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Showbiz Tonight
Drunk Driver`s Confession Raises Eyebrows; Domestic Dispute the Latest in George Zimmerman`s Troubles; Could Lamar`s Addiction Problems Sink Kardashian Empire?; Dennis Rodman`s 7 Wackiest Press Conference Moments; Interview with Gloria Estefan; Interview with Mike `The Situation` Sorrentino
Aired September 10, 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: Tonight on the "SHOWBIZ Countdown," we`ve got today`s "Top Three Scandals." The startling confession of a deadly drunk driver.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATTHEW CORDLE: My name is Matthew Cordle, and on June 22, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzini.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Could this three-minute video change his fate?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is he inside now?
S. ZIMMERMAN. No. He`s in his car. And he continually has his hand on his gun and he keeps saying, "Step closer." He`s just threatening all of us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: New outrage over George Zimmerman`s alleged attack on his wife. "True Crimes" host Aphrodite Jones and HLN`s own Ryan Smith right here to break down Zimmerman`s latest legal scrape. But what will be today`s top scandal?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT starts right now.
Hello and thanks so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer we are counting down the day`s Top Three Scandals. There are many sides to tell tonight, so which side will you be on?
Let`s kick things off with No. 3 on the "SHOWBIZ Countdown," video confession controversy. Matthew Cordle is the man who made the chilling video confessing taking public responsibility for a drunk-driving crash that killed 61-year-old Vincent; Canzini.
Well, Cordle was in court today. He`s charged with vehicular manslaughter, but it`s his video confession that is still sparking a firestorm tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CORDLE: I was out with some friends. We were all drinking really heavily. My name is Matthew Cordle. And on June 22, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzini.
When I get charged I will plead guilty and take full responsibility for everything I`ve done to Vincent and his family.
If I took a different route, maybe I would get a reduced sentence and maybe I would get off, but I won`t dishonor Vincent`s memory by lying about what happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: The full three-and-a-half-minute video sparked a huge debate online. But could the video confession actually impact Cordle`s sentence?
With me from Atlanta, Aphrodite Jones, host of "TRUE CRIME," Investigation Discovery.
And Ryan Smith, entertainment attorney and, of course, host of HLN`s "EVENING EXPRESS."
So, guys, Cordle`s confession video was supposed to be an anti-drunk- driving PSA, and I think it really works as that. But it`s also really divided people. You have some saying, "You know what? This really took guts to take responsibility." Others have called it a ploy for a lighter sentence, perhaps.
Aphrodite, I`ll go to your first for this heated debate. Where do you fall?
APHRODITE JONES, HOST, INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY`S "TRUE CRIME": A.J., I think it is a ploy for a lighter sentence. To me it seems like a commercial that he`s making. He`s trying to turn himself into a hero. If he`s a hero, then he shouldn`t have hit a man and killed him and driven away from the scene. That`s what a hero does; he takes responsibility at the time not -- you know, after he`s had time to think about it and, what, make a video about it so he could become a YouTube sensation? Go to the police and confess your crimes. Don`t go to the media.
I`m sorry. I just find this to be disgusting and wrong, and I hope a judge throws the book at this guy.
HAMMER: There are a lot of people who feel exactly the way you do. Cordle faces up to eight and a half years in prison, if he`s convicted. His own attorney even advised him not to make that confession tape, which is not all that surprising. Here is what attorney George Brightmyer (ph), told CNN about that today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE BRIGHTMYER (ph), ATTORNEY: Despite the fact that I advised him not to he made the tape. And he was adamant that his message get out and that he get an avenue to apologize to the Canzini family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So Ryan, hearing that, and whatever his motivation, do you think this guy actually could get a lighter sentence because he made that video? And what a terrible precedent that would set, by the way.
RYAN SMITH, HLN ANCHOR: I think he could, and I think that would set a terrible precedent. I think the judge who`s currently on the case says she doesn`t care about the video. But they`re looking to get a real -- another judge assigned to this case who will handle his soon-to-be, I guess, guilty plea.
But, yes, I think there`s a chance that a judge could look at that and say, maybe he`s a first-time offender. This is an isolated circumstance, that he`s shown remorse, and therefore, let`s give him a lighter sentence.
But when that happens, A.J., you mentioned the precedent that could be set. I wonder if everybody else can come in with a pre-produced segment like this. I`m not saying he did it on purpose.
HAMMER: Yes.
SMITH: I`m not saying he didn`t have some good motives behind this. But are we saying that, if somebody makes a nice presentation, they should get a lesser sentence? That is not the way the system is supposed to work.
HAMMER: I mean, obviously, this guy made a huge mistake in the worst possible way one could make a mistake. A life was lost. Maybe, maybe he got a hold of his thoughts and he`s really genuinely feeling this remorse. And maybe that`s why Cordle`s attorney told us today that Matthew would like to sit down with the victim`s family without attorneys present, without the media present, just to talk to them and apologize directly.
Aphrodite, in any way -- I can understand why he might want to do that, but in any way, do you think that`s a good idea?
A. JONES: Well, I mean, legally, it`s not a good idea for him to continue with his confessions to -- he needs to deal with his lawyers.
Morally, is it a good idea to talk to the family and say he`s sorry? Yes, of course it`s a good idea to talk to the family. But I don`t see that the family is going to accept an "I`m sorry" after the fact. So far after the fact. It`s like he wants to make himself a star and it`s not a genuine "I`m sorry," in my opinion. I don`t feel it to be genuine, not when it`s coming out in this fashion. Why do to this this way, unless you want this kind of attention?
HAMMER: It`s going to be very interesting to see how this thing plays out. And everything you`re saying is exactly why people are just hammering this guy, saying you know what? Here`s a little video. I`m now a YouTube star.
And then the other side of it is, wow, he knows he really screwed up. And to the idea that anybody would now potentially make a video like this, because it might improve their outcome for doing something so terrible, that`s pretty disgusting to me.
Let`s move on to No. 2 in our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of "Today`s Top Scandals." We have brand-new George Zimmerman outrage tonight. Oh, yes. Zimmerman can`t seem to stay out of the headlines, since he was acquitted of murder in Trayvon Martin`s shooting death. Tonight it`s Zimmerman`s domestic drama that`s sparking some big questions.
So his soon-to-be ex, Shellie, called 911 after they had a heated fight, and that apparently took a volatile turn. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is he inside now?
SHELLI ZIMMERMAN, GEORGE`S ESTRANGED WIFE: No. He`s in his car. And he continually has his hand on his gun, and he keeps saying step closer. He`s just threatening all of us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Step closer what?
S. ZIMMERMAN: With his firearm. And he`s going to shoot us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
S. ZIMMERMAN: He punched my dad in the nose. My dad has a mark on his face. I saw his glasses were on the floor. He accosted my father and then took my iPad out of my hands and smashed it and cut it with a pocket knife.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. So Shellie just filed for divorce. She didn`t want to file charges after all of that. She made big claims to the 911 operator but didn`t file charges against him. Does that surprise you, given everything that you`ve heard?
SMITH: It stuns me. I don`t know what happened with Shellie Zimmerman between the time she picked up that phone to call 911 and the time she decided not to talk to police when they got there.
Because A.J., on that phone call, she sounds like she`s crying at one point. At another point, she sounds like she`s angry and surprised that there`s a woman with George Zimmerman.
But here`s the situation this woman called and knew the moment she picked up that phone this would be a media firestorm. You can talk about, well, she`s in a divorce case. But then to not talk to police makes it look like you are making it up and there was no gun on George Zimmerman and neither she or her father saw a gun is terrible for her. Why she picked up the phone and said I`m in trouble and didn`t talk to police is beyond me.
HAMMER: She had to know. George hasn`t been arrested. No charges have been filed. But now, again, because of Shellie, he`s back in the public eye, and he`s basically managed to keep himself in the public eye, albeit for all the wrong reasons, since the Trayvon Martin trial ended.
He was pulled over twice for speeding. He took a photo with a gun shop owner at the same store that he bought the gun that killed Trayvon and now you have this.
Aphrodite, there`s no way in my mind that he could actually be courting attention or is there? I mean, it seems to me like he`s just making a bunch of bad decisions.
A. JONES: Well, I don`t know about that. To me this man is a bully. If you look at his history in 2005 his fiance filed for a restraining order against him and claimed domestic violence. He`s a bully. We know he`s a bully from other people who -- testimony that wasn`t allowed to come in at the trial. But there are taped interviews about his bully mentality. You have somebody -- think about this, A.J. for a second, the similarity between George Zimmerman saying he reached in his pocket for a, quote, "phone" with Trayvon Martin and the fact that he was reaching on something, pretending it was a gun -- maybe it wasn`t a gun -- with his wife Shellie now, the same action. Think about that combination, with that threatening face and that bullying mentality of his.
Sure these people are thinking they`re victims. His wife to me is saying to the public that she knows something about him that the jury didn`t get right. That`s just how I read it. It`s my opinion.
HAMMER: Yes.
A. JONES: But I`ve believed it from day one.
HAMMER: Ryan, I need to leave -- I need to leave it there.
SMITH: OK.
HAMMER: But this SWAT (ph) guy won`t just go away quietly and lay low is simply beyond me.
All right. Aphrodite, Ryan, thank you both so much. This leaves us at No. 1 on our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of today`s "Top Three Scandals." Who could be at the center of that firestorm ? You`re about to find out.
Miley Cyrus did it. She took off her clothes in her new music video, and it broke the record for the most Vevo video views online within 24 hours.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MILEY CYRUS, SINGER (singing): I came in like the wrecking ball. All I wanted was to break you up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Being naked, wagging her tongue, twerking, it`s all been dominating the headlines. But it is really helping Miley`s music career?
Well, one of my favorite people in the entire world, Gloria Estefan, is right here tonight. Gloria is celebrating 35 years in the music biz. How would she guide Miley?
Plus, the stunning twist in the story of this viral video of the twerking girl who set herself on fire. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT right here to reveal the real story behind the prank that sparked a sensation.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Time to reveal No. 1 on our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of today`s "Top Three Scandals." Lamar`s Kardashian chaos.
So there`s some brand-new reports tonight suggesting that Lamar Odom`s alleged drug addiction could actually ruin the Kardashian empire. Imagine that.
Now, by the looks of things, Lamar`s wife, Khloe Kardashian, is putting up a really brave face. Look at this selfie. She just posted this on her Instagram account. And I must say, she looks absolutely stunning. It certainly has sparked some questions from fans about how she`s been doing considering, considering all of these reports that she and Lamar are getting ready to split over the addiction allegations.
But could Lamar`s problems really damage the Kardashian empire? With me now, comedian, actor, all around good guy, Bill Bellamy. He stars in the syndicated TV comedy "Mr. Box Office."
Nice to see you, Bill.
BILL BELLAMY, COMEDIAN/ACTOR: Good to see you, A.J.
HAMMER: So let`s talk about Lamar. He has yet to confirm any of these reports of drug problems.
BELLAMY: Yes.
HAMMER: But the reports are definitely out there; they`ve been simmering for some time. Their wedding was a big part of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." They had their own spinoff show, "Khloe and Lamar," and they became the reality TV couple that, for the longest time, really seemed to made it work.
So Bill, do you think if any of these reports are actually true, it could actually damage the Kardashians?
BELLAMY: Well, I don`t think anything can -- can even closely damage the Kardashian juggernaut mountain of power. But I don`t know. I mean, everything is allegedly. So we don`t have anything to really sink our teeth in.
At first I thought Lamar was addicted to candy. I watched an episode; I saw that. But they are allegedly saying it`s a crack addiction. But I mean, who knows? I mean, it could just be candy; it could be M&Ms.
HAMMER: Well, sure. So ponder this, my friend. Because there is the thought that not saying anything is actually what could cause damage. As we know, part of the whole Kardashian M.O. is "We put it all out there." They reveal everything. Khloe has been very open and honest about her struggles to get pregnant with Lamar. In fact, let`s revisit that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m just going to check for some infectious stuff and just make sure everything`s OK.
KHLOE KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because that could interfere with pregnancy, so we`ll see what that shows.
KARDASHIAN: I thought my mind would be settled and clear today. Now I have to wait God knows how long for test results to come back. I mean, my stomach`s already churning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. So let me float this theory by you, Bill, now that you see they really have revealed so much of the personal stuff in the past. If Khloe gets out there and she sets the record straight, at least says this something -- OK, here`s what`s going on, whatever truth she chooses to put out there about what`s going on with her and Lamar -- do you think that actually could help things out?
BELLAMY: Well, I -- yes. If they`re trying to make their relationship work and then they want to use it within the confines of the show, that`s what the reality thing is about. Maybe they go to rehab together. Maybe they -- they have a baby and do the whole nine. Maybe he gets picked up by a team. That makes for a good story in the reality world.
But I think there`s a lot of tough decisions that have to be made in the next couple of months just to stay together, whether the show exists or not.
HAMMER: And if it is dealing with drugs and addiction, that`s bringing things to a whole other level.
BELLAMY: Yes. That`s a whole other level. I mean, having a baby is tough, but then to have an addiction and this, that and the other. So I`m wishing -- I`m wishing them the best...
HAMMER: Yes.
BELLAMY: ... from that standpoint, and I hope that, you know, even Lamar gets himself back on track and maybe get another couple years of -- in the NBA.
HAMMER: Wouldn`t that be great to see?
BELLAMY: It would be nice.
HAMMER: Thanks, my friend.
BELLAMY: Love you, baby.
HAMMER: All right. Tonight, another popular reality star revealing the secrets of his secret battle with addiction. Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE "THE SITUATION" SORRENTINO, REALITY TV STAR: I`m just so good with women. There definitely should be a butter named after me, because I`m so smooth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Believe it or not, it was not his time at the "Jersey Shore" that put him over the edge. Mike`s right here. He`s going to tell all about how starring on another reality show got him hooked on painkillers. A revealing "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview.
Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please. Please. Please. Please help me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I know you`ve wondered how you`d survive a zombie apocalypse like on "The Walking Dead." Well, wonder no more. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT speaking with a university dean who created a course in zombie survival. I guarantee you this is no easy "A."
The "SHOWBIZ Buzz" list, what the SHOWBIZ staff is buzzing all about.
"Hunger Games" news tonight. Advance tickets for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" on sale October 1, movie opening on November 22.
Instant download. I love Sheryl Crow`s new album, "Feels Like Home." And it is out today.
The buzz-worthy Parallels app might change your life. It transforms all the applications on your computer, Mac or PC into apps on your iPad.
Mark it down, because the Brendan Fraser thriller "Breakout" will be out on DVD next Tuesday.
And we are so ready to see this. "The Family," starting Robert de Niro and Tommy Lee Jones, in theaters Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOMMY LEE JONES, ACTOR: You set a good example by snitching on your friends in the Mob.
ROBERT DE NIRO, ACTOR: I don`t think there`s anywhere further from Brooklyn in this battle (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m sick of being in witness protection.
T. JONES: Welcome to France. Try to fit in. I`m getting tired of finding you a new place to live every 90 days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENNIS RODMAN, FORMER NBA PLAYER: The last time I had a turnout like this was when I had my wedding dress. That was awesome. Guess what? This is a pretty historical moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: No wedding dress this time, but Dennis Rodman is making his own brand of history yet again with his off-the-wall plans for basketball diplomacy with North Korea, obviously a country that the United States considers an enemy.
His announcement was strange. It was all vintage Rodman. And tonight, CNN`s Jeanne Moos counts down Dennis Rodman`s seven most bizarre moments for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Dennis Rodman speaks, reporters listen, and say, "Huh?" And in that spirit of "what did he just say?" we bring you the top seven wackiest moments from his latest press conference, the one that had people sending tweets like "We should send Dennis Rodman to Syria."
(on camera): No. 7, the endless repetition of Dennis Rodman`s favorite phrase -- or is it a nervous tick?
RODMAN: Guess what? Guess what? Guess what?
MOOS (voice-over): At least 25 "guess whats" at this one press conference.
RODMAN: Guess what? Guess what? Guess what?
MOOS (on camera): No. 6, the odd comparison that Rodman used to make the point that sports can bring together even countries that hate each other.
RODMAN: If you hate your wife, you can have sex with her, right? But you can, right? I`m sorry. I`m kidding. OK.
MOOS (voice-over): No. 5, his direct appeal through the lens to President Obama.
RODMAN: Obama, what are you afraid of? Come talk to me. Guess what? I`ve seen things. I know things that you want to know.
MOOS: We want to know.
No. 4, how you got so humble, Dennis.
RODMAN: I`m doing a pretty damn good job. I`m pretty important now, right?
MOOS (on camera): No. 3, the news that shook the publishing world, the dictator and the former basketball star are going to be co-authors.
RODMAN: Me and him is going to write a book together.
MOOS (on camera): No. 2, displaying autographed bottles of vodka?
(voice-over): Rodman`s own brand of vodka, Bad Boy, with one special bottle autographed by Kim Jung-un.
(on camera): And the No. 1 wackiest moment, a question even Dennis Rodman wouldn`t answer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who would be in your starting five dictators all time, living or dead?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don`t need to answer that.
MOOS (voice-over): Don`t even want to take a guess?
RODMAN: Guess what? Guess what? Guess what?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: There`s the guy you want handling our diplomacy. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
All right, is she risque or right on? The question everybody is asking right about now about Miley Cyrus going nude in her new video.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CYRUS (singing): I came in like a wrecking ball. I never hit so hard in love. All I wanted was to break you up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Is "Wrecking Ball" going to wreck Miley`s music career? Well, the amazing and talented Gloria Estefan is right here, celebrating 35 years in the music biz. How would she guide Miley?
Plus, an exclusive maid service to clean up your dirty extramarital affair?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLORIA ESTEFAN, SINGER (singing): I know how Columbus felt finding (ph) another world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Right now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT a legendary SHOWBIZ news maker. Gloria Estefan has been on top in the music business for 35 years. I`m talking about nearly four decades of mega hits. Well, tonight Gloria is right here to give us an inside take on her brand-new fantastic album, "The Standards."
And what does a superstar who`s been making all the right moves for decades think of what so many people are calling Miley Cyrus`s melt-down?
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Is Miley`s "Wrecking Ball" video about to smash her career to bits? Gloria is giving her take in our incredible SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues right now.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thanks for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer. And tonight, yes, Miley mania is hitting a new high. Or a new low, depending on how you look at it. Her explosive new video for the single "Wrecking Ball" just broke records. The video had over 19 million views on Vivo, and the single is No. 1 on iTunes. But once again, as you see, we have Miley completely exposed and using her sexuality with wild abandon.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: What`s going on? Is this yet another potentially bad move for Miley? Well, I have got someone who has been making all the right moves for an incredible music career that has spanned 35 years. Superstar, seven time Grammy Award winner, over 100 million records sold. All-around spectacular, wonderful, nice person, Gloria Estefan. So nice to see you, as always.
GLORIA ESTEFAN, SINGER: Always love seeing you too. Thank you so much for having me again.
HAMMER: It`s great having you here. I was interested watching your reaction to the Miley video, because I understand I`m debuting it for you today.
ESTEFAN: Yes.
HAMMER: It`s the first time you are seeing it. Look, so many people have been saying, Gloria, that her antics, particularly over the past few weeks, since the Video Music Awards, have really been distracting from what is some obvious talent. Obviously there is something that got her where she is. So the question is, do we all just kind of need to back off and let her express her art however she needs to express it?
ESTEFAN: You know what, I think so. You said it, 19 million views, you think that would have happened in a different way? If she feels comfortable in her own skin and wants to show more of it, then that`s her decision. And obviously everyone is watching, and these are some of the reasons that artists have to do extreme things sometimes to get noticed. But the talent is there. Her whole life, she has been entertaining kids. And I think that is why people are so freaked out a little bit. I think if she had just come on to the scene and done something like this, then it`s another beautiful girl that wants to show her body, but she was very wholesome and the whole kid thing. And that change is what people sometimes have a tough time with.
HAMMER: That`s a big part of it. And obviously, historically this has always kind of freaked people out. This kind of exploited sexuality. But give me the mom`s perspective. Because you have two kids. And imagine your daughter, for instance, who is a musician, she wanted to -- she says, mom, dad, look, I`m going to do a music video and be naked. I`m betting you would actually tell her to do what you want to do.
ESTEFAN: I would say that, but my daughter is in monster t-shirts. That`s her entire wardrobe. She is a real musician, and she is just a different personality. Look, everybody has got to be who they are. I would support her and love her no matter what she decided to do. But I would say to her, OK, just think ahead into the future. Because when you are young, everything is about the moment, and that`s important. I think we should all live the moment. But you also have to think ahead. You have to think, am I going to be happy with this five, ten years from now? Is it going to let me evolve and grow or am I going to grow to one day wish I had never done it? Sometimes you just have to think a little bit ahead. And if you are fine with it, then cool, that`s who you are. And I support whatever my daughter said. I trust her.
HAMMER: I must have learned something from you over the years, because that`s exactly what I`ve been saying about this whole thing. Long term, I don`t know if this is the right thing, but let`s see how it all pans out.
ESTEFAN: You never know. She has got the talent, that is true.
HAMMER: When you look at Miley, we certainly have seen sort of a lack of stability in certain areas of her life. Her parents have had a rough time over the years. You look at your career, and you have been married to the fantastic Emilio for 35 years.
ESTEFAN: My first and only. He says I don`t know any better, by the way.
HAMMER: He is the guy who introduced me to the mojito.
ESTEFAN: Oh, (inaudible), bad Emilio.
HAMMER: My life has never been the same.
But that stability I`m sure, aside from the fact that he has helped to guide your career, has had a lot to do with the massive success you`ve always enjoyed.
ESTEFAN: Of course it has to do with the success, but the success of our family is what is the most important thing to both of us. And we have been our own cheerleaders every step of the way. He actually got me a little more open, because I was so shy and didn`t like being the center of attention. And he has been the guy saying hey, you know, he knew who I was in private and he said, let people see who you are. So he actually motivated me in a lot of ways to be even more sexy, and--
HAMMER: And to take risks. I imagine, this new album "Standards," is fantastic. But people really do expect and love your music. Did you feel like you were taking a little bit of a risk doing this album?
ESTEFAN: Everything that an artist does is a risk. Some people want you to stay the same. If you want to evolve, they want to keep you in a certain place. It`s tough to continue to do what you feel is right, but this is so much my wheelhouse. This was the first music that actually inspired me to be able to do ballads later on. I loved this since I was a kid. It feels very comfortable. When I did the duet with Frank Sinatra and with Tony Bennett, it just reminded must of how much I love this music and how one day I`d want to do it, and I just hope that people love it as much as I loved doing it.
HAMMER: How can people not love it? It`s an amazing album. I love you. It`s great seeing you.
ESTEFAN: Love you too, AJ.
HAMMER: I have to go get that mojito recipe from Emilio.
ESTEFAN: I call it nuclear lemonade. Be careful, it`s dangerous.
HAMMER: Be sure to pick up Gloria`s new fantastic CD, "The Standards," it`s available right now everywhere.
Well, we move now from a music icon to a reality TV superstar. Tonight, ex-"Jersey Shore" star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is opening up about addiction. He really stunned his fans when it first came out that he was seeking help for a serious addiction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE "THE SITUATION" SORRENTINO: Sometimes what you see isn`t always the real Situation. In 2010, I suffered a lower neck and back injury and was prescribed opioid painkillers to help relieve my pain. But I eventually started to feel like I couldn`t get through the day without them. I was addicted to prescription painkillers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Good for Mike for being so candid, really candid confession there. Well, the Situation has now teamed up with a new public health awareness program, Reset Reality, and there he is. Mike, it`s great to see you.
SORRENTINO: Great to have me, thank you so much, you guys are awesome.
HAMMER: Absolutely. And first of all, how are you doing? Is everything now under control?
SORRENTINO: The Situation is definitely under control right now. I was a little shaky for a minute, but we`re good right now.
HAMMER: Set the record straight for us. As you know, there were a lot of reports flying around out there that your addiction involved a lot more than just prescription pills. What was the real story?
SORRENTINO: I knew that being in the public eye, once I came clean in a lot of ways, that there would be a lot of things surfacing. But I stayed with one particular substance that initially I was prescribed. You know, once I hurt myself in 2011, and then eventually once you are prescribed it, you feel like it`s OK to take these opioid prescription painkillers, which I was on, and then after a number of months, it becomes a dependency, and after the dependency and a number of months, it`s an addiction. And then, you know, you have got to get that under control, which I did. And thank God I`m here today.
HAMMER: I know so many people watching relate to you, because so many people, particularly who have back problems, get on the prescription meds, because you can`t live without them, and then you realize you can`t live without them. And that sounds like that`s exactly what you went through.
SORRENTINO: That`s exactly what happened. A lot of Americans think -- it just happened to me. You get a prescription and you are like, wow, I`m OK, and for months, my mom was, you better not be taking those. I`m like, mom, I`m fine. And in my head I convinced myself. Even I am going to tell you, the doctor did say, you know, after a certain period of time, you may become dependent. But I am not going to lie. Once I was handed that prescription, you know, it was just a love affair from there. And it -- it didn`t go the right direction.
HAMMER: Why did you decide to share your struggle? Which I think is a great thing.
SORRENTINO: My life has been public for the last five years. And being in entertainment, you have to accept that, and I have. There is pluses and minuses. But at the same time, you know, when it happens, initially, everybody knew my story. And in the past couple of months, it`s documented I went through "Jersey Shore Six" clean and sober. I was going through recovery, and that`s when I partnered with the campaign Reset Reality or Resetreality.com, which is an awareness program, to spread awareness of opioid prescription painkillers or the disease that is addiction that I succumbed to and now I`m in recovery.
HAMMER: I think it`s a great thing that you are speaking out, because as I said, a lot of people can relate, and particularly younger people who love "Jersey Shore" and loved you. So it`s great, Mike. Thank you so much for being with us. I appreciate it.
SORRENTINO: Thank you so much.
HAMMER: For more information on Reset Reality, check out the website, resetreality.com.
Take it easy, Mike.
We totally are switching gears now, because it`s zombies on campus.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please. Please. Please. Please help me.
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HAMMER: I know you are ready, the walking dead coming back on TV, not for another month, though. But don`t worry, the zombie apocalypse is headed to college tonight. I have got the dean behind a brand new walking dead class at the University of California Irvine. Amazing. It`s free, it`s online, you can sign up from the safety of your own home. It is the SHOWBIZ Newsmaker you cannot afford to miss. This is SBT, Showbiz Tonight on HLN.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything we have been working so hard to keep out just found its way in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And that`s net. Well, there is your brand new first look at the upcoming season of the huge AMC hit "The Walking Dead." Season four starts next month, which is obviously a long time to wait, but don`t work. Tonight, I`ll give you a dose of "The Dead" to help you get through and maybe survive.
Of course, every "Walking Dead" fan and, perhaps, every human being wonders how you would fare in a zombie apocalypse. Right, well, now you can actually help booster chances of survival, because there is a course thing offered by the University of California at Irvine. And I am not kidding about this. Real life professors with Ph.D.s and everything are teaching this massive free online class based on lessons from "The Walking Dead"`s chats, how to distress, how to forage for food and, of course, how you use calculus to determine where all those nasty zombies are hanging out. I spoke with U.C. Irvine assistant dean, the one who created this class Melissa Loble. And you`ve got to hear what this "SHOWBIZ" newsmaker just told me about it.
First of all I`ve got to say, I absolutely love that you, guys, are doing this course. But it got me thinking. You know, you kind of can see "The Walking Dead" playing out in the way every Sunday morning on any college campus, right, with all the hangover students walking around, the all-night crammers. Is that where you got your inspiration, truly?
UC IRVINE ASSISTANT DEAN MELISSA LOBLE: You know, we really, we really like to use pop culture at UCI to help, you know, make these concepts that we are teaching real. And so, that`s where we got this idea. How can we - how can we make this more real to our students.
HAMMER: Well, let`s take another look at what exactly inspired you guys to do this course. Roll some of it.
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HAMMER: It`s just good pure fun, isn`t it?
LOBLE: Absolutely.
HAMMER: Listen, obviously, obviously this show is about humans trying to survive in an absolute meltdown of society, they are trying to form new communities really in impossible situations. What exactly are you hoping people are going to learn from taking this course?
LOBLE: You know, we`re going to talk about all sorts of topics, everything from building social structures and your social identity in this kind of post-apocalyptic world through to nutrition. You know, how do you, how do you survive on scavenged food and the wildlife that you can ran into.
HAMMER: So, practical things we can use in our everyday lives?
LOBLE: Absolutely.
HAMMER: All set against the backdrop of zombies wondering around. And listen, normally you have a course listing that`s talking about death and disaster like this one that it would be a total downer. But you, guys, are really making it, so people want to take it. So, I want to know who is signing up for the class? Is it mostly "Walking Dead" fans as getting beyond that?
LOBLE: Yeah, we are hoping, of course, it`s going to be "Walking Dead" fans, but we`re really hoping to reach a broader audience, maybe people that have never seen the show before, but are really interested in some of the topics. And you know, you mention the downer part. We`re going to end the - end our course on talking about stress and how you can use hope as a way to work through stress and really make this a positive experience.
HAMMER: And creative makeup I suppose. So, after you came up with the idea .
LOBLE: Absolutely.
HAMMER: You put the course together, you include the zombie disasters. You have rapid "Walking Dead" fans getting involved here. And you`re doing this in massive nationwide online computer course at all. So, you get it altogether, you tell the folks at AMC, the people who do the show "Walking Dead" that you are looking to do this. What did they say? Are they saying to you, great idea or they are asking if a zombie ate your brain?
LOBLE: Yeah, well, it`s really been great. The technology company that is helping us do this in structure actually reached out to AMC and they were more than welcoming of the idea. They see this as a great way to, you know, extend their fan base and to maybe get some people that want to get in some of the nerdier topics that are being addressed in the show.
HAMMER: Well, you mention technology and I`ve got to point out, we have good technology here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I haven`t seen this yet. But we got to our graphics department, we asked them to put together a little shot of what I would look like as a zombie. Oh, that`s nice, guys. That`s - that`s .
LOBLE: Oh, I love that.
HAMMER: Look at that. So Dean, you know, you have a little insight that some of us don`t have. What is your opinion. How should ideal with ending up on the wrong side of a zombie apocalypse? Should it come to pass?
LOBLE: You know, my first word of advice is to find some good friends that can help you - help you fight the zombies and help you find food and help you sort of live in a positive place.
HAMMER: Yeah, it`s always about the people who you surround yourself with, I guess.
LOBLE: Yep.
HAMMER: I feel safer already. OK, from that real life college course on the zombie apocalypse to the stunning twist and what seemed to a lot of people to be a very real viral video of a young woman twerking who set herself on fire. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" is revealing the real story behind the twerk prank that sparked the sensation. What you see what we named is on moment of "SHOWBIZ Awesomeness." This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
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HAMMER: That is time for "SHOWBIZ" hot flashes as we take on the day`s hottest stories, and first of, it`s a fake! A big twist is just in (inaudible) in the viral video of a twerking girl on fire. Watch.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh. (SCREAMING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SCREAMING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks, Jimmy Kimmel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All part of the job, ma`am.
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HAMMER: Still makes me laugh.
To be clear on this. I called this last night, Charles. Do we have a bit of our show from last night that we can play here?
Assuming this is real. Because I`m still a little cynical.
(Laughter)
HAMMER: But assuming it`s all for real - we`re guessing this woman is OK, because - OK. Maybe I didn`t say this as definitively as I felt it. But there is no way that thing was legit. Let me bring in my good friend, comedian and actor Bill Bellamy. His hilarious "Lady`s Night" out, comedy specials available now on DVD.
So, Bill, my friends, this thing has been dubbed the worst twerk fail ever .
BILL BELLAMY, ACTOR, "MR. BOX OFFICE.": Yeah.
HAMMER: With the 9 million people checked it out. Let`s face it, it`s still really entertaining. I`m thinking we redub it best twerk hoax ever.
BELLAMY: I mean so you. It was so entertaining to watch. I`d never seen anybody make me laugh from a fail like this ever. Like I mean the upside down crash into the hot candles. I really wanted it to be real. For whatever reason.
At any time I can see - you know Jimmie Kimmel .
HAMMER: Just (SHOUTING)
BELLAMY: . and then he comes in a bit later in a pink woman`s shirt.
I think - I thought -- was that - was it for breast cancer? What are they doing? Anyway, I think that Jimmy Kimmel was clever. It`s dead on, perfect, you know, fail. But for me, I actually viewed it 1 million times.
HAMMER: Well, there you go. And you can get away with anything on YouTube.
(Laughter)
HAMMER: Let`s get to our next hot flash, this one, it really got our SHOWBIZ producers buzzing today, it`s cheating made easier. This is an I.D., because there is brand new trend in New York men using maid services to clean up behind them at home, covering up their cheating. Some of the things these maids will do, they will remove every strand of women`s hair from the floors and the tubs, they`ll scrub away the lipstick makeup in smudges and stains and, of course, change the sheets. What do you think, Bill, bringing in the maids to cover up the dirty deeds? Brilliant or bananas to you?
BELLAMY: I think it`s brilliant and bananas. Man, and I created the term booty call this is making your apartment booty call proof.
(Laughter)
BELLAMY: I don`t know. I mean - they really - they get up DNA too? I don`t know.
HAMMER: But here is what I - I`m confused about. If you are having an affair, you bring in a maid to clean the place up, and then your wife comes home, let`s say, isn`t the place going to be a whole lot cleaner than it probably was before?
BELLAMY: Yes, so like all of a sudden, now she`s like is that Lysol?
HAMMER: Yeah, I didn`t know you tucked in the corners like that?
BELLAMY: Right.
HAMMER: What are you doing?
BELLAMY: Who scrubbed the shower wall?
HAMMER: Yeah, I think that the idea is completely bananas.
(Laughter)
HAMMER: And it should be clear, you did coin the phrase booty - booty call, didn`t you?
BELLAMY: Yes, I did.
HAMMER: Well, good for you.
BELLAMY: We named - and let me tell you.
HAMMER: You`ve changed the world.
BELLAMY: I`ve changed the world. But no one - no one is ready for the booty call maid service. That`s absolutely crazy. Guys are getting lazy out there. Clean your own place.
HAMMER: Clean it up! Thank you, Bill! Make sure you check out Bill`s latest DVD "Ladies` Night Out" and you can catch Bill starring on TBS`s "Mr. Box Office." Check your local listings for show times there. All right, we have this new viral video, which is giving people around the world flashbacks tonight. It could be the next Gangnam style.
I love it. When 10 million hits on YouTube. And the fact, just single on course, goofy dance, the whole thing. It is tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Awesomeness." And I do believe this thing, that guy, the Fox, it has Psy watching his back. This is SBT, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on HLN.
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HAMMER: Time for "SHOWBIZ Awesomeness." When we reveal the most awesome story of the day and tonight, is this possibly the new Gangnam style? And think about, it`s got all the right elements, it is from a foreign country, Norway, it`s got a catchy chorus that comes with an equally infectious and ridiculous dance and it is already a huge viral hit. So please watch for yourself. And if you feel like it, go ahead and dance.
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HAMMER: It is the perennial question, what does the Fox say? That is the song the Fox and two brothers are huge comedy stars in Norway, they are behind it. I don`t know, I think the song could get Psy run for his money.
Thanks so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Monday through Thursday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. HLN continues right now.
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