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Showbiz Tonight
Michael Jackson Death Trial Verdict; Hollywood Mourns Tom Clancy, 66; Behind the Scenes with J. Lo on Tour; Top 3 SHOWBIZ Big Controversies; Interview with Rollo Ross
Aired October 02, 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: Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, it is HLN`s continuing coverage of the shocking verdict in the Michael Jackson trial and his family`s battle against concert promoters they say was responsible for his death.
Plus, the death today of a Hollywood legend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s going to be close!
(EXPLOSIONS)
HAMMER: Tom Clancy gave us "Hunt for Red October," "Patriot Games" and dozens of other novels that became big-screen hits. Now Hollywood is mourning his death at 66 years old.
Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MILEY CYRUS, SINGER (singing): Da-di-da-da, dancing with Molly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Miley Cyrus sings about the party drug Molly, but she`s not the only star doing it. Is Miley`s message dangerous? E!`s Laura Ling is right here to reveal her stunning investigation into the dark underworld of synthetic drugs.
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer. Thank you for watching tonight.
The shocking verdict in the Michael Jackson trial and the big loss for Michael Jackson`s family.
Jackson`s family claim that concert promoters AEG Live, who were working with Michael Jackson on a tour, were responsible for his death, and AEG should pay them $2 billion.
But just hours ago the jury delivered its verdict. The concert promoters AEG Live were not responsible for Michael`s death. It came down to two questions, and here is how it all played out when the verdict was read, and we saw it live right here on HLN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Question number 1, did AEG Live hire Dr. Conrad Murray? Answer yes. Question number 2, was Conrad -- was Dr. Conrad Murray unfit or incompetent to perform the work for which he was hired? Answer, no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And with that, separate from any appeals, this legal battle is over.
With me tonight from right outside the courthouse in Los Angeles where the verdict came down tonight, CNN Wire entertainment editor Alan Duke, he`s been covering this trial from the very beginning.
So Alan, given what you saw day in and day out over the past 21 weeks, everything that was presented to us, did this verdict surprise you?
ALAN DUKE, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, CNN: I would never have predicted that this verdict would hinge on the question if Conrad Murray was competent or incompetent, or unfit. This was about a man who is in prison right now for involuntary manslaughter for the death of Michael Jackson.
Yet, this jury voted, at least nine of them, that Conrad Murray was fit and competent for the job for which he was hired. That to me was a stunner. It was so stunning his own lawyer, Valerie Wass, almost fainted. She was sitting behind me and let out a gasp.
HAMMER: Just amazing to have seen this come down so quickly. They read question number 1, determined that, in fact, AEG Live did hire Dr. Conrad Murray, which was a big lingering question. And then question two about his incompetence.
CNN legal analyst Sunny Hostin also with us tonight. It was really a shocker to me, having watched this trial very closely. From a legal perspective, you know, the guy is in jail. The guy that they found competent. Were you surprised?
SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: I wasn`t surprised, because this way this case sort of shook out, A.J., was that a lot of the executives that were involved in this were released from the case. So the only question in front of jury was, was AEG negligent in hiring Dr. Conrad Murray?
Now, I thought perhaps the issue was going to be did AEG hire Conrad Murray? Because so many people testified about Michael Jackson having this relationship with Dr. Murray and, you know, making it clear that he sort of hand-picked this man. He hand-picked this doctor.
But in my view, once the jury found that AEG hired Dr. Murray, I didn`t think that it was a crazy outcome for them to say, "But he was actually fit and competent to perform the work for which he was hired."
Because what was he really hired to do? He wasn`t hired to give Michael Jackson Propofol. Right? He was hired to give Michael Jackson medical care, to make sure that he could perform. Not to give him anesthesia so that he could sleep.
And so when you look at it like that, what was he hired to do? He was hired to be Michael Jackson`s doctor. I think that the jury actually came back with the right verdict in this case.
HAMMER: And now that we have that verdict, Sunny, it`s hard to imagine what the family is going through right now. I mean, Alan, this family has been dealing with legal drama surrounding Michael Jackson`s death literally since the day he died over four years ago.
You know Katherine Jackson well. This was very important for her to bring this lawsuit to get, if not closure, to bring some kind of an end to all of this drama. How devastated do you think she is right now?
DUKE: Well, first of all, this didn`t cost her any money, if you`re wondering about her losing millions of dollars because she had to pay legal fees. The lawyers took care of that on a contingency. So she`s not out there.
And she can at least say that her search for the truth yielded some gold for her. She was able to learn and the world was able to hear firsthand a lot about how Michael Jackson died and his last months. If it`s not about the money, then it`s about the truth; then perhaps she feels that she got something out of this.
By the way, she was so relaxed. She was playing word games on her iPad as she waited for the verdict to happen.
HAMMER: Remarkable. What a day it is for the Jackson family. We`ll have to see what happens with any appeals, if there are going be any. But this is yet another monumental day in the history and legacy, if you will, of Michael.
Sunny and Alan, thank you both so much.
Well, tonight, there is another big story about the death of yet another legend. Tom Clancy. We learned today that the man who brought us political thrillers that were turned into Hollywood blockbusters died at the age of 66.
Alec Baldwin, who starred in "The Hunt for Red October," told us today that Clancy was a great storyteller and a great gentleman. But sadly, the greatness of Tom Clancy has come to an unexpected end.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CONNERY, ACTOR: I present you the ballistic missile submarine Red October.
HAMMER (voice-over): We`ve seen his movies, read his books...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Homeland Security can`t find a blacklist target.
HAMMER: ... and played his video games. Tom Clancy`s stamp on pop culture and entertainment has been remarkable. His work keeps booksellers busy, and it keeps Hollywood`s biggest actors employed.
MAGGIE FURLONG, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Everything Tom Clancy did was big. If it wasn`t a bestseller, it was a box office success.
HAMMER: Tom Clancy actually started out as an insurance agent who later tried out writing. Then, his book "The Hunt for Red October" was name checked by President Ronald Reagan. Voila, "The Hunt for Red October" became a bestseller in 1984, and Hollywood quickly noticed.
CONNERY: You sent the signal.
ALEC BALDWIN, ACTOR: That`s correct, sir.
HAMMER: "The Hunt for Red October" was made into a 1990 hit movie starring Alec Baldwin as dashing CIA analyst Jack Ryan. Today, Alec told us this: "Spending time with Tom prior to shooting was the best part of that whole experience for me. Tom was smart, a great storyteller and a real gentleman."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get down!
HAMMER: Harrison Ford took over the Jack Ryan role for two more movies, 1992`s "Patriot Games" and 1994`s "Clear and Present Danger."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You must be the Dr. Ryan who`s done such interesting research on me.
HAMMER: Ben Affleck played the role in a 2002 reboot, "The Sum of All Fears." And Hollywood`s not done with Jack Ryan yet. "Star Trek`s" Chris Pine is starring in "Jack Ryan, Shadow One," due out later this year.
FURLONG: Jack Ryan is one of those iconic Hollywood tough-guy characters. He`s just a good guy trying to get rid of the bad guys. And it`s one of those characters that you`ll always be rooting for.
HAMMER: Tom Clancy didn`t just dominate movies and books. He`s a big name in video games, as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Echo proceed to street level and intercept the bomber.
HAMMER: Clancy`s work has spawned several best-selling video-game franchises, including Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon. All told, Clancy`s books have sold more than 50 million copies. Video games based on his work have sold more than 75 million copies. And the Jack Ryan movies racked up more than $788 million at the box office.
TOM CLANCY, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR: I`ve been a lazy person all my life and now all of a sudden, I`ve turned into a workaholic.
HAMMER: But for all his success, Clancy was baffled by his superstardom. Watch what he told Larry King on CNN back in 1991.
LARRY KING, FORMER CNN ANCHOR: You pinch yourself at all of this?
CLANCY: Not in my wildest nightmares.
KING: Did you ever think this would happen?
CLANCY: Number I just wanted to see my name on the cover of a book and get that green accomplished. And then I got real lucky.
HAMMER: Clancy may have gotten real lucky, and so did his fans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: As we move on tonight, we`re getting set to count down today`s top three controversies. Oh, wouldn`t you know it, Miley Cyrus made the cut tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CYRUS (singing): Da-di-da-di, dancing with Molly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Miley is singing about the party drug Molly. She`s talking about using it herself. Now she is fresh off a new MTV documentary. But is Miley`s new "who cares?" attitude about drugs just plain dangerous? I certainly think so, and E!`s Laura Ling is right here to reveal her stunning investigation into this dark world, the underworld of synthetic drugs. What`s her message to Miley?
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(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, Britney giving us hot flashes tonight. We`ve got a first look at Britney Spears` new music video. Is it working for you?
This is SBT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Jennifer Lopez`s first world tour.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So there`s all this anticipation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This tour is a milestone. Basically, a snapshot of her life. She`s dancing. She`s singing. She`s playing the congas. She`s doing salsa. She`s doing hip hop. A little jazz, just a little of everything.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were all hand-picked.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She found some of the best dancers that she could possibly find, and I`m one of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, we are pulling back the curtain and revealing the dancing secrets of Jennifer Lopez`s world tour. NUVOtv`s brand-new docu-series "A Step Away" takes us behind the scenes with J. Lo and her dancers, including her closest confidante, her boyfriend Beau "Casper" Smart.
We`re about to get our very first look at what it is really like to get up close and personal with Jennifer Lopez at work.
NATASHA CURRY, HLN ANCHOR: Yes. The former fly girl. And A.J., she seems to really have it all. She`s gorgeous, an amazing career. Gorgeous clothes, a family life. And you`ve got to really wonder. I can`t wait to find out what it`s like having the sexy life night after night with a team of professional dancers, traveling the world.
HAMMER: Well, your wait is over, Natasha, because it`s all captured in this great new docu-series called "A Step Away." It debuts tomorrow night on NUtv [SIC]. And I just sat down with Jennifer`s number 1 dance collaborator, Beau "Casper" Smart. He is, of course, her boyfriend. And I also spoke with her "Step Away" cast member, Jimmy Smith. I asked Beau what it`s like working with a boss who`s also your girlfriend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEAU "CASPER" SMART, J. LO`S BOYFRIEND: I approach it with any other job. The respect that you have when you`re going in, whether it`s your boss or not. We`re more creative partners in this. Because it`s not a regular job where it`s like the overhead that`s like, this, this, this, this. It`s more I`m the creative.
So I come in and give my creative ideas and thought process and energy of what I feel like something should be or look like. Whether it`s moves or a look of something, whether it`s wardrobe or lights or video content. And she either chooses to take it or leave it. Which most of the time it`s taken. And a lot of times, she has a lot of her own ideas, because she is who she is, and she`s a very creative person.
So it`s no pride or ego involved. I mean, you definitely have to leave that at the door on both ends.
HAMMER: Yes.
SMART: And you just go in there very respectful.
HAMMER: So nice to hear it is such a collaborative effort. And listen, it`s one thing to be on that stage dancing every single night. And it`s an entirely different thing to be on stage dancing with cameras in your face on top of it to turn it into a docu-series.
Jimmy, did you feel a little extra pressure because you knew these cameras were there and rolling?
JIMMY SMITH, DANCER; Yes. It`s complete pressure. It`s almost like you have to zone out and just put yourself in your normal state, because you know it`s cameras rolling so it`s going to be on television. It`s going to be on DVD; or whatever it`s going to be on, you know it`s there for life.
So you`re, like, working out. We have to take our shirts off, so we`re like working out and trying not to eat and trying to eat and trying to drink and trying not to drink. And oh, shoot, my eye was looking crazy, like, it`s complete pressure.
HAMMER: Beau, I know you read "Cosmo" every month, and I`m sure you`ve seen how Jennifer gushed about you in the October issue of "Cosmo," basically telling the world, you know what? You are her perfect partner. And I`m not going to read to you now my best -- I`m actually not going to do my best Jennifer impression. But here`s what she said. This is the quote.
SMART: OK.
HAMMER: "For me, it`s about having a great partner to walk this life with. I have my own high standards for what I want in a partner and how I want to be treated. I bring a lot to the table. I`m not talking about material things but what I have to offer as a person, love and loyalty and all the things that make a good relationship."
That is so nice and obviously sounds like a woman so severely in love. So obviously, I need to ask the question -- and I know you`re choosing this place to answer this question. When are you going to pop the question?
SMART: Oh, we just went right there?
HAMMER: Why not? You know, time is limited.
SMART: I thought we were here for "Step Away."
HAMMER: I`m stepping away for a moment just to ask you, you know, if you plan to ask her to be your betrothed. I`ve got to ask.
SMART: And I`m going to step -- and I`m going to step away from that question.
HAMMER: OK. Best of luck with "Step Away." It`s really cool to get this new perspective on what you guys do for a living. I really appreciate your being here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, I had to ask. He`s a good guy. They make a great pair, I think.
CURRY: Yes. He seemed a bit (ph) amused. It look in his eyes like he`s thought about it, A.J. You might be onto something.
HAMMER: "Step Away" premiers tomorrow night on NUVOtv.
Well, just when you thought that Paris Hilton had left the building, she`s back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PARIS HILTON, SOCIALITE (singing): I am having a good time. Because I`m loving a good time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hot flash: Paris is a singer again. Oh, goodie. Wait until you see the rest of her latest stab at pop super stardom.
Mia Farrow`s stunning new revelation tonight: Is Frank Sinatra really her son`s father and not Woody Allen? This is the confession that is rocking Hollywood tonight. How does it rank among today`s top three controversies?
This is SBT on HLN. It`s time now for the "SHOWBIZ Buzz List." This is what the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff is buzzing all about. And this is a no- brainer, literally. You`ve got to tune into the new season of AMC`s "Walking Dead." It debuts on October 13.
How else are we going to learn how to survive a zombie apocalypse?
Well, Cher is holding nothing back on her new album, "Closer to the Truth." She`s like a fine wine.
The comedy hit "This is the End" is now out on Blu-ray and DVD. Behind- the-scenes bloopers alone are worth the price of this thing. Go pick that up.
Also, I think that everybody needs a little John Legend in their life. You`ve got to check out his latest album, "Love in the Future." A must- have.
And last but definitely not least: "Scandal" back tomorrow night. Olivia Pope and her gladiators are getting all mixed up in all sorts of brand-new scandals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you want?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sit down.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sit down, Olivia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am busy. I have a job. I have people who count on me. I don`t have time to come running down to the White House at your beck and call, like you`re the only one who`s important. Sitting down is not happening, so what do you want?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBIN WILLIAMS, COMEDIAN: I`m back. (EVIL LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight taking TV by storm. The great Robin Williams is getting big laughs on the small screen, starring in the new CBS comedy "The Crazy One."
Of course, Robin started on TV and after a whole bunch of big-screen blockbusters, well, he is returning to his TV roots. But he is certainly not the only star who`s making the leap from movies back to TV. Here`s CNN`s Jake Tapper for SBT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIAMS: You know, someone wholesome, someone incredible.
SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR, ACTRESS: Someone gettable?
WILLIAMS: Someone famous.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): If a big name is all it takes...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get me that voice.
WILLIAMS: Perfect.
TAPPER: ... then television networks have never been so well \-prepared. CBS will add Robin Williams` name to the bountiful list of stars pilfered from the big screen for a return to television.
WOODY HARRELSON, ACTOR: You wonder ever if you`re a bad man?
TAPPER: Woody Harrelson is on that list.
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, ACTOR: The world needs bad men.
TAPPER: He and Matthew McConaughey will be thrust onto the small screen this January in HBO`s "True Detective."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good actors want to go where they can tell great stories. And right now, the greatest stories are on TV. These are the kinds of meaty, complex characters that you just don`t find in a 90-minute blockbuster or sequel.
TAPPER: Whether they`re returning to their roots or starting fresh, this year`s television stars are creating a buzz as planned, but they`re hardly breaking new ground.
KEVIN SPACEY, ACTOR: Power is about like real estate. It`s all about location, location, location.
TAPPER: "House of Cards"...
DON CHEADLE, ACTOR: Not you`re going to hit me with the real -- the real straight talk?
TAPPER: ... and "House of Lies" both star mansion-dwelling former movie men.
Meanwhile, Steve Buscemi and director Martin Scorsese expanded their talents to create "Boardwalk Empire" years ago.
STEVE BUSCEMI, ACTOR: To the future.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So when TV executives pay the big money for these actors, these movie actors, what they`re really paying for is a built-in fan base and a proven track record, knowing they can deliver with high- profile performances.
TAPPER: Television is basking in the glow of its recent triumphs, and the networks are not shy about letting us know why we should keep tuning in.
Greg Kinnear, front and center to promote FOX`s new series, "Rake."
GREG KINNEAR, ACTOR: In a place like this, sweetheart, my dance card`s going to be awfully full.
TAPPER: The competition is a bit less subtle about its fancy casting.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rebel Wilson is coming to television, and ABC`s got her.
TAPPER: So if you want a night out with some jumbo popcorn, go ahead.
WILLIAMS: Salt, secret salt.
TAPPER: Just remember: With so many stars believing quality is on TV, don`t forget to set your DVR.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: I am so happy, Natasha, to see some of these big stars like Woody Harrelson, Robin Williams, coming full circle.
CURRY: Yes.
HAMMER: We get to see them more often now.
CURRY: Right. And you get to see a different side of their talent sometimes. Like I remember, you know, Robin Williams from "Mork and Mindy" days. He was amazing. It`s kind of like you get a little trambeau (ph) sized.
HAMMER: You did not watch "Mork and Mindy" live on TV when it was in prime time. I know that wasn`t the case.
CURRY: Yes, I did.
HAMMER: As we move on, we`re set to count down today`s top three controversies. And where there`s controversy, Miley Cyrus is certainly around.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CYRUS (singing): Da-di-da-di. Dancing with Molly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Miley`s singing about the party drug Molly and talking about using it herself. She`s fresh off a new MTV documentary, but is Miley`s new "who cares?" attitude about drugs just plain dangerous? E!`s Laura Ling is right here to reveal her stunning investigation into the dark underworld of these synthetic drugs. What is her message to Miley tonight?
This is SBT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CYRUS (singing): Da-di-da-di, dancing with molly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Right now, it`s today`s top three controversies. Miley Cyrus unleashes Miley 2.0 in her new MTV documentary. But could her confessions about using the party drug Molly backfire? Journalist Laura Ling is right here to reveal her investigation into the secret world or Molly, and she`s got a personal message for Miley.
But will that be today`s top controversy?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oh yes, Britney is getting to work. Her new video has whips, leather, and a whole lot of vintage Britney Spears dance breaks, but is it working for you?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer. Natasha, we kick off tonight`s countdown of three big controversies today with number 3., stars romancing Molly.
CURRY: The party drug sounds like the name of a little girl with curls or something, but it`s a dangerous drug. Miley Cyrus suggested she uses and even sings about it in her song, "We Can`t Stop."
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Molly, molly, molly. That party drug is now being used by millions of young people. But is that because stars like Miley seem to be glamourizing molly? Laura Ling is with us tonight from San Francisco. She has a startling new docu-series about molly and the secret world of other synthetic drugs. It`s called Society X with Laura Ling. It is going to debut on Thursday night on E!. It looks absolutely fascinating, it`s great having you with us tonight.
LAURA LING, "SOCIETY X WITH LAURA LING": Hi.
HAMMER: So you learned a whole lot about molly. And here is the question that I`ve spoken with people quite a bit about. Do you think it actually is young stars like Miley having some effect on driving young people to use the drug or is that kind of a ridiculous notion?
LING: I think you can`t discount it. There are dozens and dozens of artists like Miley Cyrus who sing or rap about molly. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? There`s no doubt that molly is the most popular drug out there.
But what we learn in our investigation is that young people think that molly is pure MDMA. Very often it`s not. They`re not even taking MDMA. It`s a completely different chemical. So -- and it`s having some pretty scary effects. I mean, at the Electric Zoo festival a few weeks ago, there were two molly related deaths.
HAMMER: It`s crazy, and especially you slap a name like molly on it, it doesn`t sound so clinical. How bad can that be? You mentioned some of the people who have been singing about it, name checking molly, Lady Gaga, Jay- z. They`ve also sang about it or talked about it. Here is what Miley just told Rolling Stone about drugs in general. She said Hollywood is a coke town, but weed is so much better and molly too. Those are happy, social drugs.
I have to tell you I`ve been to concerts. I`ve been to party venues, clubs where I know people are using it. I get they think it`s this great social drug, but we`re seeing kids die from it. That`s just really scary.
LING: It is. And people are -- a lot of times when you use molly, they`re not just taking one hit, per se. It`s five, six, seven hits. And as mentioned, sometimes it`s not even molly at all. We have had -- we interviewed young people at a college campus, they can get molly easier than alcohol. They know that they have taken things that were laced with other drugs and had really bad trips, but they continue to take these risks, so it`s pretty surprising talking to some of these young people.
HAMMER: I wonder what is going to make a difference, because unfortunately, and we`ve seen this happen before, I keep worrying with everybody else that it`s going to take somebody like a Miley Cyrus or some other star winding up in the hospital because of molly and confessing that this is what hurt me and did this to me.
Do you think if that happens, let`s hope it doesn`t, but would that make a difference?
LING: It may. But I think we`re seeing headline after headline of young people at a lot of these music festivals that are overdosing and dying. So I think things are kind of reaching a turning point. We`ll see. And what is also really surprising is how easy it is to get access to these drugs. Literally, you can buy these things on the Internet and have it show up on your doorstep the next day.
HAMMER: What I`d like to see is some of these same artists speaking out against it and really helping people to understand, no, this is a bad thing. Laura Ling, great having you here. I want everybody to check out your E! docu series, "Society X with Laura Ling" when it premieres on Thursday. Thanks again. Natasha, it`s so scary. I would love to see a complete about-face from Miley, saying, you know what, I tried it. I did it. Stay away.
CURRY: I would like to see the same thing too, AJ, and that takes us to our number 2 on tonight`s countdown of the day`s top three controversies. It`s a blue-eyed bombshell. From Mia Farrow, in a brand new interview with "Vanity Fair" revealed today, Mia says the son we thought she had with Woody Allen may actually be Frank Sinatra`s son. What? Yes, until now, Ronan Farrow was believed to be Mia`s one biological child with Woody. Now, check out what was Ronan tweeted today. "We`re all possibly Frank Sinatra`s sons." A message quickly retweeted by his mom, clearly trying to calm the buzz.
Segun is with us from Hollywood. He`s a pop culture icon here himself, contributor to Access Hollywood Live. Thanks for being with us again. So no DNA test was ever done, Segun, but everyone`s buzzing that Ronan sure looks a lot like Sinatra. Are you wondering what I am, why tell all now after all these years?
SEGUN ODUOLOWU, ACCESS HOLLYWOOD CONTRIBUTOR: Yes. I agree with you. The picture is very startling. He doesn`t look like Woody Allen. That`s for sure in my opinion. But it seems as if it`s an argument or really a tempest in a teapot. Just take the DNA test if you really want to know. I understand there are privacy issues that may incur and perhaps the parents decided they don`t want to take a paternity test. But if it`s really that big of a scandal, just take the test and you`ll know for sure.
CURRY: I just want to hand it to them now, I`m just so curious. Jessica Weiner also with us tonight. She`s a self-esteem ambassador for Dove, and on Thursday, Jess kicks off the fourth annual Dove self-esteem weekend at the Empire State Building. So we`re wondering, should Mia even be revealing all this if she`s not sure?
JESSICA WEINER, DOVE SELF-ESTEEM AMBASSADOR: I was just thinking about that. The work that we do with Dove tells us that moms are the number 1 role models for girls. And when a mom holds a secret like this, from her own family, but then sort of teases it out in the public, it`s not setting the best example. If this is family business, my opinion is, you keep it as family business. And if it`s something you want to publicly announce then make sure you`re really coming forward with the full story. Moms have to walk the talk, Mia Farrow included.
CURRY: You make a good point there. And back in 2011, Ronan talked to "Forbes" about what it was like growing up with Woody and Mia in a family of mostly adopted 14 kids. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What`s the one thing I don`t know about growing up with famous parents?
RONAN FARROW: One thing that people ask about less is the fact that my family was both high profile in the way you described, and also huge. It was 14 kids, which was a really formative thing. Because around the dinner table, I actually had a living example of what it is to give young people who otherwise wouldn`t have a voice, a voice, and a place to solve problems and be part of a community where they otherwise wouldn`t have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: Really seems to have it together there. Segun, but I mean, if this is true, maybe he wouldn`t be too disappointed. I mean, kind of looks a little Sinatra-esque to me.
ODUOLOWU: It was shocking. It was so scary to watch that. His side profile looked like a young Frank Sinatra. Take the test or not take the test, I`m believing it. I`m buying it. He looked like a young Frank.
CURRY: A.J., what do you think? I think he could dye his hair and he could play him in a movie.
HAMMER: Hollywood has a lot of deep dark secrets. And for a while, a lot of them surrounding Woody Allen, so none of this surprises me. That takes us to number 1 on tonight`s countdown of the top three controversies today. It`s Tom Hanks. Hero or villain? The real life ship captain played by Tom Hanks in his new movie, "Captain Phillips," which looks extraordinary, the real guy is now at the center of a $50 million lawsuit. The movie is based on a true story about a cargo ship captain and the ship that was taken by Somali pirates, with the captain offering the ultimate sacrifice to save his crew.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You come with us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`ll kill everybody.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got to get them off the ship.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not like this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Looks extraordinary. People are saying Tom Hanks is doing his best work in this playing Captain Phillips as a hero. Now the crew of the ship is suing the ship`s owner and operator, claiming that Phillips actually made bad calls that put them in danger. Jess, Hollywood takes plenty of liberties all the time, is there anything wrong with Hanks playing Phillips as the hero even if Phillips wasn`t that?
WEINER: This story is so heartbreaking for me, AJ, because I`m sure there was a little truth on both sides. And Tom Hanks is one of those celebrities and producers that has the utmost integrity, I believe, so I want to believe that he was making the best choices in this, but certainly Hollywood rewrites stories to make it more heroic or changes some of those key elements. And I think we go into those movies with a suspension of disbelief, but it`s hard when it`s based on a real life tragedy and when there are real people involved, so I think it`s a fuzzy line that we are not going to know the full answer to.
HAMMER: Now, granted the Titanic was a romantic kind of a movie, a romantic drama, but trust me, not everything we saw in the movie actually happened in real life. Segun, what do you make of the controversy? Is there really anything wrong with Hanks playing the role as they decided to do it for a big Hollywood production regardless of every ounce of truth.
ODUOLOWU: Yeah, I`m on the side of Tom Hanks in that it`s a movie. I mean it`s a dramatic portrayal, but it`s not a documentary. When we want to talk about, you know, the Discovery Channel running a fake shark documentary.
CURRY: Right.
ODUOLOWU: It`s almost - you know, we had a problem with that because the Discovery Channel owes us some type of truth, but this is Hollywood. This is make believe. This is the suspension of disbelief. As you said .
CURRY: And?
ODUOLOWU: So, I have no problem with it being just a movie.
HAMMER: And I will tell you, I`m going to go see it no matter what the truth is. Segun, Jess, great to have you both here. Thank you so much.
And as we move on tonight, oh, she`s back. It`s Paris Hilton`s musical return. Thank goodness.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PARIS HILTON (singing): Are you having a good time? Because I`m having a good time
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, we can all thank Lil` Wayne for this, but could it actually become a hit? We also have this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HUGH JACKMAN: I`m sorry, man. We`ve got - I used to teach you at a high school AP.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This is fantastic. The great Hugh Jackman with the red carpet, role reversal. Hugh actually makes an interviewer blush as he tells the world about their past together.
Plus, wait until you see what we have named tonight as our moment of awesomeness. This is SBT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," Geico`s "15 Minutes of Fame."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROLLO ROSS: You`re getting an award tonight for contribution to film and stage."
HUGH JACKMAN: Yeah.
ROSS: I mean how do you feel about that?
JACKMAN: I feel good, but I`m sorry, man. We go way back. I used to teach you at a high school in P.E. and I want to know how your physical education is progressing? It`s very important to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: This really is amazing: Hugh Jackman spots an old student of his on the green carpet at the Zurich film festival and just calls him out like that. Now, the video of Hugh and his star student has gone absolutely viral. This was supposed to be an ordinary night, Natasha, for freelance TV reporter Rollo Ross and it really turned into this extraordinary moment we`re going to show you.
CURRY: Oh, didn`t it. And it happened when he was trying to ask Jackman about being honored at the film festival. And Rollo is with us tonight from London. Rollo, what an incredible moment. Let`s watch first how it all went down. Look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACKMAN: How are you?
ROSS: I`m all right. I`m all right. So, I mean you`re getting an award tonight for contribution .
JACKMAN: Yeah.
ROSS: . to film and stage.
JACKMAN: Yeah.
ROSS: I mean how do you feel about that and what you feel?
JACKMAN: I feel good. But Rollo, I`m sorry man. We go way back. I used to teach you at a high school in P.E. and I want to know how your physical education is progressing. It`s very important to me. You guys don`t know that, but this man here, I used to teach him in (inaudible) school in London. Yes, that`s right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, no.
JACKMAN: How is your education going?
ROSS: Oh, it`s going great.
JACKMAN: Did I set you up for life?
ROSS: Oh, yes, definitely. Definitely.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: Oh, my god. I don`t know what I`m more surprised about, the fact that he remembered your name that he - or that he was once a gym teacher. Did you see all that coming?
ROSS: I didn`t. We met in the afternoon. Afternoon. And I had a reunion about two weeks before. And all these guys that was in the same class had said you got to say hello to him for us. So, I said hello. And that he said to me, oh my god, but I recognized you that you were one of the guys from Uppengeim (ph) and I was OK. And then I saw him on the red carpet, and that when he just - green carpet, sorry, and that`s when he jumped in. And, yeah, it was a little bit humiliating, but it was a nice humiliation.
(LAUGHTER)
ROSS: I didn`t know that existed.
(LAUGHTER)
CURRY: Right. I mean, for anyone it would be like Hugh Jackman knows my name, man. And we know he`s great actor and such a gracious guy. What was he like as a gym teacher? I`m imagining, you know, these bulging biceps and tight t-shirts.
ROSS: Well, it wasn`t part of that. From what I can remember he was actually quite tall and thin. He was 18 at the time. He was 18 at the time. I don`t know if he`s properly like manned up at this point.
CURRY: Wow.
ROSS: So, yeah, I mean we all thought he was like 24, because they sort of come in, when they came into school, this rantaroos (ph), the thing as they called, we didn`t really - you know, we had no idea. We knew they were training teachers. We just thought they were, you know, around 24. But he was actually 18. So.
CURRY: Yeah. And no one would have known that he was Hugh Jackman -Hugh Jackman? What`s these 15 minutes of fame been like for you?
ROSS: It`s been crazy.
(LAUGHTER)
ROSS: Other side is green. I mean, I - I still, I`m cringing from that very moment on the green carpet to now. And I just - my Facebook page has just been flooded with people wanting to talk about this.
CURRY: Yeah.
ROSS: Well, it`s so exciting to watch it, Rollo. Congratulations on him remembering your name and doing a great job and keeping it together there, too.
CURRY: Oh, well, I tried.
(LAUGHTER)
ROSS: It was good.
CURRY: Yeah. You did a great job. A.J.
HAMMER: Hey, you never know who your gym teacher is going to wind up being. Coming up next, it`s Britney. Don`t think she`s ever taught P.E., but she`s back and she`s got one thing to say to you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRITNEY SPEARS (singing)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Britney Spears new ear worm. It is good, but is it working for you? Plus, wait until you see what we name as our moment of "Showbiz Awesomeness." This is SBT on HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Is Paris still hot? Well, she`s back. For better or worse, Paris Hilton has a brand new video for her single "Good Time" with Lil` Wayne. Didn`t you miss her kind of like maybe.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Paris is the first of today`s "Hot Flashes" where we take on the hottest story of the day, Natasha.
CURRY: I`m curious that you`re asking me. OK. But let`s get to her new video. Paris has apparently been playing DJ on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza. So, I guess that`s why her video of Lil` Wayne looks like one big party. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PARIS HILTON (singing): Are you having a good time? Good time? Because I`m having a good time. I might be a bit tipsy, but that`s OK because you`re with me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: You know, I watched the video and I`m kind of smiling and laughing all at the same time. As far as the song is concerned, you know what, with enough electronics and Lil` Wayne producing, does it really matter who sings? It doesn`t? And Segun is with us from Hollywood tonight, he`s an entertainment journalist. Segun, you`ve got to tell me if you`re loving exactly what`s going on here with Paris?
ODUOLOWU: You know what, I`m going to go against the grain and actually say that I am. They`re rapping and singing about what they know, drinking, having a good time, acting really wild in locations that most people don`t get to go to. So, you know, I can`t knock their subject matter. They know it better than anybody else .
HAMMER: Yeah.
ODUOLOWU: You know, and she`s signed to a major label.
HAMMER: That`s pretty extraordinary, actually, when you think about it. And look, I thought like I was in Ibiza - or Ibiza, if you want to be very Euro.
(LAUGHTER)
ODUOLOWU: Ibiza. You have .
HAMMER: Paris has some hot competition right now. Our next top flash tonight, Britney Spears` new video. It`s for her new single, "Work Bitch." Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRITNEY SPEARS (singing): You wanna a hot body, you wanna a cool body? (INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. Look at Britney. She is a dominatrix, obviously, in this new video, and it was shot in the Nevada desert. A little bit of trivia for you here.. Britney`s first hit was, of course, "Baby, One More Time." It just turned 15. Remember that video? She played a schoolgirl in that. Segun, what do you think? Does the dominatrix role just suit her better now? Actually, it`s almost fitting, isn`t it?
ODUOLOWU: Well, look, the video to me looks great. And Britney looks better than she`s ever looked. So, hats off to her, you know, I mean if I could my bow tie would spin around because I thought she looked amazing. The visuals are great. She looked stunning. And you know what - hey she`s back. It`s Britney. I`m you know what - go ahead, girl.
HAMMER: I love it.
ODUOLOWU: Rock it.
HAMMER: I love it.
ODUOLOWU: Go ahead. She was awesome.
HAMMER: Segun, thank you very much. I`m going to share with you and Natasha Curry my little Britney Spears one more time story. It`s more information than you need.
CURRY: Yeah.
HAMMER: But in the California desert I got pulled over doing 92 miles an hour driving through the desert, cranking up Britney Spears "Baby, One More Time."
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Sitting next to me in the passenger seat was Debbie Gibson.
(LAUGHTER)
CURRY: I love it, A.J., that`s awesome. You know, Britney does look great. You know, you have got to give it to her, she`s making her comeback and she`s making it strong.
HAMMER: She`s still a power house. All right, as we move on tonight, the "I Quit" video has everybody cheering still. You saw this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Oh, it`s too little it`s too late
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Millions of people chuckled at this brilliant viral video. This woman quit her job and that`s what she showed her boss. Tonight, the boss is the one having the last laugh. I cannot wait to share with you our "Moment of Awesomeness."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: OK. I love this. This viral video has really become the latest high water mark for how to quit your job with flair. Well, tonight her boss and all of her former coworkers have responded and it is our moment of awesomeness. And how about a recap on this whole story?
CURRY: Yeah, A.J., it was really cool what happened here. First, video producer Marina Shifrin, she quit her job using office cameras to shoot her own little booty shaking video there for - Kanye West, this music video. Marina said that her boss only cared about cliques and not creativity. Her boss, though, totally disagrees and now he and his entire staff are firing back with a brilliantly creative video of - to say their hiring. Watch.
(VIDEO CLIP)
CURRY: So, it`s on - Wow. A little TMI.
HAMMER: Yeah, I don`t need to see that.
(LAUGHTER)
HAMMER: Listen to them, shall we? Thank you so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Natasha Curry. Watch SBT Monday through Thursday at 11 P.M. Eastern and Pacific.
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