Factor." We begin at number three with George Zimmerman`s parents breaking their silence now for the first time revealing that they`re afraid for his life and their own lives too. The Zimmermans just told ABC`s Barbara Walters that they`ve uprooted their home, cut off all contact with their son and now they`re hiding out afraid of the unknown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTERS: Are you concerned for George`s safety?
CURRY: Yes, I do.
WALTERS: Yes? Why? Why do you think could happen?
GLADYS ZIMMERMAN: It`s a lot of death threats of, you know, in the social media.
WALTERS: Are you concerned about death threats? Have you had death threats?
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN: We`ve had an enormous amount of death threats, George`s legal counsel has had death threats. The police chief of Sanford, many people have had death threats.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: So with those death threats piling up by the day, even by the hour, maybe you`re wondering are George Zimmerman and his family really in any danger? Vinnie Politan, host of HLN`s "After Dark" with me tonight, along with Keli Goff, a special correspondent for "The Root,". Thanks, guys, for joining us here. So, Vinnie, I know, you just got back from the trial in Florida. As we watched your headline making interview with the prosecutors, we heard the Zimmermans saying that they`re afraid for their own lives. Do you think it`s even reasonable that they`re going into hiding?
VINNIE POLITAN, HOST, HLN`S "AFTER DARK": Well, there`s been threats everywhere, Tracy Martin, Sybrina Fulton, they get threats as well. And, you know, I don`t know the level of the threats everyone is getting. I think it`s more the nature of what`s happening today social media-wise. People are very bold and they threaten people online all the time and it`s just a problem we have in society, but I don`t know the nature of the - how realistic it is that someone would do it, but, you know, take whatever precautions you need to take.
CURRY: Yeah, and Keli, I know you have a reaction to this, too, I mean but I can`t help think about Casey Anthony`s parents, that case and any parallels there. I mean they`re not hiding out right now, they`ve gone on with their lives. They even (inaudible). They just held a very public yard sale. What do you think?
GOFF: Well, I think that Florida`s estimation in the minds of most other Americans is continuing to go lower and lower. That`s what I think when you put Casey Anthony next to this recent Zimmerman verdict. Look, I empathize with anyone who`s receiving death threats who has not, you know, committed a crime. He`s right that a lot of us in media, the nature of social media is that death threats are almost as common as getting, you know, a like on a Facebook article, it`s sad, but true. But the same empathy that I feel for them for receiving alleged death threats is the same empathy I think a lot of us would love to see their family show a little bit more of towards Trayvon Martin`s family. And I think we really feel like we haven`t seen that.
CURRY: Yeah, and speaking of the Martin family, I mean Zimmermans - they revealed, too, that they`ve given up their livelihood. So they are living off, you know, that fund that was set up for George. But - I mean come on, Vinnie. That fund is not going to last forever. What`s next?
POLITAN: Well, maybe some lawsuits. He`s got lawsuits pending. I know that. Maybe he`ll try to make money from that. I don`t know what he wants to do. His lawyer was talking about George Zimmerman wants to go to law school. Or he`s going to graduate college first, but then he can go to law school and maybe be a prosecutor. That`s what O`Mara was saying.
GOFF: Can I also just mention, though, it`s questionable whether or not he could actually be admitted to a state bar because there are certain ethical qualifications you have to pass and I don`t -- I know of people who`ve committed plagiarism who are having trouble being - getting into a bar. Steven Glass is a very famous case. He`s been trying to get into the bar in California for years and he committed plagiarism, he did not kill anybody. So .
CURRY: And that could be tricky, too.
GOFF: Could be a lofty goal for him to be aspiring to be a prosecutor at this stage.
CURRY: Yeah, that`s an interesting point you make, Keli.
Let`s move on to number two on our Fear Factor Countdown. Could the Zimmerman prosecutors be fearing for their jobs? I mean, Vinnie, you just watched more of your interview there with the prosecutors on HLN "After Dark" tonight. There is a brand-new development we`re hearing about because of something that they dared to say to you. Let`s watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POLITAN: One word to describe George Zimmerman.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Murderer.
POLITAN: George Zimmerman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lucky.
POLITAN: Trayvon Benjamin Martin.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don`t know that there`s one word that can describe victim - a victim.
POLITAN: Trayvon Benjamin Martin.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Prey, P-R-E-Y.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: Oh, stunning interview there, Vinnie. Angela Corey, though, I mean you could hear a pin drop in that long moment of silence calling Zimmerman a murderer and that`s, of course, after the jury said that he`s not one, so and today we`re learning that now that a former state attorney is calling for both prosecutors to step down. Vinnie, what gives it? Is this unheard of? What`s going on here?
POLITAN: Yeah, I don`t think they`re stepping down. You know, people are going to make their noise. If someone wants to bring some sort of ethical action against them, I guess they can try. The bottom line is she wouldn`t have brought murder charges against George Zimmerman if she didn`t believe he was a murder. To bring murder charges against someone you don`t think is a murder, that`s unethical. Now, what she said here is what she believes and we`ll see if there`s any repercussions for it. But Bernie de la Rionda calling him lucky, yeah, yeah, in his eyes he`s lucky. And what we`ve learned from that jury is that they were split 3-3 and the three from guilty came to not guilty.
CURRY: Yeah, and it`s been three days since the Zimmerman verdict. I mean protests -- those aren`t slowing down any and even Hollywood is taking the stand, which leads us to number one on the "SHOWBIZ" Countdown. "SHOWBIZ Justice: the Fear Factor" and Stevie Wonder is taking a very public stand against Florida`s stand your ground law. Watch here what he just told the crowd at his concert in Quebec.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WONDER: And I know I`m not everybody. I`m just one person.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
WONDER: I`m a human being, but from the gift that God has given me and to whatever I mean, I decided today that until the stand your ground law is abolished in Florida, I will never perform there again.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
CURRY: So, Keli, I know you want to jump in here. Stevie Wonder is not going back to Florida until changes are made, he says, and I mean he`s no stranger to boycotts. He called for a boycott of Arizona back in the `90s until the MLK holiday was made official. So, Keli, do you think that Stevie taking such a dramatic stand like this is going to make any difference?
GOFF: Who doesn`t love Stevie Wonder, right? What person in America doesn`t love at least one Stevie wonder song and this just reinforces why my love and admiration for Stevie Wonder continue to grow. Because I think he`s a perfect example of how celebrities can use their platform to do social activism, right? He`s sort of to me like the anti-Sean Penn and that he doesn`t sort of force it in your all the time, but when he feels really strongly he finds a sort of a subtle yet powerful way to make his point heard and I think that this is a brilliant and beautiful way, more so than going on an awards show and sort of thumping his chest.
He says that my art will not be done in this place that I think is unjust and I think .
CURRY: Yeah.
GOFF: It`s like the apartheid, it`s like when artists refused to perform in Africa because of apartheid. It`s really powerful and really moving.
CURRY: Yeah. And Vinnie, your thoughts on Stevie. I mean I can tell you`re a fan too. But, you know, what you`re doing .
POLITAN: I`m obviously a fan. I`m obviously fan .
(LAUGHTER)
POLITAN: but the irony is, is that the George Zimmerman case had nothing to do with stand your ground.
CURRY: Yeah.
POLITAN: It was a self-defense case, so maybe, you know, he should add to that, listen, let`s rethink the self-defense statute in Florida, because just doing stand your ground would not have changed this result.
GOFF: Can they say to Natasha, you know, listening to those prosecutors, the pin drop that you could hear in that long silence, to me sort of summarized. I spoke to the flat-footedness that we saw for much of the trial and I like of thinking of four words, Chris Darden and Marcia Clark who went on to become trivia questions because of their very disappointing performance during the O.J. Simpson trial and I think that we`re in for potentially Angela Corey becoming - joining them in the ranks of trivia questions down the road.
CURRY: Well, the Zimmerman trial we were all watching and we`re still talking about it, Vinnie, Keli, thank you guys so much.
GOFF: Thank you.
CURRY: And moving on now, Kris Jenner finally debuting her new talk show walking out with a little bundle of joy. So was it Kimye`s baby North West?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AUDIENCE: Oh.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: A baby. So it was the Kim Kardashian baby fakeout absolutely brilliant or totally annoying, considering it`s been a whole month since we haven`t seen the real royal bambino.
Plus, a basketball wife gives her husband permission to sleep with one woman a year, but if you get permission to cheat is it really cheating? It`s our hot topic in tonight`s SHOWBIZ "Quick Hits."
Plus, wait till you see today`s moment of "SHOWBIZ" awesomeness. This is SBT, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CURRY: Now, "SHOWBIZ" quick hits where we take on the day`s buzziest stories at lightning speed. First up, Kris Jenner`s baby scam. Kris Jenner tried to pull a fast one on here with her brand-new talk show tricking the audience into thinking that she was introducing them to Kim Kardashian`s new baby. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So beautiful. So beautiful.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my goodness.
(APPLAUSE)
KRIK JENNER: Here`s your baby, Monica. Thanks for letting me hold it. This is my beautiful stylist, Monica, and she just needed a bathroom break so I was just holding her baby.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really? Seriously?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: OK. So, to Kris Jenner`s little baby stunt turn people off or entice them to tune in for more. We got to bring in buddy "Inside Edition: correspondent Megan Alexander. What`s up, girl? I know everybody wondering if Kim`s new baby, North West was going to make her debut on grandma`s new talk show here. I mean Kourtney looked like she was, you know, kind of surprised. Do you think this - work. 30 seconds. Go.
MEGAN ALEXANDER, CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": OH, yeah, Natasha. Absolutely I love a good joke, a good gag. This was brilliant. All of us on the "Inside Edition (LAUGHTER)
ALEXANDER: . studios turned on the TV. Is that the baby? Kris, you got us. We want more. We`re still watching. We can`t wait to see the baby.
CURRY: All right, moving on to our second "SHOWBIZ" quick hit tonight. Imagine for just a moment here, letting your man cheat once a year? What? Yeah, that`s just what the new wife of a new $3 million Brooklyn Nets star Andrey Kirilenko is doing. Russian pop singer Masha Lopatova is giving her husband a pass to cheat with one woman a year as long as he tells her what he`s up to. And they`ve been married for 13 years. Her hubby said that he`s never taken his wife up on the offer.
ALEXANDER: Smart guy. Smart guy.
CURRY: Brilliant or bananas. What do you think? 30 seconds!
ALEXANDER: Listen, without going Dr. Phil on everybody I think we`ve reduced sex acts to a physical act. Remember, it`s emotional and spiritual, so. What`s the difference between one time and cheating every night? The trust is broken no matter what. I wouldn`t advise it and he has never taken her up on the offer which is good.
CURRY: It makes me wonder. I mean come on, what does she do? You know .
ALEXANDER: Yeah.
CURRY: And she gives herself liberty.
ALEXANDER: Don`t want to go there. Playing with fire. Playing with fire.
CURRY: I`m trying, I`m trying, I`m trying not to. OK, speaking of brilliant or bananas, the "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" has confirmed that Oprah Winfrey, I know you know about this has lined up an exclusive interview with Lindsay Lohan after she gets out of rehab this August and Oprah has also signed Lilo for an eight episode docu-series. So, Megan, Oprah is reportedly paying Lindsay $2 million and also paying for two assistants and a stylist. Megan, the big question here tonight, is Lindsay worth 2 million bucks? Go. You got 30 seconds on the clock.
ALEXANDER: Well, here`s the deal. We`re all huge Oprah Winfrey fans. And we hope that this will be different, but Natasha, at the end of the day Lindsay is still getting a paycheck for this gig. So being paid to perform in a sense, so will she really get help at the end of the day if she`s getting a paycheck? I don`t think so. If Oprah stays involved actively in this serious maybe there`s hope, but we`ll have to wait and see. That doesn`t always happen.
CURRY: Yeah, and you got to wonder too is Oprah going to be mentoring Lindsay.
ALEXANDER: She better.
CURRY: No? Right? I hope that might be the perfect mentor for Lindsay. Who knows? Sounds like mama is on board with it all.
ALEXANDER: Exactly. Fingers crossed.
CURRY: Yeah, well, Megan Alexander, thanks you so much. Good chatting with you.
ALEXANDER: You too, dear.
CURRY: You bet.
ALEXANDER: Hey, Eliot Spitzer, Anthony Weiner, they are looking for love again. Spitzer, you know he slept with hookers. Weiner, of course, got busted for lewd pictures on Twitter. Now, it`s looking like New York City is about to put these two back into office. We`re heading out to the streets of the Big Apple and "SHOWBIZ," oh, we`re going there, we`re daring to ask who would you rather not?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who would say Weiner? You saying Weiner?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah. Weiner. I said Weiner, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re saying Weiner.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m agreeing with her. Weiner.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have two out of three women saying Weiner.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CURRY: All right. I don`t get to say this every day, so here it goes, Weiner, Weiner, Weiner. Got it out of my system there. Weiner and Spitzer are surging in the polls. Apparently, a couple of crazy sex scandals aren`t hurting Eliot Spitzer and Anthony Weiner. Both are running for office again in New York and a shocking new poll revealed just today showing that they are in the lead. We got to bring your TV and radio host Michael Billy. Billy, Spitzer, he was hooking up with hookers when he was governor. Weiner was, you know, showing his junk on the Internet while he was a congressman. Explain this to us.
BILLY: This is insane for me - because let me break it down with Spitzer first. What Spitzer did was completely hypocritical to the policies he`s backed. So don`t understand why people are voting Spitzer back in. Now, Weiner on the other hand had nothing to do with this politics, I love Weiner. I`ve always loved Weiner. My mom loves Weiner. Everyone I know loves Weiner. It`s been an ongoing thing for me. I`d love to see him back in office.
CURRY: You just had to get that in, didn`t you? You know, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s" A.J. Hammer, he did this one and he took it to the streets and asked people who would you rather not vote for? You got to watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I say Weiner.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You would say Weiner?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She`s saying Weiner.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Weiner. I said Weiner, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re saying Weiner.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m agreeing with her. Weiner.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have two out of three women saying Weiner. Do I have three saying Weiner.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean it`s all ridiculous, isn`t it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is. I probably would not vote for the guy who shows his junk.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Me neither.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Neither.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Neither?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, neither.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can say Weiner again if you`d like.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Weiner.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can do better.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please, mom, say Weiner.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Weiner.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you ever encountered that on the Internet? You`re just kind of surfing around, and all of a sudden, there`s junk, you`re gone or do you hang around? So what?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s disturbing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don`t want to see all that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What`s that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why would you want your junk out on the Internet?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
CURRY: Now, Michael, technically he didn`t show -- anyway, you know what I mean. But do you think these people are going to have a change of heart by the time, you know, voting comes.
BILLY: Oh, come on. Yeah, of course.
CURRY: Or do you think they`re done with, you know, the Weiner thing?
BILLY: Absolutely, Natasha, this is the United States of America. We love comebacks. You know what I mean.
(LAUGHTER)
BILLY: We love the comeback hero.
CURRY: Bring it!
BILLY: Especially in politics. Bring it on, Weiner.
CURRY: All right. Michael Billy, we appreciate your insight.
BILLY: Thank you.
CURRY: Always interesting, as always. All right. So, if you think that New York City election races are looking kind of like a crazy reality show wait until you see this reality craziness on New York City TV.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re look born with.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love the sun. I`m like part man, part plant. Part (inaudible)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: Oh, work it. Is "Meet the Tanners" reality TV`s latest hot mess? Find out in tonight`s "SHOWBIZ" awesomeness.
Time now for your SHOWBIZ Buzz List, here`s what our staff is buzzing about tonight. So you think you can dance, heads into the final stretch next week and we think it`s the best season ever. So does my mom probably. OK, and then the champ is here, Jay-Z, does it yet again with his new album "Magna Carta Holy Grail" and you could be the biggest loser too. The hit show`s trainer Bob Harper wrote a really cool book called "Jumpstart to Skinny." Check it out. And a bunch of the "SHOWBIZ" peeps are refusing to leave home without this. A cool app called Waze, you`re totally addicted. And it`s another reason to love Netflix, our attention is locked in on the new dramedy "Orange Is the New Black."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What`s your story?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I changed myself to a drug dealer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can`t be taking advice from a nun and a hippie.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This summer there`s a new family stepping into the sunlight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the ability to tan is just something that you`re like born with.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love the sun. I`m like part man, part plant, part lizard. All of (inaudible)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And things are really heating up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who used my oil? It is (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa, whoa, young lady.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your vitamin D levels are spiking. Just sit down. We have rules in this house. If you sass me, you go to the shade.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mom, dad!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is going to get messy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: So are you about to set your DVR for what looks like reality TV`s latest hot sassy mess? "Meet the Tanners?" Not so fast. The reality behind this reality show is what landed in tonight`s "SHOWBIZ" Awesomeness." And I know you`ve thought about it quite a lot. It kind of seems like they`re going to make your reality show pretty much about anything. It entertains us. Well, the public television station in New York ran with that idea and they made some fake over the top reality TV ads to really drive home the point that there is a dire need in their opinion for more quality TV. Now, the result is simply genius. Watch this. Get ready for the clam king.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There`s an unspoken clam digger oath. You stay to your territory.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My family has been here longer than he`s been alive.
ANNOUNCER: Along these calm waters a fierce battle is brewing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What business you got talking about my family`s clams?
ANNOUNCER: And when it comes to be in the best?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are stealing my clams.
ANNOUNCER: These two aren`t shocking around.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`ve got ..
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Reach down there in the sand, adrenaline is pumping. There is nothing like it.
ANNOUNCER: Clam kings, Tuesdays at 9:00
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: You know, shocking news a dirty business. Oh, I mean it could be interesting, but you could totally - see these clam kings on TV, right? I know you`d watch it. Well, that would definitely be awesome. But here is another one for you when you look at this, you`re going to think that maybe just maybe it could be a reality show so are you ready here? Long Island landscapers gentlemen, ladies, start your lawn mowers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This Thursday on the season premiere of Long Island Manscapers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let`s do Flamingo this one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Flamingos, elegant bird.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Long Island. Not Florida, we`re definitely (inaudible)
ANNOUNCER: They boys are going over the hedge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If we don`t finish this job we`re not getting paid. And their bad attitudes are in full bloom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you`re allergic to the land. We do landscaping.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
CURRY: "Long Island Landscapers." You know, weed whackers, they can be sexy. But do you think it`s pretty farfetched? What if somebody has told you even before they became big heads that there would be, you know, so called shows like Honey Boo Boo or Duck Dynasty or Pawn Stars. Thought we`d bring that to you and thought you`d find it entertaining.
All right, up next on "DR. DREW ON CALL" the psychologist who testified for the state in the Jodi Arias trial, talking about the high sticks pressure of being an expert courtroom witness. "DR. DREW" starts now.
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