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SHOWBIZ TONIGHT
Paul McCartney, Target of Terror; Eva Longoria Called Fat; Cindy McCain Accuses "The View" of Grilling Her; Suzanne Somers` Longevity Secrets; Sarah Palin Look-A-Likes
Aired September 16, 2008 - 23:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Paul McCartney, target of terror. Tonight, the unbelievable story of why McCartney is being threatened by radical Islamists if he doesn`t do what they want.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Because in the scope things that are going on in international (UNINTELLIGIBLE) these days, you wouldn`t think that Paul McCartney necessarily would be a target.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, is Paul`s life really in danger and why is he refusing to back down? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates Paul McCartney, target of terror.
Tonight, "Saturday Night Live`s" Sarah Palin and sexism. Was Tina Fey`s Sarah Palin sexist? Did it go too far? And why are the ladies of "The View" caught up in the middle of this? Plus, why Cindy McCain is accusing "The View`s" ladies of picking her bones clean.
And Eva Longoria, fat? Tonight, why Felicity Huffman is calling her "Desperate Housewives" co-star fat. Eva, fat? Are you kidding me? TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood with two brand-new, explosive campaign controversies involving everything from the ladies of "The View" to "Saturday Night Live`s" spoof of Sarah Palin. That`s coming up.
HAMMER: But first tonight, Paul McCartney, target of terror. Yes, tonight, the remarkable and frightening threat against McCartney. The former Beatle`s life is being threatened by Islamic extremists simply because of his decision to put on a concert.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J., and the threat is not over what he plans to play but rather where he plans to play. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has been tracking this developing story all day. And tonight, we are bringing you the very latest making news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): Paul McCartney is one of the most beloved musicians in the world. Now, this music icon is facing a serious threat from a frightening source - no, we`re not talking about his ex.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, an Islamic extremist is threatening McCartney with suicide bomb attacks if the ex-Beatle follows through on plans to play his first-ever concert in Israel which is marking the 60th anniversary of its founding.
LIZZY GOODMAN, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "BLENDER" MAGAZINE: He`s made it clear that if Paul McCartney goes through with this concert, he`s in grave danger.
ANDERSON: The threat comes from Omar Bakri, a Muslim extremist based in Lebanon. He tells the "Sunday Express of London," quote, "Paul McCartney is the enemy of every Muslim. If he values his life, Mr. McCartney must not come to Israel."
Bakri then makes the suicide bomber threats saying, quote, "We have what we call `sacrifice` operatives who will not stand by while McCartney joins in a celebration of their oppression."
GOODMAN: It`s all very "Alias." It`s all very spy show crazy.
ANDERSON: McCartney`s concert in Israel was already a big deal. It will be his first performance there ever after a planned Beatles concert was famously canceled in the `60s.
SERAFIN: He was scheduled to go to Israel way, way back with the Beatles in 1965. But the trip was canceled.
GOODMAN: The rumor forever which is, of course, a lot sexier and a lot more fun to talk about, is that the Beatles were banned from Israel and they`re going to corrupt the minds of the youth.
ANDERSON: Actually, squabbling concert promoters are blamed for the canceled Beatles show and some call the tales of an Israeli Beatle band an urban myth. But there`s nothing mythical about the controversy over McCartney`s upcoming visit. Some pro-Palestinian groups are asking McCartney to cancel the Tel Aviv concert but they`re condemning Bakri`s threat.
GOODMAN: You don`t take out a Beatle, like you just don`t do that. This is not good for anyone`s cause.
ANDERSON: Meanwhile, pro-Israeli groups have said calls for musicians like McCartney to boycott Israel are anti-Semitic. Who would have thought - all this fuss over an ex-Beatle?
SERAFIN: Probably the last person you would think that would be injected into the controversy would be Paul McCartney.
PAUL MCCARTNEY, EX-BEATLE: You can`t listen to everyone. You`ve got to listen to your heart.
ANDERSON: McCartney recently told an Israeli station that despite the outcry, the show will go on.
MCCARTNEY: Sure, there is always going to be somebody who will dispute with you as you go to a country. I try and represent peace and bringing people together. So I kind of feel that when I go, it`s more a humanitarian thing. It`s not political.
GOODMAN: Having survived the divorce scandal and everything else in his life, you know, you can imagine that he`s doing the little brush off the shoulder here, you know, "This isn`t going to trouble me."
ANDERSON: So even with this ugly threat, it looks like McCartney is going to Israel in hopes the Mid-East gives his music and peace a chance.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
McCartney`s concert in Tel Aviv is scheduled, of course, September 25th.
HAMMER: Tonight, an explosive new controversy over "The View" and how the ladies grilled John McCain and his wife, Cindy. Cindy McCain is taking off the gloves and letting the ladies have it. Wait until you hear Cindy`s very fired-up response to the grilling and, no she`s not chilling.
Joining me tonight from New York, the one, the only, Lauren Lake. She`s a criminal defense lawyer and TV host. And joining us tonight from Hollywood, Terry Anzur, who is a talent coach and was a TV news anchor.
All right. So last Friday, the McCains sat there on the couch of "The View" for nearly an hour. And basically, for the whole thing, they were taking tough question after question, especially from Barbara Walters and Whoopi Goldberg. So there was a Republican dinner the day after. And at that dinner, Cindy McCain let everyone know how she felt about that appearance. You`ve got to listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CINDY MCCAIN, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: In spite of what you see in newspapers and on shows like "The View" - I don`t know if any of you saw "The View" yesterday. They picked our bones clean. In spite of what you see, that`s not what the American people are saying and what they are believing.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Not what the American people are saying and believing. Cindy basically saying there "The View" is out of touch with America which is a little odd to me. Lauren Lake, does she have that in any way right?
LAUREN LAKE, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND TV HOST: Out of touch with America - I think what was illuminated by that line of questioning is how out of touch Cindy McCain is with America. If she feels like her bones were picked clean, that some way implies she has some meat on her bones. Well, most Americans are starving and that`s what I think people want Cindy McCain to know.
People are in financial trouble, they`re losing their jobs, their homes. So I just find it interesting that she felt attacked when a lot of people out here - they are desperate and they need these questions asked and answered. And I think she came off as a little bit aloof feeling as though she was attacked at this point in the campaign when tough questions are necessary.
HAMMER: Yes. So if people are watching this and wondering, what is it that got Cindy so riled up, if memory serves, it seemed like everything went well. Let`s give you a taste of the kind of grilling that the McCains got last week on "The View." Watch this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WALTERS, CO-HOST AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "THE VIEW": How is it that Gov. Palin is going to reform you, the Senate, the Congress, the Republican Party?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Terry, Cindy McCain says, again, "The ladies of `The View` picked our bones clean." Listening to that question and questions just like it, I`m wondering, is her complaint fair?
TERRY ANZUR, FORMER TV NEWS ANCHOR: I think that the conduct of all the women on "The View" and especially Barbara Walters was very professional. And I have to disagree strongly with Lauren. I think the McCains both John and Cindy, came off very well in this interview. When they pressed John McCain on the abortion issue, he didn`t come across like some extremist who`s going to send the abortion police to your house. He indicated that while he has his views, he is open to other views as well.
And then it was up to Whoopi to come in with her view that maybe the strict construction of the founding fathers might not be appropriate to today`s America. But she did it in a way that was using humor and was very respectful and made the point and didn`t go over the top.
So I would say, you know, for Cindy McCain to be complaining about this, maybe she was just more concerned that she and her husband had gone to a forum where they knew people did not agree with them and they faced the tough questions and they came off pretty well.
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, I think - I truthfully think, you know, they were within their full right to ask the kind of questions they did and do it for the entire hour of the show. Look, we`re in one of the most important elections of our lifetime as cliche as it sounds. I don`t even think that the ladies of "The View" didn`t strike back after Cindy McCain made her comments. I want you to watch what Whoopi Goldberg did to respond on "The View" today to what Cindy McCain said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Everybody asked legitimate questions that you would ask of any candidate. And when Obama comes - and I hope he gets here soon because people are starting to talk - I think we will ask him the same kinds of questions because they`re the nominees.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So what Whoopi is saying they didn`t single the McCains out. Lauren, we do expect Barack to come back on the show. He`s been on before. I would imagine those questions are going to be just as tough, don`t you?
LAKE: Absolutely. I do. And I don`t think - I think he should be ready for those. And I just have to say really quick, any points John McCain may have gained on that abortion issue, he lost when they asked how many houses they had. I`m sorry. People in America who are struggling, they know how many houses they have, and it`s just that simple.
HAMMER: All right. Lauren Lake, Terry Anzur, I appreciate you both being here tonight. Thanks.
Well, I know that both of the ladies of "The View" aren`t huge fans of John McCain`s VP pick, Sarah Palin. And you know, a lot of celebrities are not saying nice things about her, too. This is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Stars Slamming Sarah Palin: Will it backfire?"
Vote by going to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also E-mail us your thoughts by sending a note along to showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well, Brooke, I want our viewers to know that they can give us a call and let us know what they think about stars slamming Sarah Palin or, quite frankly, anything else that might be on your mind.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. It`s our brand-new "Showbiz On Call." Just call us at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that`s 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail and we will play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
A.J., here`s something else. I would love to hear our viewers call in about the beautiful Eva Longoria being called fat.
HAMMER: Yes, and what`s crazy is who called her that.
ANDERSON: Yes, it`s actually her co-star, Felicity Huffman. I mean - Eva, fat? Are you kidding me? You`ve got to stick around and hear this, next.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUZANNE SOMERS, ACTRESS: Imagine the possibility that you will live to 120, which is very likely now with your brain intact, your bones intact, your vitality, your sexuality intact -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Imagine that. Wow! What a prediction from Suzanne Somers. Coming up, how the "Three is Company" star says you can live to be over 100 and even have great sex while doing it. You don`t want to miss her health secrets in the interview you`ll see only right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And the shocking new Sarah Palin controversy. Now, I personally think "Saturday Night Live`s" skit where Tina Fey was playing Palin, really funny. Some people are saying that skit is sexist. Did "SNL" go too far? A heated debate is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": I guess maybe some people heard, some people have not heard that I am the new face of Cover Girl. The first thing they teach you when you`re a Cover Girl is -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ellen DeGeneres drops a bombshell on her show today. So what if she`s 50 years old. Ellen is the new Cover Girl.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, the Hollywood beauty battle heats up. Two big developments that are new right now.
First up, she`s 50 years old, open about her sexuality and by Hollywood standards, considered low maintenance. But Ellen DeGeneres is breaking ground again for being the new face of Cover Girl.
And tonight, Felicity Huffman`s outrageous remarks that her "Desperate Housewives" co-star Eva Longoria is not pregnant, she`s, quote, "just fat."
With me tonight from New York is Emme, plus-size model and founder of EmmeStyle.com. Also in New York, Dawn Yanek who is the editor-at-large for "Life & Style Weekly."
Emme, Dawn, I want to begin with this Eva Longoria story. There has been a lot of speculation that she is pregnant. And when Felicity Huffman, who co-stars with Eva on "Desperate Housewives," was asked about those pregnant rumors, she told "People.com," quote, "She`s just fat, that`s just all there is to it." Now, "People" says Felicity said it half-jokingly.
But Emme, is it insulting to women who really struggle with their weight to throw around the "F" word so casually?
EMME, PLUS-SIZE MODEL AND FOUNDER OF "EMMESTYLE.COM": It is. It is really, really tough to take a look at Eva, who is absolutely stunning, even with a little flesh on her and call her fat. Because what standard is that for the rest of us?
ANDERSON: Right. She`s gone from like 95 pounds to 105 pounds and someone says she looks fat, it`s really just offensive. And you know, even if Eva has gained a few pounds to that point ...
EMME: Who cares?
ANDERSON: ... most women would kill to look like her. Dawn, is it ridiculous that Felicity even felt compelled to publicly address Eva`s slight weight gain?
DAWN YANEK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "LIFE & STYLE WEEKLY": Well, I want to put it into perspective, because like you said, this whole baby-bump thing is something everybody`s been talking about. Magazines, entertainment shows have been focused on poor little Eva`s tiny little belly. And it`s something actually that Eva has said about herself in the past. She said, I`m not pregnant. I`m just fat."
So I think Felicity was just taking a good-natured jab at that. And I think she was also making fun of the standards in Hollywood, saying, "This is ridiculous." Little Eva, who is a size 0. This is crazy.
ANDERSON: OK. Maybe we can look at it like that. You know, Felicity does like to joke around. That`s part of her personality. I happen to really like her. She`s a pleasure to speak with, smart and very talented. But some women would find it insulting.
EMME: Yes.
ANDERSON: I want you to take a look at this photo of Eva taken at an event only a week ago. To me, looking as slim as ever. But to others, apparently that`s considered fat. It is outrageous. Emme, if this is what we`re calling fat these days, what does that make the average-sized American woman?
EMME: It really makes us not only look at ourselves and feel insecure, it makes us feel that no matter what we do, there`s no way. If the average woman is a size 14, can you imagine? I mean, what would women - hopefully, a lot of women are just saying, "Oh, this is a ridiculous story," or "This is a ridiculous thing to say about such a beautiful woman."
And so what? If she is pregnant, let her be pregnant. If she doesn`t want to talk about it, let her just go away from this because Eva is gorgeous.
ANDERSON: Yes.
EMME: Even if she gained either five, 10, 15 pounds, it doesn`t matter. Just let it alone.
ANDERSON: And she`s always encouraged women to be proud of who they are and accept themselves for what they are.
EMME: Yes.
ANDERSON: And I want to move on to somebody right now who a lot of women can relate to as well, maybe - Ellen DeGeneres, 50 years old. And as we mentioned, Cover Girl announced today that Ellen will be a new Cover Girl model like Christie Brinkley, Drew Barrymore, Rihanna. Dawn, is this maybe one small step for Ellen but a giant leap for women everywhere?
YANEK: Oh, absolutely. This is amazing. This is just one more example of how beauty is not just such a specific thing. You don`t have to be 20. You don`t have to be a size zero to be absolutely gorgeous. It`s a different version of beauty. It reminds me a lot of the Dove campaigns. You know, it`s a very different type of beauty. And I think it`s amazing for Ellen.
And of course, let`s not forget, everybody loves Ellen. She is on numerous times (UNINTELLIGIBLE). She`s absolutely gorgeous. She has that great glow about her from being a newlywed. I think it`s fantastic all around.
ANDERSON: Yes. She`s very popular. Emme, 10 seconds - what message do you think Cover Girl is trying to send here by choosing Ellen?
EMME: I think that by choosing Ellen, Cover Girl is saying "Love thyself. Embrace thyself." And there`s diversified beauty, and I think that`s a wonderful, wonderful message to send, especially with someone who`s 50, who`s openly gay and who is happy in her life and successful.
ANDERSON: Yes, and secure. It`s a terrific message. We will leave it there for now. Emme, Dawn Yanek, thank you both.
EMME: Thank you.
YANEK: Thank you.
HAMMER: We know, Brooke, in addition to Eva and Ellen, another beautiful woman, the lovely Brooke Shields. Can`t deny -
ANDERSON: Yes. I agree with you, A.J. And you know, I think that as Brooke has gotten older, she`s gotten even more attractive. Is that possible?
Tonight, we are kicking off a SHOWBIZ special event, the women of TV who make over 40 absolutely fabulous. And you`ve got to hear what Brooke told us when we surprised her with the news that she is one of them. That`s next.
HAMMER: Also tonight, a stunning new Sarah Palin controversy. I think Tina Fey`s "SNL" skit was right on. But tonight, well, some people are saying it was sexist. It`s a heated debate and that is coming up.
We will also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOMERS: Imagine the possibility that you will live to 120, which is very likely now, with your brain intact, your bones intact, your vitality - your sexuality intact.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. Wouldn`t that be something? How do you do it, though? Suzanne Somers has some pretty bold predictions coming up. How the "Three`s Company" star says you can live to be over 100 and even have great sex while doing it. You definitely don`t want to miss her health secrets in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Now, remember, you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video anytime. In fact, we`re always posting new stuff for you to check out, keeping it fresh on our Web site which is CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. And among the videos that are playing right now, the Oprah boycott heats up; the woman leading the boycott over Oprah not putting Sarah Palin on her show until after the election now speaking out.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT coming back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Charles. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
And tonight, I am really excited to tell you about this very special event. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is teaming up with "More" magazine to name the top 10 women on TV who make over 40 look fabulous.
And I can tell you that Brooke Shields - this girl, is one of these gorgeous, successful women. We caught up with at the second season premiere party for her NBC show, "Lipstick Jungle." When we broke the news to Brooke that we picked her as one of these amazing 40 plus women, well, she was her usual modest self. And that`s just one of the many reasons why we love her so much.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKE SHIELDS, ACTRESS: Oh, I`m just honored to even still be around. I feel like I`m finally, believe it or not, coming into my own physically and emotionally, and it`s taken a while. But I`m thankful for the honor. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Isn`t she great? And you don`t want to miss our SHOWBIZ special event tomorrow, Wednesday, September 17th, when along with "More" magazine, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reveals the other women on TV who make over 40 look fabulous. It`s going to be huge - tomorrow, 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: Brooke, I`ve got to tell you, I`m definitely looking forward to that tomorrow. And now, tonight, it is a brand-new business. It has totally taken off. I`m talking about Sarah Palin impersonators.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I just want to shoot a moose. I would be so less nervous if I could just kill something - not a baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Really funny stuff here. Tonight, there`s also a brand-new Sarah Palin controversy. I think Tina Fey did a terrific job on "Saturday Night Live" as Sarah Palin. But you know, there are actually some who are saying the skit - it went too far and it was sexist. We`ve got a fired-up debate, not to be missed, coming up next.
ANDERSON: And how Suzanne Somers says you can live to be over 100 and even have great sex while doing it. You don`t want to miss her health secrets. It`s the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: And hot, young "Transformer" star - a lot of people are calling her Angelina 2.0 - Megan Fox with a shocking confession about a lesbian love affair. It is explosive and it is coming up.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Saturday Night Live," Sarah Palin and sexism. "SNL" disses Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton, but did Tina Fey go too far with the funny skit? Tonight, why some people are saying it was way over the top and sexist. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT investigates this brand-new Sarah Palin-Hollywood controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOMERS: Imagine the possibility that you will live to 120, which is very likely now, with your brain intact, your bones intact, your vitality - your sexuality intact.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: How "Three`s a Company" star Suzanne Somers says you can live to be over 100 and even have great sex while doing it. You definitely don`t want to miss her health secrets. TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, three big stories new right now. Sexism, "SNL" and slamming Sarah Palin. It was the skit seen around the world - Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live." But tonight, a brand-new great debate - was it sexist?
Tonight, are the ladies of "The View" the victims of sexism because of their tough treatment of John McCain and his wife when they were on the show?
And from Diddy`s video rant to Lindsay Lohan`s anti-Palin blog, are Hollywood stars going too far by slamming Sarah Palin?
Well, tonight, our phone lines are buzzing and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers are sounding off in "Showbiz On Call."
With me here in New York, Lauren Lake. She`s a TV host and an attorney. And in Hollywood tonight, Terry Anzur. She`s a TV talent coach and was a TV news anchor.
And Lauren and Terry, I`m going to warn you, I`m going to pick your bones clean with my line of questioning tonight, so be ready.
But I want to start off first with Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton on "Saturday Night Live." Let`s take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TINA FEY (AS SARAH PALIN): You know, Hillary and I don`t agree on everything -
AMY POEHLER (AS HILLARY CLINTON): Anything -
FEY: Just look at how far we`ve come. Hillary Clinton, who came so close to the White House, and me, Sarah Palin, who is even closer. Can you believe it, Hillary?
CLINTON: I cannot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Lauren Lake, let me start with you. People are claiming this was sexist. How in the world is that the case?
LAKE: Oh, my goodness. This wasn`t sexist. This was funny. It was hilarious. And after all these months of all of the dog-fighting and the mudslinging and just, I mean, the negative feeling behind this campaign, it was great to laugh. It was just funny.
HAMMER: That`s what I thought, but I went back, I looked at it again. They joked about Sarah`s hotness, Hillary`s Kankles. What do you think, Terry?
LAKE: Oh, come on, A.J.
HAMMER: Did that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) sketch sexist? I don`t know.
ANZUR: Leno can say McCain is old and Letterman can say Bill Clinton is horny, and nobody thinks twice about it.
HAMMER: Yes.
ANZUR: This is a perfect example of two talented comedians who happen to be women, who have a chance to take some shots at a couple of politicians who happen to be women. And I say, bring it on. There is a little bit of sexism in Hollywood at work here because there`s the perception that funny women are not good for the box office the way that funny men are. So I say, bring it on. Come on, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, do your job just like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, and make us think about our politics in a way that makes us laugh.
HAMMER: You bring up that age-old double standard in entertainment. You know, if the men were bringing this up, it wouldn`t be sexist at all. And to that end, "The View" also under fire for really what was a tough-as- nails interview with John McCain last week. And the ladies have been getting a lot of heat. They even got some heat from Cindy McCain who has just said that they, quote, "picked our bones clean," in that interview. But is the criticism of the ladies sexist?
I want you to watch what Barbara Walters said about that today on the show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTERS: We have been criticized for being very tough on Sen. McCain. Our feeling was, he`s a presidential candidate and we were asking questions that we thought were important because that`s what people wanted to know. And we`ve been criticized and made fun of a little bit. Is that sexist?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So, to Barbara`s point there, if they were men asking these tough questions, they wouldn`t be so criticized. Lauren Lake, what do you think?
LAKE: Well, I have to agree with her there. I mean, when men ask the tough questions, they`re doing their job. When women do, you know, we`re overdoing it. We`re picking people apart. And truthfully, that`s what we needed to see. It was refreshing. A lot of Americans want those questions asked and answered.
And they even said, "Barack Obama, you`re next. Come on the show, we have some questions for you." And I don`t think at this point in the campaign that people can really be afraid of tough questions. For goodness` sake, you were in a prison camp. You can`t take questions from "The View"?
HAMMER: Yes, well, I think the truth is, some people, I guess, get a little skittish when those questions are coming from your favorite daytime talk show that also does fashion segments. But as you said, they were right in asking these questions because this is what people want to know. What do you think, Terry, that double standard didn`t work right there, huh?
ANZUR: Well, I think there is somewhat of a double standard at work here. And don`t forget that the Republicans love to bash the media as part of their strategy. And I have to wonder what Cindy McCain was complaining about here because I think both she and John McCain came off rather well in this exchange.
And as a journalism professor, I would say to the ladies of "The View," that it was a pretty textbook example of how to press the point without going over the top as some people think Campbell Brown did in her interview during the Republican convention.
So I would say that if Cindy McCain thinks, you know, bringing up the fact that they own more than one house and then moving on to ask her about her humanitarian efforts as picking her bones clean, believe me, it can get a lot tougher than that. By the way, she handled that question about the houses beautifully.
HAMMER: She did?
LAKE: No, she didn`t.
HAMMER: Well, I think the truth is - I now want to move on, but I think that the tough questions are yet to come as we approach Election Day.
There`s also the matter of Hollywood stars who have really been slamming Sarah Palin. I mean this - when you think about it, it`s been going on nonstop for the past couple of days. You have Matt Damon speaking out, Lindsay Lohan blogging out. And even our viewers sounding off on our "Showbiz On Call" phone lines like Stephanie in California. Stephanie says she`s had it with celebrities. Let`s listen -
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
STEPHANIE, CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: I`m really tired of seeing all these celebrities making negative comments about her. I think celebrities should just stick to what they know which is entertainment because it`s turning me off. I mean, I don`t even think I want to see another Matt Damon film.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, let me remind you, Matt Damon compared Palin`s candidacy to a bad Disney movie and called her a disaster.
Lauren, should big stars like Matt Damon be concerned that, you know, people are getting turned off by them speaking out?
LAKE: No, because I think we all have a voice, our own individual voice. And I think by stars speaking out, they`re giving their fans license to speak out and to think for themselves. They don`t have to agree with me, but just think for yourself as to whom you would vote for. And I have news for Stephanie. She may be sick of Matt Damon, but a lot of people in this country are sick of the entire climate of the campaign. And we need to start speaking out in terms of our views and what we believe because we are all voters.
HAMMER: You`re making a great point. And to your point right there on the flipside, we also got a phone call from Lindy in Arizona. She called in to "Showbiz On Call" and reminded us, hey, you know, big stars - they`re people, too. Play that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
LINDY, CALLER FROM ARIZONA: The actors and actresses - they`re people. They`re entitled to their opinions just like everyone else. Acting is their job. They`re still humans. They`re still Americans and they can say what they want, just like anyone else.
HAMMER: Terry Anzur, over to you. I think Terry has that right. I mean, after all, it is a free country, isn`t it?
ANZUR: Well, celebrities are different from the rest of us, A.J., because we get to vote on them at the box office. So the question is not whether you agree with Matt Damon or not about his choice in the presidential election, but more, are you going to go buy your ticket and buy your popcorn the next time he`s in a Jason Bourne movie?
And people have noted and commented that Oprah`s ratings are down since she got into the political battle. And so celebrities do have more of a price to pay for speaking out. It may affect their fan base down the line. Do they have a right to speak out? Yes. But I think they should realize also that the fans are watching and they can always vote at the box office later on.
HAMMER: Yes. That`s a really good point. What do you think about that, Lauren? So, to my point earlier, should the celebrities be concerned when they speak out? You know what? They do run the risk of alienating some of their fans because we know how polarizing this political process is.
LAKE: And what a worthwhile risk to take.
HAMMER: Yes.
LAKE: If in the name of encouraging people to think about the politics before them and vote - you know what? People have flops in terms of their next movie without saying a word at all. I`d rather hear what a celebrity has to say and if they`re a flop in their next movie, so be it.
HAMMER: Terry, are you guessing we`re going to be hearing more and more the worse is yet to come in terms of what the celebrities are going to start to say as we get closer to stepping in that voting booth?
ANZUR: I hope that we hear from as many celebrities as possible, A.J., because the more debate, the better. This is the most important election in this country in a long time.
HAMMER: And you know what? I`m hearing a lot of celebrities talking about the issues. Isn`t that refreshing? Lauren Lake, Terry Anzur, thanks for joining us tonight.
As we mentioned, we`re very excited about this brand-new way for you to get in touch with us. Brooke?
ANDERSON: That`s right. You can give us a ring and let us know what you think about Tina Fey`s impression of Sarah Palin or anything else that`s on your mind.
HAMMER: Let me give you the number: 1-888-SBT-BUZZ. Numerically speaking, that`s 1-888-728-2899. Just leave us a voicemail. As you`re hearing, we`ll play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: And we`ve been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Stars Slamming Sarah Palin: Will it backfire?" Keep voting, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Send us an e-mail, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
HAMMER: Wait until you hear this - the "Transformers" star making some surprising confessions.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J. There are sexy secrets and then there`s this - Shia LaBeouf`s "Transformers" co-star Megan Fox and her lesbian love confession. The details coming up.
We`ll also have this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOMERS: Imagine the possibility that you will live to 120, which is very likely now, with your brain intact, your bones intact, your vitality - your sexuality intact.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. Wouldn`t that be nice? Suzanne Somers giving out some secrets of her own. How you, too, can live to 120 and still have great sex.
ANDERSON: And they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Sarah Palin, consider yourself highly flattered. Tina Fey isn`t the only one lining up to impersonate Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. From the hilarious to the controversial, Palin impersonators sound off next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POEHLER (as Hillary Clinton): I believe that diplomacy should be the cornerstone of any foreign policy.
FEY (as Sarah Palin): And I can see Russia from my house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tina Fey was our pick for best Sarah Palin impersonator and I think she hit this one out of the park. Fey`s appearance as the Republican vice presidential nominee helped give "Saturday Night Live" its best ratings in more than six years.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, the Sarah Palin look-alikes. Tina Fey was the best. But she`s not the only one lining up to impersonate John McCain`s running mate. Some say Palin imitation has become the sincerest form of entertainment. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS: Try to pick out the real Sarah Palin amongst the imposters.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I`m Gov. Sarah Palin.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Vice president of the world.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: We hope you`ll mistake me for Hillary.
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK), REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thanks but no thanks.
MOOS: Palin aides say the real Sarah found the Tina Fey Sarah funny.
POEHLER: I don`t agree with the Bush doctrines.
FEY: And I don`t know what that is.
MOOS: The campaign said Sarah once dressed up as Tina Fey for Halloween. But not (UNINTELLIGIBLE) holidays dressed as Palin these days -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Susan -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Sarah.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Poland -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Palin.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Do you want to be my VP?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Yes, I`ll be your VP.
MOOS: There are amateurs -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I`m Sarah Palin.
MOOS: And professionals like actress Gina Gershon.
GERSHON: Like so many of you, I went to five colleges in six years to get my journalism degree. Barack Obama? He only went to one.
MOOS: There`s gangsta rap. There`s even a guy in drag.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: No, I`m not running with the young black one. I`m running with the old one. John McCain? We`ve met twice.
MOOS: They mock the interview Gov. Palin did on ABC -
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Ahmadinejad is the president of Iran.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Do you have a cheat sheet on your hand?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: This is the hand that`s shaken John McCain`s hand.
MOOS: They even mixed in some of the real interview.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Seventy percent of this country supports a ban on (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
MOOS: New York comedienne Sarah Benincasa(ph) has done video blog after video blog pretending to be Sarah Palin.
SARAH BENINCASA, NEW YORK COMEDIENNE: I want to shoot a moose. I would be so much less nervous if I could just kill something - not a baby.
MOOS (on camera): Is she easy to do?
BENINCASA: Yes.
MOOS: Why?
BENINCASA: I think it (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(as Sarah Palin): I`m the mother of five.
She`s like the interesting flavor of ice cream.
MOOS (voice over): Someone`s even updated the old "Leave Britney Alone" rant.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Leave Sarah Palin alone.
MOOS: Don`t hold your breath.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: I`m Sarah Palin. And I approve of -
MOOS: At least, if you`re going to be impersonated, it`s nice to be decked out in red, white and blue.
GERSHON: I`ve got some hunting to do.
MALE VOICE OVER: Sarah Palin, if she shoots you in the face, it`s because she was aiming for it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Well, Suzanne Somers is no look-alike. She is the real deal and I`ve got to say she`s looking amazing at almost 62 years old. She said I could say her age. But how does she do it?
Well, we all, of course, remember Suzanne from the `70s sitcom "Three`s Company." She, of course, played the adorably clueless Chrissy Snow. Well, nearly 30 years later, Suzanne is anything but clueless. She`s authored 18 books, survived breast cancer and she`s feeling great. So what`s her secret? Well, her latest book is called "Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness." She`s now cancer-free for eight years.
And Suzanne is reaching out to Christina Applegate who took a dramatic step of getting a double mastectomy after her breast cancer diagnosis. Suzanne wrote Christina a very personal letter and I asked Suzanne what she told Christina.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOMERS: I said, don`t rush. You get - when you get a diagnosis, it`s frightening. You`re sitting there, you come in, you`re well, you`re having a check-up and all of a sudden, everybody comes into the room. It`s very heavy, "All right. We`re going to do - we`re going to do surgery. We think we should do that tomorrow. And then, we`ll do radiation and then chemotherapy. And then we`re going to put you on this aftercare drug."
And I remember when that happened to me, I said, "Wait, wait, wait. Let`s take the tumor out. That, I know, but I need to think about this." And then I went to work and I did this research. And in the end, whatever you choose is the right thing for you, but to rush into it and then afterwards go, "Why did I rush," because then it`s too late.
So I hope that she, you know, had enough time to think about what she did because it was very radical. But we all have to - it`s very lonely. You can`t ask your loved one. You can`t ask anyone around you, "What should I do" because it`s too heavy. You have to do it yourself.
HAMMER: And hormone replacement is what helped you beat cancer eight years ago, isn`t it?
SOMERS: Well, that`s what - and I was told - one of my doctors said, "Well, you`re going to die." And I said honestly - honestly, this is not arrogant. I`ve done my homework and I found a doctor, an oncologist who agrees with me. I believe that if I keep my hormones in optimal youthful levels because young people don`t get cancer unless it`s genetic or environmental. And if I really think about nutrition, that I only eat real food, if you can pick it or pluck it or milk it or shoot it, I`ll eat it.
So I eat great food. I eat butter and cream and sour cream, full fat cream cheese. I just don`t eat anything with chemicals if I can avoid it. But if I`m in a restaurant, I`m going to get chemicals, I know.
HAMMER: Yes. Sometimes, it`s unavoidable.
SOMERS: So then, I take the anti-oxidants. Imagine the possibility that you will live to 120, which is very likely now, with your brain intact, your bones intact, your vitality - your sexuality intact and healthy and happy and all that, rather than ending up in a nursing home the way it happens -
HAMMER: That would be kind of nice.
SOMERS: That`s what I`m going through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`m a huge fan of Suzanne Somers. Her 18th book - it`s called "Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness." This is it. You`ll find it in bookstores now.
Well, "Transformers" star Megan Fox is sharing her sex secrets, and I can tell you Megan is not holding back. Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Fox and her racy lesbian love confessions.
ANDERSON: And we also want to be sure to check out the free, ever-changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast. You can find it on our Web site. That`s CNN.com/ShowbizTonight, or simply download it on iTunes by typing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT in that search box. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is back after this.
ANDERSON: It sure is, Charles. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, a "Transformers" star and her lesbian love confessions. Shia Laboeuf`s hot "Transformers" co-star Megan Fox is steaming up the pages of "GQ" magazine. As if her sexy photos were not enough, Fox is also dishing on her sexual past.
She revealed to "GQ" that when she was 18, she had a brief romance with a female stripper named Nikita, of course. She said Nikita would do, quote, "these beautiful slow dances to Aerosmith. I thinking, "Love In An Elevator." What else would it be?
That wasn`t the end of Fox`s confession. She said that although she is not a lesbian, quote, "I just think all humans are born with the ability to be attracted to both sexes. I mean, I could see myself in a relationship with a girl." Speaking of a fellow actress, Megan added, perhaps the best quote of all time, "Olivia Wilde is so sexy, she makes me want to strangle a mountain ox with my bare hands."
Well, all right. If you know nothing else about Megan Fox, she is direct, and she`s to the point and she doesn`t mince words at all. You can read the entire Megan Fox interview in the October issue of "GQ" magazine.
ANDERSON: A mountain ox. All righty. Let`s move to something else shall we? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is celebrating women over 40. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has joined forces with "More" magazine for this SHOWBIZ` very special event. Join us Wednesday as we name the top 10 women on TV who make over 40 look fabulous. Again, that`s Wednesday on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
HAMMER: Well, on Monday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, and this was it - "Stars Slamming Sarah Palin: Will it backfire?"
Here is how the voting went - 46 percent of you say yes; 54 percent of you say no. And here are some of the E-mails we received - one from Suzanne in Arizona. Suzanne writes, "It is very unfair that the Hollywood voices get to lash out unchecked. Not everyone knows what they`re talking about!"
We also got one from Jean(ph) in Oklahoma who writes, "Hollywood celebrities should stick to their day jobs. If they endorse a candidate, I am voting for the other one."
And Ponce from California writes, "Celebrities need to keep your silly opinions to yourselves. It makes me want to vote opposite of what they are trying to push."
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Hey, remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s, 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, in the morning 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "HEADLINE NEWS" is next.
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