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Showbiz Tonight
Diana Nyad Defends Her Cuba Swim; Weiner`s Sexting Pal Crashes Election-Night Party; Kanye West Fires Back at Kim`s Ex; Mother`s Open Letter to Football Star Goes Viral; Kelly, Michael Celebrate First Year as Co-Hosts; Interview with Mama June and Sugar Bear; Interview with `Burn Notice` Star Jeffrey Donovan
Aired September 11, 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, we have top`s top three celebrity battles.
Diana Nyad defends her amazing swim from Cuba to Florida. Did she finally nail her goal after 35 years or did she get help?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SYDNEY LEATHERS, FORMER MISTRESS OF ANTHONY WEINER: Actually, we went to his campaign headquarters today first. And he decided to rearrange his schedule because apparently, he doesn`t think he can handle confronting me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Anthony Weiner lashes out after his big New York City election loss as his former sexting pass seems to be kicking him while he`s down. Sydney Leathers right here to weigh in on Weiner. Will she grab the No. 1 spot on the "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of today`s top celebrity battles?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT starts right now.
Hello and thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer along with my guest co- host Natasha Curry, who of course, anchors "WEEKEND EXPRESS" every weekend here on HLN.
And the top celebrities really seem to be battling it out big time tonight.
NATASHA CURRY, CO-HOST: They are, A.J. And some of these battles we didn`t even see them coming. Tonight on the "SHOWBIZ Countdown," we`re counting down the top three celebrity battles.
HAMMER: Let`s get right to it and kick it off with No. 3. Defending Diana.
Of course, Diana Nyad had the country cheering for her after she dodged sharks and jellyfish during that amazing 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida. But now Nyad is battling to keep her swim on the record books. She`s facing tough questions about the methods that she used to achieve her longtime goal. Could her speed actually nearly have doubled at one point? Did any of her team members touch her or support her? How could she have gone for hours for without food or water? Well, here`s her side of the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIANA NYAD, SWAM FROM CUBA TO FLORIDA (on camera): I swam. We made it, our team, from the rocks of Cuba to the beach of Florida in -- at squeaky clean, ethical fashion. I would never ever, never did, never would perform or go about any swim I`ve ever done including the current one on Cuba on anything but being adamant about the basic tenet of what we think is fair and square.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: There you heard it. Nyad said very strongly that she followed the rules. So why are some people still questioning her amazing achievement?
Joining me now for our "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview is Evan Morrison. He`s the co-founder of Marathon Swimmers Forum.
It`s good to have you hear, Evan. Now, you heard her. She says that she followed all the rules. And she said that the Gulf Stream is really the only thing that helped her speed, which at one point doubled. Are you buying that explanation?
EVAN MORRISON, CO-FOUNDER, MARATHON SWIMMERS FORUM: Sure. Yes, we heard it from her navigator, who told us that there`s a rare current that goes from the south to the north that only happens a couple of times a year, and they were able to predict that and act on it. And essentially, they got lucky and into this river that swept them up to Key West. And I thought the navigator was credible, and I buy the story.
HAMMER: And then there`s the question of how much people interacted her. Nyad says that the only time her team touched her was helping her get on the protective jellyfish mask. Do you really think that that, in any way, should discredit her swim for the record books?
MORRISON: It depends on how -- and what claim that she`s making for the record books. I think that one of the longest standing rules of open water swimming is that you don`t touch any floating object or other people during your swim. And so if she`s claiming an unassisted swim, then I think it`s an interesting debate. It`s not really my decision personally but one for the marathon swimming community to come to some consensus about.
HAMMER: Well, obviously, it`s a very inspiring story, no matter how you look at it. So many people cheering her on. How would you like to see Nyad`s story end?
MORRISON: You know, it`s an incredibly inspiring story, and she, after being beaten by the ocean four times, came back and tried a fifth time at 64 years old. It`s a really incredible story. And I just have absolute admiration for her in even attempting it and being in the water for 53 hours. I think that took a lot of courage. She`s a spritely lady and I`m sure she`s going to be around for a long time to come. I don`t know that her story is necessarily over. That`s up to her.
HAMMER: We`ll have to wait and see if it sticks. Thanks for chiming in. Appreciate it.
MORRISON: Thanks.
CURRY: From a big battle at sea to a big battle in the Big Apple. Coming in at No. 2 on the "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of today`s top celebrity battles, it`s a Weiner roast.
Disgraced politician Anthony Weiner lost his battle for New York City mayor after trying to launch a comeback after his sexting scandal. This time he went out with flash of his middle finger to reporters standing by.
But that`s not the only thing that everyone was talking about today. There was also a party crasher. Sydney Leathers, Weiner`s former sexting partner, she showed up uninvited at a victory party last night, and she joins me right now.
So Sydney, thanks for joining us on the show. You made quite an entrance last night. Everyone`s talking about it, night at Weiner`s party. What exactly were you trying to accomplish by being there uninvited?
LEATHERS: You know, I went to his campaign headquarters earlier that day hoping to see him, and he changed his entire schedule to avoid me. So I think I was just trying to do the same thing I was trying to do earlier in the day.
CURRY: All right. So you built sort of an obligation, I guess, to attend. Why is that? Why are you just so persistent about seeing Weiner?
LEATHERS: Because he`s lied about so many things. I just felt like it was appropriate for me to at least be there. You know, and if he was an adult -- or at least he acted like an adult and like a grown man, he could have just walked by me and not said a word. That would have been the mature thing to do instead of running through a McDonald`s like a crazy person.
CURRY: So did you ever corner him at the party last night? Did you talk to him? Did you say anything, exchange of eye contact?
LEATHERS: No. No, they actually -- they had people waiting specifically to not let me upstairs. They even turned away some press people.
CURRY: So he didn`t even text you or nothing. All right.
And his race for mayor, that was doomed after you revealed that you`d been exchanging sexually explicit texts and phone calls with him. Do you have any regrets about coming forward?
LEATHERS: No. I think I did the right thing, especially because he was No. 1 in the polls. You know, he could have won the primary last night, had I not said anything, and the voters of New York would have thought that the first scandal was the only thing that ever happened. And we all know that`s not the case.
I`ve actually had people from New York tell me, you know, "Thank you. I`m glad that I know now, because I was going to vote for him."
CURRY: All right, Sydney Leathers. Well, thank you so much for talking to us.
And let me bring in entertainment journalist Hyla. So Hyla, Sydney made her case. Anything Weiner can do to put this battle behind him for good?
HYLA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: He like never use his cell phone again. That would be my best advice to him.
No, he brought this on himself. I hear her trying to take some of the credit for this. It really has nothing to do with her. I think you can kind of replace her with any other woman who`s willing to engage Weiner in that respect.
So I appreciate the fact that she is getting her 15 minutes of fame. I don`t know if it`s going to last much longer than that. Obviously, the 15 minutes is up for Anthony Weiner, too, I believe.
CURRY: I don`t know. It may turn into a whole new career for her, A.J. I don`t know. What do you think? Do you think she`s going to forgive Weiner? I don`t know.
HAMMER: I don`t know if she`s going to forgive him. But I think the voters have spoken. It is time for him to go away and just let it be over.
That leaves us at No. 1 on our "SHOWBIZ Countdown" of today`s top three celebrity battles. We have Kanye versus Kim`s ex tonight. This time, Kanye West is having the last laugh on Kim`s former sex tape partner, Ray J.
So you might remember, Ray J had fired the first shot. He released that song, "I Hit it First" back in April, pretty clearly referring to Kim Kardashian. Well, now Kanye has fired back. It was during his live performance on Jimmy Fallon`s talk show. He changed the lyrics to his new song, "Bound 2." Listen to what he did.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KANYE WEST, RAPPER: Brandy`s little sister lame man he know it now. When a real brother hold you down you `sposed to drown. Bam, bam.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Take that.
Let me bring in Pat LaLama, correspondent for Investigation Discovery.
So Pat, you have Kanye referring to Ra J as "Brandy`s little sister." It was obviously him. And calling him lame. Seems to me he kind of had that coming. What do you think?
PAT LALAMA, CORRESPONDENT, INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY: All right. Well, here`s the story here. Let me just explain this to everybody.
On one side, you have one guy who`s dying to get back in the spotlight, Mr. J. And you have Mr. West on the other side, who is a self-proclaimed deity, who`s obnoxious, in my estimation, who is so self-entitled. And then behind all of this is the record company machinery that loves to create the controversy.
So everybody, don`t fall for it. They love all of this. It gets all of you paying attention to it. What really makes me sad about all of this is that the nucleus of this whole event is talking about who got to hit a woman first. This is what makes me sick.
And by the way, let me commandeer this interview and say Ms. Leathers needs to have her -- her hand (ph) if she can call me, because she needs a mother. She needs someone to guide her out of this slimy abyss that she`s in. Sorry, I had to say that.
HAMMER: I was wondering if you were going to comment on that.
LALAMA: I couldn`t stop myself.
HAMMER: And by the way, the term "hit" referring to sex. Let`s be clear about that.
LALAMA: Yes.
HAMMER: Very quickly, should Kanye not even have responded, Pat? Yes or no.
LALAMA: This -- this is his game. This is what he does. This is what the viewers like; this is what the buyers like.
HAMMER: OK.
LALAMA: This is how it works. Unfortunately, it`s about a woman and that`s what makes me sad.
HAMMER: Thanks so much, Pat LaLama. It was great having you here.
And we move from celebrity battles to a down-home celebrity commitment ceremony.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUNE THOMPSON, REALITY TV STAR: We didn`t go traditional. We went like, kind of like the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) scene. Because it`s just like I`m not traditional by al means. I`m not the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oh, no, you`re not. Honey Boo-Boo`s mom, Mama June, just exchanged vows with her partner, Sugar Bear. But why did the couple so famous for keeping things real have such a newfangled ceremony? Is Mama June going all Hollywood on us? She`s right here to explain.
Plus, the secrets of true crime TV revealed, including the red-hot hit, "Burn Notice."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFFREY DONOVAN, ACTOR: Not a good idea to lie to people with this much gas around.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing? You`re going to kill both of us.
DONOVAN: Yes, I am, unless you answer my question.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Sadly, after seven seasons the show ends forever tomorrow. But before it`s gone for good, I`ll reveal just how real the portrayal of an outed CIA agent is with "Burn Notice" star Jeffrey Donovan in the hot seat tonight.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, it`s "Geico`s 15 Minutes of Fame." Texas A&M star Johnny Manziel certainly a force to be reckoned with. He won the Heisman trophy as a freshman last year. This past weekend, he demolished the Sam Houston State Bearkats, 65-28.
CURRY: Yes. He`s amazing to watch on the field, A.J. But Texas Mom Beth Bates hasn`t been all that impressed with Manziel`s on and off the field antics recently. In fact, she wrote an open letter to Manziel, telling him, "Get it together." The letter went viral. And now Bates is enjoying her 15 minutes of fame.
She wrote the letter after having to explain Manziel`s controversial behavior to her sixth-grade son. She tells Manziel, "I want my son to look up to you as a person who made mistakes but found redemption, as a person who acknowledged mistakes and righted the ship." So some powerful words there from Mom. And I just spoke with Beth Bates, and I asked her why she felt she had to write the letter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BETH BATES, WROTE VIRAL LETTER TO MANZIEL: Well, you know, honestly, I wasn`t angry when I wrote the letter. It was more just a feeling of disappointment because of my son`s reaction to -- he had heard news about the NCAA investigation and things like that, and -- as we all have. And, you know, just was disappointing to not reigned in just a little bit, maybe, for game one, out the chute.
CURRY: Yes. Well, I understand being protective about your son. You know, I`ve got two sons myself. Clearly, what you wrote, though, I mean, struck a chord. Because this part of the letter, it really struck me. You wrote, "As I sat, as a very frustrated fan and mom, watching you trash talk and wondering if you learned a single lesson lately, and told you to get the chip off your shoulder and just play. I listened to my son see the good. He still sees what a tremendous athlete you are. He still sees that you`re not just good at football, you have a gift."
You`ve got the other side there, too. But why do you think your letter is getting such massive attention right now?
BATES: You know, I really think from what I personally have seen in the media, people either want to just trash him and that`s all it is, or they want to just say, he`s an athlete, don`t worry about anything else he does.
And after seeing that, and kind of seeing the reaction, I feel like what I wrote is more of a middle ground. It`s a -- as a mom, I see somebody`s son out there who I want great things for. And he has so much greatness in him that could just shine so brightly if he would let it get out there.
CURRY: Yes. Well, it sounds like some tough love, as a mom, like you said. And you mentioned before that you`ve met Johnny.
BATES: Right.
CURRY: How would you like him to respond to you?
BATES: You know, I would hope that he kind of got the heart of my letter. And really heard where I was coming from and did not see it as another attack on him. But really an encouragement that we do see greatness there and we see so much potential for greatness, and that`s what we want to see him live out.
CURRY: If you could talk to him right now, to Johnny Manziel, what would you say to him if you had that chance?
BATES: I would just tell him that, we are still fans, first and foremost. He is still from our hometown and, you know, I would just tell him that we want him to do so well. And we`re in his corner. And we support him. And we don`t want him -- I don`t want him to feel like he was being attacked and to just see that I want him to do well in everything in life.
CURRY: Well, Beth, you sound like just a concerned mom who wants the best for not only your own son but for Johnny Manziel, as well. And we thank you for being on the show and sharing that with us.
BATES: Well, thank you for having me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And former NFL star Michael Strahan is celebrating his new life with Kelly Ripa. He`s a huge TV star now. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on location as Kelly and Michael celebrate their one-year anniversary. So get out the bubbly. This is a behind-the-scenes party you won`t want to miss.
Plus, get ready for one of the sweetest caught-on-camera moments of all times.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CANDICE MORTENSEN, WIFE OF JASON MORTENSEN: My name is Candice. I`m your wife.
JASON MORTENSEN, RECOVERING FROM SURGERY: You`re my wife?
C. MORTENSEN: Yes.
J. MORTENSEN: Holy (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is great. Talk about falling in love all over again. The love-struck husband who woke up from surgery and couldn`t believe just how beautiful his wife was. I dare you not to "ooh" and "ahh" all over this viral hit.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Oh yes, Kelly and Michael have made it together for a year. So cheers. We knew it would happen. They`re one of TV`s most amazing couples ever, but toasting their first year together make it seem all the more sweet.
How could I possibly pass up the opportunity to congratulate the two of them in person today? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there on location as the morning duo shared some amazing details about a great first year as co- hosts. It has been a lot of hard work. But the truth is, this has been one big, incredible party for them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So here you are. It`s been a year. I guess it`s working out.
KELLY RIPA, CO-HOST, ABC`S "LIVE WITH KELLY AND MICHAEL": It is working out, yes. It`s been the fastest year of my life, really.
MICHAEL STRAHAN, CO-HOST, ABC`S "LIVE WITH KELLY AND MICHAEL": Yes. And it doesn`t feel like a year. I mean, it seemed like I got here yesterday. And it`s just like bam. We`re there. And hopefully, we can have many more together. So...
HAMMER: Well, when you keep a celebration going this big and for this long for your one-year anniversary. I`m guessing this is a bigger party that what you had with your husband, Mark.
RIPA: Oh, my gosh. Definitely. I mean -- I mean, now that I think about it, yes. There was no -- no surprises, no cake, no tape packages, no video. Nothing. I feel robbed.
STRAHAN: "Happy anniversary" and open up a box.
HAMMER: So he`s sitting at home watching TV every day, feeling a little jealous.
RIPA: That`s it.
HAMMER: So you guys obviously worked together for quite a while many times before it was an official team. But now that you`re "married," there have to be some things you have learned, some quirks perhaps you`ve learned about each other in the past. There`s something that he does every day that maybe you`ve always wanted to tell him.
RIPA: No. I mean, we -- I literally will text him down the hallway in his dressing room that I love him, because he makes me laugh. I listen to his, like -- he plays -- he plays Bill Withers every morning, "Lovely Day." Every morning. And it makes me happy. These are things I can count on from him. There`s really nothing that has surprised me this year. It`s just been, like, joyful.
HAMMER: No habits of hers that you, you know?
STRAHAN: No. Actually, no habits. You`re not weird at all. I`m weird. So maybe we`re both weird together, and that makes us both normal to each other. But no. There`s nothing.
I wake up every morning. I`m excited when I`m here. I`m excited when I know I`m walking out on the stage with you. And it`s fun. I have not had one day that`s not been fun, that I`ve come here and said, "Oh, I`ve got to do this."
HAMMER: Well, this is why we love watching.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Not only do I love them because they are entertaining, but they`re just cool, decent, good-hearted people.
CURRY: Yes. They do really seem like they really enjoy each other. And I have to ask you, A.J. Is there anything you need to tell me? Anything I should know?
HAMMER: You`ll figure it out soon enough.
All right. We`ve got to move on, because Honey Boo-Boo`s mom, Mama June, is doing some celebrating of her own tonight. The reality star just exchanged vows with her partner, Sugar Bear. We`re getting the true story behind their ceremony.
Plus, Mama June is revealing why she ain`t going Hollywood.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMPSON: I don`t need five cars. I don`t need a 50-bedroom house that cost 1.5 million, $30 million.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Mama June and Sugar Bear in the SHOWBIZ house tonight, telling all.
And meet Hollywood`s newest rapper.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLE RICHIE, TV PERSONALITY (rapping): Making gluten-free spaghetti. It`s time to get ready. Giving me bangs, some highlights, a bob.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: What is going on here? Nicole Richie, certainly not Paris Hilton`s sidekick any more. Is Nicole`s rapping alter ego, Nicki Rich, about to give Jay-Z a run for his money?
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, on HLN.
Here comes "SHOWBIZ Say What?" Take a look at David Beckham and his adorable daughter Harper. Here they are seated at mom, Victoria Beckham`s runway show during New York`s Fashion Week. So what is Harper really thinking as she`s surrounded by fashion`s elite, including "Vogue" editor Anna Wintour?
Weigh in. Go to HLNTV.com/ShowbizTonight and fill in the thought bubble. You might see your suggestion on air right here tomorrow on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMPSON: I don`t need five cars. I don`t need a 50-bedroom house that cost 1.5 million, $30 million.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Right now Mama June`s rules. Honey Boo-Boo`s mom is laying down the law on surviving Hollywood. Why she`s team Angelina Jolie. And she`s giving us her secrets for keeping the home fires burning.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is one-on-one with Mama June and Sugar Bear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONOVAN: Not a good idea to lie to people with this much gas around.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing? You`re going to kill both of us.
DONOVAN: Yes, I am, unless you answer my question.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Incredible true stories that lead to gripping TV crime drama. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is revealing the real-life stories behind shows like "Burn Notice." The star of "Burn Notice," Jeffrey Donovan, right here with his behind the scene crime show secrets in tonight`s SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello and thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer, with my guest co-host, Natasha Curry, who anchors "Weekend Express" every weekend right here on HLN.
Tonight, Honey Boo Boo`s mama right here in the SHOWBIZ house.
CURRY: She sure is. (INAUDIBLE) Mama June, Shannon, and her partner Sugar Bear Thompson tonight in their commitment ceremony on the big season finale of the family`s reality show, "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE "SUGAR BEAR" THOMPSON: I`m nervous.
JUNE "MAMA JUNE" SHANNON: I`m not (ph) nervous. (INAUDIBLE) I`m actually doing it.
I`m (EXPLETIVE DELETED) nervous now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: I love it. So has the self-proclaimed redneck family just gone Hollywood? That`s the big question. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT producer Mara Raphael just went one-on-one with Mama June and Sugar Bear to get the real story behind their new vows. Plus, their take on tonight`s biggest celebrity story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARA RAPHAEL, CNN: Anyone who watches your show knows you have a really solid relationship. But you know, there`s so many reality show couples who after the cameras have been filming them for months or even years, it really puts pressure on the marriage, and the list goes on and on. Even back to Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson and Jon and Kate as well. So many reality show couples have not made it last, how do you make it last?
SHANNON: When the cameras go down, that`s like our time. Kind of like for the family or whatever. I`m not going to say that you know, it`s all like lovey-dovey in the family, because that would be too much, too good to be true type thing. There`s ups and downs. I mean, at the end of the day honestly, my kids are No. 1, and everything else is like always like No. 2 to me. That`s just being real as a parent.
THOMPSON: We`re a family.
RAPHAEL: And, Sugar Bear, when the cameras are off, is it back to normal for you, or is it always normal even when the cameras are on?
THOMPSON: It`s kind of back to normal, because when the cameras go down, that means we all can be a family, and kids can play, I can play with the kids and do whatever they want, and have some family time together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHANNON: I`m going to pin you down. Stop, don`t. No. I don`t want no shaving cream.
(CROSSTALK)
(INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mama still hasn`t shaved her neck hairs for the commitment ceremony. And I think I`m going to help her with that so we can take it off the list.
RAPHAEL: It`s got to be hard for the kids or at least tough for the kids. Are there any questions they ask or things that make them feel stressful?
SHANNON: Not really. I mean, the teenagers are going to get mad because they can`t do everything they want to do. But for the most part, I mean, they don`t, a lot of (INAUDIBLE), and if you ask one of the girls do they think they are famous, they`ll be like, no, we`re just everyday people.
RAPHAEL: The big Hollywood couple also about to get married, Brad and Angelina. I have to ask about them, because no offense, they are the couple that everyone really wants to see the ceremony of.
SHANNON: I thought a little bit like Angelina Jolie and look, like adopting the kids and all that. And it seems like they really love one another. And I think that they, you know, they incorporate the kids a lot, I think.
RAPHAEL: Do you have any advice for them?
SHANNON: No, because kids don`t come with an instruction manual. No kid is the same. Take the good with the bad.
RAPHAEL: You seem really down to earth and so normal.
SHANNON: Yes, I mean, yes.
RAPHAEL: I know you`re very protective of your girls. You can see that on the show. One of the biggest things that all moms everywhere are talking about is Miley Cyrus at the VMAs. Do you guys know about that?
(CROSSTALK)
SHANNON: I honestly didn`t watch the VMAs, so I can`t give my opinion on that, because I didn`t watch it.
RAPHAEL: Knowing that so much has been posted on Facebook and there has been outrage about it, if you kids said, I want to watch this, especially Honey Boo Boo. Would you let her watch Miley at the VMAs? Would you let her watch a replay of that?
SHANNON: I mean, I`d have to watch it first. I always watch something first before they do.
RAPHAEL: Miley Cyrus obviously, she was a child star. You say your kids don`t feel like child stars. They are just normal. How do you keep them normal? As a parent, how do you keep them away from the trappings of fame? Which so many young kids--
SHANNON: They know in the future, they have got trust funds and they`ll have money. They know that this is like for their future. And kind of like, you know, they don`t get everything they want, still. They get everything they need. They know that we still have (INAUDIBLE), we still coupon. So they kind of like know all like what we`re supposed to do. You know what I mean? Like, they know OK, if I want to go shopping at Route (ph) 21 this week, I have to wait for a sale. Wait a couple of weeks. This outfit now, no, well, it`s going on sale next week so you`ll get it next week. And maybe (INAUDIBLE).
RAPHAEL: I knew that you had funds for your kids and they don`t get any of the money until they turn 21. And you live exactly how you`ve always lived. Is it ever tempting to sort of, I read a quote once you said, I`m never going to drive a Range Rover?
SHANNON: I don`t drive any way. But the only thing that we did do is we bought a Suburban. I fell in love with one. We rented one. But it`s not a newer model. It`s a 2012. So we pretty much drive it all the time. We bought three used four wheelers. And that`s pretty much it for the big- ticket items that we bought.
RAPHAEL: Sugar Bear, what about you? Have you ever thought I want five SUVs?
THOMPSON: We got enough vehicles. And we just -- that`s what we got. We`re happy with what we got. So we`re going to slow down.
RAPHAEL: You know that`s really rare.
SHANNON: I mean, we`re not like cookie cutter. I don`t need five cars. I don`t need a 50-bedroom house that cost $1.5 million, $30 million. I love where we live at. I notice a lot of football players and rappers, and these different celebrities, they have all this money that`s kind of like their assets, but they don`t really own the money. Kind of thing, so when their career ends, they`re going into foreclosure in their home, they`re losing their car. The repo man is going be at their car, coming to repossess the furniture at their house. And I don`t want that to happen. Because if it ends tomorrow, I know that I`m going to be able to afford the bills I have now.
You`re caught up like in the bling, I mean, I know the Kardashians are all about the money, but I mean, at the end of the day, you just step back and make sure you spend time with your kids, not let a nanny raise it. I`ve noticed that a lot, like there`s a lot of nannies like -- to me I personally couldn`t have a nanny. I`m like more like hands on. I want to know what is going or I know where my kids are doing. I don`t want to have someone to call me, saw your kid is going to soccer practice. I`ll bring her home at 7:00.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Give Mama a good night smoochie.
THOMPSON: (INAUDIBLE), I had to sleep out in the cold tent in the rain. I can`t wait to get back home to her. Give me some hugs.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Be careful of the wolves out there.
THOMPSON: Ain`t no wolves out there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RAPHAEL: When you see other celebrities raising their kids with their nannies, do you feel sorry for them, do you feel they`re missing out?
SHANNON: Honestly, my honest opinion, I do think a lot of people miss out. When you do have like nannies and -- nannies are great at times, but to have them in there 24/7 so you don`t have to deal with it, I don`t think I could do that.
RAPHAEL: What tips do you have for people who maybe nobody knows about now, who are just becoming famous on how to remain level headed and grounded?
SHANNON: You know what I mean, we have a friend who`s out here, actually they are on (INAUDIBLE) also, but they are actually out here shooting a couple of things. But I just tell her to have fun with it and don`t forget where you come from. Don`t let the money ruin you. And I don`t think that don`t like, oh, I got this money now. Let`s go out and get this and this. Money isn`t everything at the end of the day. When it`s all gone, what do you have to show for it? Nothing. That`s the way I love at it. Like, don`t forget about your kids` future. Don`t forget about like, if your kids made your famous, you need to make sure you take care of them for their future.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURRY: AJ, the more I hear from her, the more I just love her. Like Mara said, she`s just so down to earth, and boy Mama June looked hot.
HAMMER: It`s so wild that these are essentially simple people, but they are part of the Hollywood machine, and they are used to the cameras and the make-up and everything like that. It`s a pretty wild story that continues.
We turn now to the incredible true crime stories behind TV crime shows. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT will reveal to you just how much real-life headlines influence your favorite TV show addictions, like smoking hot "Burn Notice."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s not a good idea to lie to people with this much gas around.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing? You`re going to kill both of us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I am, unless you answer my question.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I can`t believe this series is ending after seven amazing seasons. Tonight, we`re putting the star of "Burn Notice," there he is, Jeffrey Donovan, right in the hot seat to reveal all of his behind the scenes crime show secrets.
And wait until you see what we have named as our moment of SHOWBIZ awesomeness.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stay down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oh, yes, "Burn Notice" knows how to bring the drama, and tonight we`re blowing the lid off of one of prime-time`s hottest shows. Tonight we`ve got the secrets of crime TV revealed. We`re getting the real story behind USA`s massive hit spy drama "Burn Notice," straight from its star, Jeffrey Donovan, who joins me in New York.
JEFFREY DONOVAN, "BURN NOTICE": I feel like I`m Robert Patrick in "Terminator 2" in that clip, where he gets shot by a shotgun, and he`s like, ow.
HAMMER: No big deal.
DONOVAN: No big deal, it just grazed me.
HAMMER: It`s great to meet you, first of all. And congratulations on seven amazing seasons of a show that so many people love. I know it has to be bittersweet that it`s going away, but you have big fans right here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, especially. So just as we`re getting started, I don`t want any spoilers, but give us a little secret, a nugget from what we`re going to see in the finale tomorrow?
DONOVAN: It`s a very tight-knit family of cast members. Bruce, Sharon, Gabrielle, Coby and I. One of us dies in the series finale. And it`s a tragic death but also a heroic death. But when people watch it, they will realize it was necessary.
HAMMER: OK, it will be almost a full circle closure kind of moment.
DONOVAN: Yes, very circular. It started with the beginning of the pilot seven years ago. Which is unbelievable it has lasted this long, and it comes full circle.
HAMMER: Of course, for the unfortunate few who have not seen this show, you play an undercover agent who was burned or blacklisted. Exposed. And we saw that play out in real life not all that long ago with CIA agent Valerie Plame. I want to revisit that moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VALERIE PLAME: I served the United States loyally and to the best of my ability as a covert operations officer for the Central Intelligence Agency. I worked on behalf of national security of our country, on behalf of the people of the United States, until my name and true affiliation were exposed in the national media.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I have to imagine, that was such an incredible moment, and seeing it again reminds me of how powerful it all was. When that happened, you have to have been watching very closely.
DONOVAN: What`s tough about that is she was burned for political reasons, I believe. And then when you play a character that`s similar to that, you wonder what reason was it behind Michael Westin, which is a very fictional story, and that was the whole premise of the show, is why was Michael unjustly burned. And before "Burn Notice," this term, burn notice, was never known. And it`s a real thing, it`s a pink slip for spies. And that means no ally of the United States can ever talk to you, communicate with you or work with you for the rest of your life. And they took away your identity. So you got to realize, she can never work again, just like this show.
HAMMER: That stinks. But here`s the thing, because it`s always been referred to as a fictional show. Here is the first secret I need for you to reveal for us tonight, and maybe you can`t, but how often has real-life drama found its way into your scripts? Obviously there is a great veil of secrecy over--
(CROSSTALK)
DONOVAN: We have a consultant that the show has worked loosely on. This former intelligence officer, named Michael Wilson, very close to Michael Westin, and he gave us a lot of the first two seasons spycraft, how to bug an enemy`s phone. How to create an X-ray machine out of a taser. All of these things he actually does.
HAMMER: Based on reality?
DONOVAN: Based on reality. You can look it up. And then when it comes down to any kind of explosive device, which we talk about that we built, we always made some false ingredients, some made-up names.
HAMMER: Thank you for that.
DONOVAN: It was inert. Nobody would be hurt by that.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: I don`t want anybody to learn from that. I look at your credentials. You`re a Black Belt. You speak Russian and you even lived in Russia. It`s almost like you`ve been training to be a spy your entire life. So here is the next secret I need for you to reveal, and that`s what makes you so believable on the show. But how closely have you worked with agents or former agents to inject that realism of your own portrayal into the drama?
DONOVAN: Well, I`ve corresponded with this ex-operative over emails for many years. I have hung out with homeland security. Got, you know, the inside on what they really do. And what`s interesting about today`s media coverage of what NSA is doing, it`s been going on. It`s really been going on. And I think it`s a little naive of our country to think that with the technology we have today, that they`re not listening to more.
HAMMER: I have always said that.
DONOVAN: And a little quick thing, because only because I played a spy and I researched it, there`s this thing called the ASA. It`s no longer in existence, it`s predated NSA, it`s American Security Agency. They were built to spy on Americans. It was just -- it was during World War II, we did not know who to trust.
HAMMER: And that was the gig.
DONOVAN: And that was the gig. So it`s just an old story that`s getting new blood. So it`s fascinating. But we`re ending the series on a great note. We are ending it the way we want it to.
HAMMER: Congratulations on this again. Thanks for being here.
DONOVAN: I appreciate it.
HAMMER: Make sure you catch the big series finale of "Burn Notice." So sad it`s going away. Tomorrow night on USA.
You know that famous line, right, from when "Harry Met Sally," I`ll have what she`s having. Remember that? Well, tonight, there`s some wives and girlfriends out there who might be remixing that line for their mates after this incredible viral video.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is Candace. I`m your wife.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re my wife?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy [EXPLETIVE DELETED].
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is so great. It`s a wild true story of a man who wakes up from surgery and falls in love with his wife, like it`s the first time he ever saw her. It`s all caught on camera. Plus, wait until you see what we`ve named as our moment of SHOWBIZ awesomeness.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is Candace. I`m your wife.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re my wife?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy [EXPLETIVE DELETED].
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: It`s the Youtube video that has women swooning. A husband comes out of surgery and cannot believe his luck that the beautiful woman at his bedside is his wife. Here is CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with this incredible true love at first sight romance times two.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He seems to be waking up after a hernia operation, eating a cracker, when his eyes focus on the woman besides his bed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did the doctor send you? Man, you`re eye candy.
MOOS: The prettiest woman he`s ever seen, he said.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is Candace. I`m your wife.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re my wife?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy [EXPLETIVE DELETED].
MOOS: The Youtube video entitled "Seeing her for the first time again" has women joshing. That time when you laugh and cry in your cube at the same time watching a video at lunch.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do we have children?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Man, have we kissed yet?
MOOS: Even female co-hosts were smitten over how smitten Jason Mortenson (ph) was.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whatever he`s on (INAUDIBLE).
MOOS: Some skeptics cried fake. But we got hold of the lovestruck husband on the phone, and he assured us it was all true. He gave us the name and number of his doctor to verify the surgery.
American Fork Hospital in Utah confirmed that Dr. Paul Robinson performed surgery on Jason back on August 21st. Jason says his wife Candace has been by his side through five surgeries in six years they have been married, but who is counting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How long have we been married?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A long time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God. I hit the jackpot.
MOOS: Not since the Youtube video "David after the dentist" surfaced.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this real life?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it`s real life.
MOOS: Has a sedated person awakened such interest on the Web.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your teeth are perfect.
MOOS: Jason told me on the phone that he was a little reluctant to post the video, because for one thing, he didn`t like that he swore.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy [ EXPLETIVE DELETED].
MOOS: Something he doesn`t usually do. Blame it on the anesthesia. I guess we`ll blame this on it too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Turn around.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
MOOS: Responded one poster. Turn around. Men are all the same, even when they`re all doped up. LOL.
Not many guys get to experience love at first sight. Twice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re my wife?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURRY: So, A.J., I`m sure every woman watching, I wish I could give that to my man every day so he talks to me like that.
HAMMER: All I could think was, good thing he didn`t wake up and say, you`re pretty ugly. I don`t know you, do I?
As we move on, Nicole Richie, mom, reality TV veteran, entrepreneur, rap star?
Nicki Rich got the mad skills. We`ll reveal the story behind Nicole`s alter ego in tonight`s SHOWBIZ awesomeness.
This is SBT, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Well, here it comes, SHOWBIZ awesomeness, when we reveal the most awesome story of the day. And think about it, Nicole Richie has really awesomely transformed herself from Paris Hilton`s reality TV sidekick into a fashion mogul, Natasha.
CURRY: She certainly has, and she also has her own hilarious web series called "Candidly Nicole." One recent episode has gone viral, because it`s all about Nicole`s rapping alter ego, Nikki Rich. And don`t let her 90210 zip code fool you. Nicole can drop it like it`s hot. Watch her first time here, working with her producer, and then taking center stage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLE RICHIE: Normally, when I`m home I make a lot of gluten free dishes, maybe like chilling in my crib making gluten free spaghetti.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) so it`s time to get ready.
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: You know, AJ, it`s something I could totally relate to. She`s a mom now. She`s hilarious since her "Simple Life" days. Hasn`t lost her sense of humor.
HAMMER: In my crib making gluten-free spaghetti. I don`t believe that`s ever appeared in a rap ever before. All right. Nikki Rich. Well, thank you for watching. I`m AJ Hammer in New York. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT airs Monday through Thursday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. And HLN continues right now.
END
