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SHOWBIZ TONIGHT

Special Edition: Showbiz Body Obsession

Aired December 28, 2010 - 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: Right now, on a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - "Showbiz Body Obsession." Scary skinny, like Tyra Banks apparently gushing over a scary skinny model.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TYRA BANKS, JUDGE, "AMERICA`S NEXT TOP MODEL": There`s something about her that I like.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: But what about the claims curves are back and thin is not in? Over 40, fabulous, and still showing off their bodies. Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston - all big stars all over 40 and all breaking new ground for women everywhere.

The showdown over sex tapes. Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian. The "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint" - do sex tapes help or hurt celebrity careers?

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative body-obsessed star. Will it be Kim Kardashian, Heidi Montag, or Jessica Simpson?

This special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, SHOWBIZ "Body Obsession," starts right now.

(MUSIC)

HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi, there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood, and this is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession."

HAMMER: And when it comes to body obsession, what better place to start than scary skinny? And let me tell you, Tyra Banks only added fuel to that fiery debate over whether anything has changed in Hollywood.

Tyra was caught on camera appearing to fall in love with a model`s ridiculously small waist and that, once again, ignited the whole skinny versus curvy battle that`s been going on a long time, way too long. Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Kareen Wynter with a scary, skinny showdown.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Forget the fashion. Curves are making a comeback on catwalks around the world as designers pack their runways with fuller-figured models.

But here`s the real skinny. Despite all the lip service the fashion industry is paying to promote voluptuous women, some say thin are still in.

BANKS: You have the smallest waist in the world.

WYNTER: When Tyra Banks talks, people all around the world listen. So when she beamed over the size of this stick-thin model`s shockingly small frame in a promo for the new season of "America`s Next Top Model" -

BANKS: Look at this waist. There`s something about her I like.

WYNTER: Viewers didn`t like the message.

(on camera): And Banks is now eating those words. She issued an apology and yanked the promo. Veteran fashion model, Roshumba Williams, says when it comes to scary skinny, sadly, nothing has really changed.

ROSHUMBA WILLIAMS, VETERAN FASHION MODEL: Because that super skinny model is still desired.

WYNTER (voice-over): Even if it involves Photoshopping.

WILLIAMS: The reality is, when it comes to the fashion industry, skinny will always win.

WYNTER: Leaving plus-size models like Crystal Renn on the losing end. She recently made headlines over this altered photo of her size 10 frame. It has been digitally squeezed to a size two. Renn blasted the touch-up on the "Today" show.

CRYSTAL RENN, PLUS-SIZE MODEL: When I first saw the pictures, I have to say, I was absolutely shocked. I think I sat in silence for a good five minutes. But to change my body completely, and I think that - that`s not what I`m about. That`s not my message.

WYNTER: Another skinny model scandal involved Filippa Hamilton, whose story hit the "New York Daily News." She claims her photos for a Ralph Lauren ad were retouched and that she was subsequently fired for being fat.

Polo Ralph Lauren said the doctored photos were mistakenly released. The company said it parted ways with Renn, quote, "as a result of her inability to meet the obligations under a contract with us."

But whether it`s altered pictures or insensitive promos, self-esteem excerpt Jess Weiner says these messages are damaging.

WEINER: The promo was cut to really shock viewers and to focus on this young woman`s tiny waist. And that`s why I think we, as consumers, have to pay attention, because that`s another message sending to us and to our children that thin is the one way to be and kind of glamorizing thinness.

WYNTER: Weiner tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the upside of the downsizing trend is that people are once again talking about this wavy issue.

WEINER: Obviously, because it was Tyra, we paid attention, because, you know, she talks about body image so much. That 20-second blip was a good wake-up call.

WYNTER: For those in the fashion industry and beyond. But make no bones about it, skinny sells.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Yes, skinny does still sell, but is Hollywood making progress and getting away from the ridiculous obsession with being ridiculously skinny? That`s our "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint" - Scary skinny - has anything changed?

Joining me right now is Marvet Britto, who is a celebrity publicist. Also right now, in New York is Emme, who is the founder of "EmmeStyle.com."

Marvet, Emme, I think change is in motion. I`m an optimist. I think it`s in motion as we talk about it more and more and we demand things be different. It won`t happen overnight, but the conversation has begun and I think that`s important. So Emme, to our "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint, what do you think? Scary skinny - has anything changed?

EMME, FOUNDER, "EMMESTYLE.COM": I think things are changing definitely. There`s movements taking place online. People are talking, and I think because of the Internet, ads are being taken off air that say, "You can never be too skinny."

They say no more double entendres. No more cheap shots. Women are starting to really use their voice that they to not want to be put into this contained image of one-dimensional beauty. There is diversity in beauty.

ANDERSON: That is very, very promising. Marvet, what do you think? To our "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint," scary skinny - has anything changed?

MARVET BRITTO, CELEBRITY PUBLICIST: I agree that we are seeing women being less tolerable of just skinny images being pushed to them and glamorized. But sadly, the beauty industry and fashion industry really still is fascinated. And really, the glamour and beauty industry uses skinny models adds the aspirational tool of reeling in consumers.

So I think we`re seeing a change. Hopefully, you know, some of the top beauty and fashion houses embrace curvy women. And I think, you know, the world is larger than it is small. So hopefully, we`ll see that integrated and shown in a way that will be embraced by many.

EMME: To that point I want to say -

ANDERSON: Yes. I hope so - go ahead, Emme.

EMME: I just wanted to say, to that point, that the bottom line, especially with a lot of the fashion houses and the department stores not making a lot of money and wondering, scratching their head, "Have we forgotten anyone in the mix here?"

Mark Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent, a lot of the higher end lines are starting to say, "You know what? That curvy customer might come in handy now."

ANDERSON: Might spend some money. Yes.

EMME: 62 million women.

ANDERSON: There still is that argument, though. And we heard in the piece model Roshumba Williams saying in the fashion industry, scary skinny - skinny will always win out. So there is that argument that the skinny look sells best. Do you buy that?

EMME: I do not. I really do not.

BRITTO: If you look at - if you look at, you know, Cookie Johnson, who is a designer who launched CJ Jeans for curvy women, it was wildly successful. You know, she was on Oprah within days of launching.

And she`s had a thriving market. Why? Because it`s an underserved market that no designer ever, ever, ever served. They thought why make a jean for a curvy woman?

EMME: That`s right.

BRITTO: So you can be curvy and not be big. And CJ Jeans proved that. And so, I think if we start to see designers really serving the appetite of the underserved market, things change.

EMME: And let it be known -

BRITTO: Exactly.

EMME: And let it be known that there are women out there. There`s 62 million women above a size 12.

BRITTO: Exactly.

ANDERSON: Right.

EMME: If they knew - if they knew there were designers that were stepping up to the plate.

ANDERSON: How lucrative that market could be. You`re right. OK. We`ve got to leave it there for now. But I feel change is coming.

EMME: It`s coming, baby.

ANDERSON: Emme, Marvet Britto, thanks.

EMME: It`s coming.

HAMMER: The showdown over sex tapes. Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Pam Anderson. Do sex tapes help or hurt celebrity careers?

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative body obsessed star. Will it be Heidi Montag? Maybe it will be Jessica Simpson. How about Kim Kardashian? Who has been the most outrageous? Who has caused the most controversy over their body?

Kim even caused controversy, but in good way when she posed without makeup. Even Jessica Simpson has done it. I have to give these ladies a lot of credit going bare-faced and Hollywood is a big deal. You`re watching a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession," on HLN news and views.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: I love Julia Roberts. She says you won`t see her getting plastic surgery any time soon. Here`s what she tells "Elle" magazine about that, "I want my kids to know when I`m pissed, when I`m happy and when I`m confounded. Your face tells a story. And it shouldn`t be a story about your drive to a doctor`s office."

"It`s unfortunate we live in such a panicked, dysmorphic society where women don`t even give themselves a chance to see what they`ll look like as older persons. I want to have some idea of what I will look like before I start cleaning the slates." And I say, well said, Julia.

Welcome back to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession." I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.

ANDERSON: A.J., right now, I want to tell everybody about body obsession taken to an unbelievable extreme - teen Botox madness.

These kids out there see stars` picture-perfect faces - many times, airbrushed faces in magazines and they say, "Hey, I want to look like that, too." So these teenagers go get Botox. The really sad thing is it`s becoming more and more common.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. HARRISON LEE, COSMETIC SURGEON: I`m pressing this area to release the muscle.

ANDERSON (voice-over): Cosmetic surgeon Harrison Lee is about to administer Botox to his newest patient. Marlene Contreras isn`t pushing 40 or even 30. She`s pushing 20.

(on camera): How old are you, Marlene?

MARLENE CONTRERAS, BOTOX PATIENT: I`m 19.

ANDERSON: Nineteen years old.

(voice-over): It may shock you, but Botox isn`t just for wrinkle-ridden adults anymore. More and more young people are getting it.

(on camera): What are you having done today?

CONTRERAS: I`m having Botox on my right eye.

(voice-over): With plastic surgery plastered all over magazine covers, teenagers are surrounded by young, Botoxed role models - Heidi Montag, Kim Kardashian, and reportedly, Ashley Simpson.

(on camera): What do you think when you look at those magazines?

CONTRERAS: The first thing I think is they`re so beautiful and they just seem perfect.

ANDERSON (voice-over): Glee`s newest cast member, Charice Pempengco, caused an international uproar when she recently got Botox in the Philippines at just 18 years old.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Manhid si Charisse na mag-chew ng bubble gum.

ANDERSON: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports almost 12,000 Botox procedures were performed on teenagers last year for cosmetic reasons. That was up two percent from the year before.

(on camera): And Dr. Lee has more than one young patient today. Here, we have Rita. Hi, Rita.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.

ANDERSON: So how old are you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am 21.

ANDERSON: And tell us what you`re having done.

MARGARITA DENUNO, 21-YEAR-OLD BOTOX PATIENT: I am getting Botox around the eyes so when they smile - big smile.

ANDERSON: OK. Dr. Lee, do your thing.

LEE: All right.

ANDERSON (voice-over): Rita Denuno told me celebrities influenced her, too.

DENUNO: Yes, definitely.

ANDERSON (on camera): Anyone in particular?

DENUNO: Jennifer Aniston. I don`t see how she stays so young.

ANDERSON (voice-over): But it`s not just in Hollywood where teens are falling under the sway of Botoxed celebrities.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. How are you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good. How are you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just fine.

ANDERSON: In Dallas, Texas, Dr. Bill Johnson is preparing to treat an 18- year-old.

DR. BILL JOHNSON, COSMETIC PHYSICIAN: A poke here and a poke here.

ANDERSON: He says young people who get Botox now can avoid wrinkles down the road.

JOHNSON: The evidence really does exist that there is benefit.

ANDERSON: Treatments can run hundreds of dollars a pop and wear off after several months. Kristin Stevens believes Botox is worth it.

KRISTIN STEPHENS, 18-YEAR-OLD BOTOX PATIENT: So that when I`m 40, I won`t look 40.

ANDERSON: She admits to being influenced by celebrities.

STEPHENS: Being a woman, obviously, I would look at stars all the time and say that I wish I looked like them. And most of them have had Botox.

ANDERSON: Now, stars are beginning to speak out to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT against teen Botox.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just don`t think it`s right. I mean, don`t you want to see when I`m happy? Don`t you want to see when I`m sad?

JIMMY FALLON, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON": Those faces with frozen smiles. Can you just imagine how great the world will be? I`m actually running a marathon for Botox for Kids next week.

ANDERSON: Some cosmetic surgeons also frown on Botox for teens.

DR. LINDA LI, COSMETIC SURGEON: They don`t need it. It is a waste of their money and they should have wonderful, animated faces. They won`t be able to express themselves facially as much and that can be a problem especially with very emotional teenagers.

ANDERSON: Only older people are featured on the Botox Web site. Allergan, which makes the muscle-paralyzing toxin tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it`s not meant for anyone under 18.

CONTRERAS: You just want to maintain your skin, flawless, wrinkle-free.

ANDERSON: This is 19-year-old Marlene`s first Botox treatment. She may be back for more.

(on camera): You put a lot of pressure on yourself to look perfect and beautiful.

CONTRERAS: Quite a bit.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: All that Botox can really add up. Like I said, it can cost hundreds of dollars a pop. The girls I spoke with, who were so beautiful, by the way, and should not change a thing, told me they are willing to spend their hard-earned money if they`re pleased with the outcome.

HAMMER: Wow. Well, from shocking controversy surrounding young people trying to stay looking young to stars who are saying hey, "You know what? I`m not perfect, and I don`t care."

I`m talking about stars without makeup. I think this is great. Seeing stars without their face icing really is wild. It is certainly a big risk in body-obsessed Hollywood, but it`s a risk that definitely sends the right message.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER (voice-over): No powder, no mascara, no makeup. Kim Kardashian, Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb joined the growing list of gorgeous celebrities daring to go bare.

GWEN FLAMBERG, BEAUTY DIRECTOR, "US WEEKLY": Going bare will lower that expectation of what we can`t believe perfection is. In Hollywood, the standard of perfection is completely manufactured.

HAMMER: But that trend is changing big time. It`s time for plastic surgery princess, Heidi Montag and her boobs to move over and make room for a new tribe of strong, natural, fiercely beautiful women who aren`t afraid to show their true selves.

KATHIE GIFFORD, CO-HOST, THE "TODAY" SHOW: Here I am, bare and unafraid.

HAMMER: On NBC`s "Today" show this morning, co-hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb revealed their makeup-free selves to the world live for the very first time.

GIFFORD: Here it is. This is us.

HODA KOTB, CO-HOST, "TODAY" SHOW: Tight shot, please.

HAMMER: Kathie Lee says she got the idea after Rosie O`Donnell made the provocative claim that Kathie Lee had gone too far with having work done. Kathie Lee wanted to prove Rosie wrong and invited her in on the makeup free action. Well, Rosie accepted and threw in a little bed head for good measure.

GIFFORD: She thought I had gone too far.

KOTB: You didn`t do anything.

ROSIE O`DONNELL, TV PERSONALITY: I don`t believe I said that. Did I say that?

KOTB: Oh, yes, you did.

GIFFORD: Yes, yes, yes.

O`DONNELL: It wasn`t like I didn`t recognize you. I just thought you looked different.

GIFFORD: Thank you. I love you, Rosie. I love you. Thank you.

HAMMER: No matter what age, stars are taking a stand against manufactured Hollywood. Check out this brand-new photo of Kim Kardashian in "Life and Style Weekly." Totally au natural. What a shock for renowned glam queen.

FLAMBERG: Over the years, Kim has been wearing more and more makeup and it`s really surprising but also super exciting to see her shed some of that makeup and become more real, and more of a real beauty inspiration to girls.

HAMMER: Kim`s no makeup coming out comes after Jessica Simpson became the real no-makeup trendsetter when she shocked everyone by daring to bare it all on the cover of "Marie Claire."

FLAMBERG: I think that Jessica Simpson really wants to be real. She wants to show women that you don`t have to go under the knife, that you can be proud of exactly who you are.

HAMMER: Jessica tells "Marie Claire," "I don`t have anything to prove anymore. What other people think of me is not my business." But, whether Jessica and Kim and Kathie Lee and Hoda realize it, they are starting a powerful trend for women everywhere.

FLAMBERG: Once you do it, you really get a ton of strength and ton of power that you don`t need makeup to feel beautiful. And that`s the message. Glamour comes from inside.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: Well, I for one think these famous women really look great with or without their makeup.

ANDERSON: Yes, they do. All right. Now, a Bethenny bombshell. "Real Housewives of New York" star, Bethenny Frankel, reveals her post-baby body. She loses a ton of weight really fast. Why Bethenny is telling women to eat nothing. That`s got a lot of people fired up.

Over 40, fabulous and still showing off their bodies. Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston - all breaking new ground for women everywhere.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`ve got such a group of big stars who have gotten to be over 40. You know, the Jennifer Anistons, the Sarah Jessica Parkers. The Catherine Zeta-Jones.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession," on HLN news and views.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

DREW BARRYMORE, ACTRESS: Where`s that coming from?

JUSTIN LONG, ACTOR: Dan -

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Hi, Garrett.

BARRYMORE: Hey, Dan.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Hello in there.

LONG: What was our rule?

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Just because I can hear you through the wall doesn`t mean I get to participate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Justin Long in "Going the Distance." He co-starred with his longtime on-again, off-again girlfriend, Drew Barrymore. That was no issue for Justin. But what really made him sweat, taking it all off in front of his childhood crush.

Check this out. Going completely naked for "Going the Distance" was tough enough for Justin. But then, he found out he had to strip down in front of co-star, Christina Applegate.

Now, Justin said he had a major crush on her when he was growing up. He loved watching Christina on "Married with Children."

Here`s what Justin tells "UsMagazine.com" about that. He says, "I was sort of exposing myself to someone I grew up watching. Really weird. And while we were shooting. I`m kidding. There was plenty of vanity that came into play that I wasn`t really used to with the other roles I have done."

Funny, yes, but totally embarrassing there. And Justin reveals he really did prep for the scene. Here`s what he says, "I had a very complicated procedure. Nipple enlargement surgery. I did. I had very tiny nipples they`re like freckles."

Yes, sounds like Justin really did go the distance. All right. So Brooke, we posted on the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page - is Hollywood`s obsession with body image totally unrealistic?

ANDERSON: Yes. A big debate on our wall about this, A.J. Tesia C. thinks Hollywood should get a clue - most women aren`t super skinny, "Big girls are bigger than ever. It`s about time everyone gets over the pencil-thin look. It`s not healthy for the stars or the young girls watching them. It`s time to show off what a real woman looks like."

But Zak L. says he`s proud of stars` body image, "I give much respect to the Hollywood stars of today. They don`t look amazing by chance. They put in very hard work. People that get mad over Hollywood body image are probably just jealous because they do not have the motivation or will power to look that way. Anyone can look like a star if they put in the hard work."

Reach out to us at "SHOWBIZ Connects" and join the debate on Facebook. Get breaking entertainment news alerts. Go behind the scenes of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on Twitter. Call us at "Showbiz on Call." And of course, there`s always E-mail.

HAMMER: Time now, for the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - "Showbiz Body Obsession."

The showdown over sex tapes. Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian. The "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint" - do sex tapes help or hurt celebrity careers?

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative body-obsessed star. Heidi Montag - you know, she`s got to be a nominee. How about Jessica Simpson? Or maybe it`s going to wind up being Kim Kardashian?

Over 40, fabulous, and still showing off their bodies. Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston. We`re talking about them all. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession," on HLN news and views.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Right now, on a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession." The showdown over sex tapes. Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian. The "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint" - do sex tapes help or hurt celebrity careers?

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative body-obsessed stars. Ten plastic surgery procedures in one day certainly makes Heidi Montag a most provocative body-obsessed star nominee. Jessica Simpson, too, for her ongoing beauty and weight obsession. Or is Kim Kardashian the most body- obsessed star? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the big reveal.

A Bethenny bombshell. "Real Housewives of New York" star, Bethenny Frankel, reveals her post-baby body. She loses a ton of weight. Why Bethenny is telling women to eat nothing. A special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession," continues right now.

(MUSIC)

HAMMER: Welcome back to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession." It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.

ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And right now, the great sex tape debate. We`ve said it before and we`ll say it again. If you don`t want sex tapes to get out, don`t make them, because I can tell you they will get out.

The list goes on and on. Everybody from Paris Hilton to Kim Kardashian have seen their tapes pop up on the Internet and sold for a lot of money. But here`s a dirty little secret about those dirty little tapes. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is here to reveal that a sex tape can ruin lives and careers or it can, sadly, sometimes be a big career boost. Here`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WYNTER (voice-over): Sex, scandals and leaked videos. In Hollywood, x- rated home movies can either cripple a career or be a fast-track ticket to fame. Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson, Kim Kardashian - SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you they`ve all taken it off on tape and cashed in big.

Some have even managed to turn those 15 minutes into big-time business. Take Kim Kardashian, whose sex tape with then boyfriend R & B singer, Ray Jay, was leaked in 2007. Flash forward three years later.

KIM KARDASHIAN, REALITY TV STAR, "KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS": I`m endorsing products right now, I have my own products.

WYNTER: Kim Kardashian is the star of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." It`s one of TV`s most successful reality shows where she relentlessly promotes the Kim Kardashian brand name.

Marketing expert, Joan Barnes, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Kardashian taps right into her fan base.

JOAN BARNES, PRESIDENT, MARKETING SPECIFICS: She`s very engaged in being able to control her own brand. So she realizes the reach she has. And she has the ability to impact primarily women who are following her as a trendsetter.

WYNTER: A trendsetter whose post-sex empire includes DVDs, diet endorsements, perfume lines and even parts in movies like disaster movies. But her career is no disaster at all.

"Forbes" puts Kardashian up there on its power performer list. And she`s taken over the Twitter universe where millions follow her every move daily just like her former sidekick, Paris Hilton.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Paris, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

WYNTER: Whose career also took off after a sex tape with her then- boyfriend, Rick Salomon, surfaced in 2003. Soon, the public was seeing a whole lot more of Hilton, whose life got a little bit sweeter when she landed her own reality show, "The Simple Life," in 2005.

Fast food endorsements followed. Followed by business deals in the fashion world, everything from fragrances to footwear.

Pamela Anderson was already big on "Baywatch" when her sex tape with then- hubby, Tommy Lee, surfaced in the late 1990s. But it only made her more famous or infamous, even leading her to movie roles in such films as "Scary Movie 3."

PAMELA ANDERSON, ACTRESS: No, not that tape.

WYNTER: While Pam Anderson once told CNN`s Larry King she didn`t leak her sex tape -

P. ANDERSON: It was stolen from my house.

WYNTER: And Kim Kardashian told Larry King she`s not proud of her sex tapes.

KARDASHIAN: Of course, you`re ashamed of that.

WYNTER: Former porn queen, Jenna Jameson claims stars should quit their complaining, writing on her Twitter page, "Why do people do porno tapes, sell them, make boatloads of money and lie about being victimized?"

But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you don`t call Laurence Fishburne`s daughter, Montana, a victim. She shopped her own sex tape hoping to follow in Kim Kardashian`s footsteps.

MONTANA FISHBURNE, LAURENCE FISHBURNE`S DAUGHTER: It didn`t stop her become - becoming what she is today. She`s successful, intelligent and people respect her. And I want the same thing for me.

WYNTER: Montana`s tape was bought and released by the adult film company, Vivid Entertainment. It`s the same company that put out Pam Anderson`s and Kim Kardashian`s sex tapes. Vivid CEO Steve Hirsch tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it will take a lot more than just baring it all if Fishburne wants the same success as Kardashian.

STEVEN HIRSCH, CEO, VIVID ENTERTAINMENT: It remains to be seen if Montana can do the same thing. But it`s up to her how she handles herself, who she attaches herself to, and what opportunities she decides to take. So it`s a process.

ANDERSON: A process Kardashian feels she`s mastered, telling "Allure" magazine, "I think I`ve done a good job of replacing negative things with positive things." And in the end even though Kim Kardashian never wanted her sex tape made public in the first place, let there be no doubt that it made her more famous than she has ever been, showing the path to fame may indeed be through a sex tape.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: Yes. So all of these stars and their careers really seem to be doing just fine since their sex tapes got out. And that leads to the "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint" - do sex tapes help or hurt a career?

Right now, in New York, David Caplan, who is an entertainment journalist. Right now, in Atlanta, Jenn Hobby, who is a co-host of radio`s "The Bert Show."

So clearly, a lot of these stars, quite frankly, would not be stars if there had been no sex tape, I`m sorry to say. So Jenn, to our "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint" - do sex tapes help or hurt a career? What do you think?

JENN HOBBY, CO-HOST, "THE BERT SHOW": I think they absolutely help a career, especially in the cases that we just saw. Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian - it really helped them. They capitalized on the opportunity and turned it into capitalism.

But now, it`s not so shocking anymore. Is it really going to work for new celebrities? Or is this sort passe at this point?

HAMMER: Yes. We`re kind of used to it, aren`t we? David, to the "SHOWBIZ Flashpoint" - do sex tapes help or hurt a career in your mind?

DAVID CAPLAN, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: I think they really do help a career. Obviously, needless to say, it raises a person`s profile. And what`s really interesting is when a celebrity releases a sex tape, it`s sort of like they`re at their most vulnerable.

So in terms of their really star power, it`s only going to increase after that, because they really are like, "Listen, I`ve literally bared it all. Everyone has seen everything. I`ve done the lowest thing."

And from there, you really can go up. You can`t really - it`s very difficult to attack a celebrity after that. Kim, at this point, has really weathered everything. So it`s like, you know what is in a sex tape? She only goes higher from there.

HAMMER: So Jenn, you think that the sex tapes for Kim and Paris helped each of them. Who do you think benefited more from having it get out there?

JENN HOBBY, CO-HOST, "THE BURT SHOW": I think probably Kim Kardashian. She has really turned into a brand manager. And she has really, I mean just turned this into so many opportunities for herself. And she, at the same time, has used social networking to really build an empire.

So I would say Kim Kardashian probably benefited the most from hers coming out. And you know, when they claim to be victims, then they have the public on their side, sort of what David was saying, you know. They`re at their most vulnerable. And now, the crowds and their fans can feel sorry for them.

HAMMER: Yes. But you`re right. You know, we`re not buying it at all anymore that they`re victims when these things come out.

HOBBY: Right.

HAMMER: David, who benefited more, Paris or Kim? I tend to think Kim as well.

CAPLAN: Yes. Kim Kardashian, absolutely. Paris - even though her star power (UNINTELLIGIBLE), it wasn`t as big as it was. But with Kim, we really knew virtually nothing about her when that tape came out. So it was amazing for her. It was an incredible platform to introduce herself to the celebrity landscape.

HAMMER: Yes. Kim denied her sex tape. She denied that she had anything to do with it getting out there. Paris Hilton denied that she had anything to do with getting it out there.

I think former porn star, of all people, Jenna Jameson, was right on the money. She tweeted this, "Why do people do the porno tapes, sell them, make boatloads of money, then lie about being victimized. I own up to my porn. I don`t cry and say my boyfriend stole it."

You know, Jenna`s point is people should stop making believe they`re not happy that the tapes get out. And they know it`s going to help them. I completely agree. Jenn, are you with me?

HOBBY: I agree with you on the point of Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. I`m not so sure about Pamela Anderson, though. That one I do believe just snuck out there. It was something she had made with her husband -

HAMMER: Yes.

HOBBY: You know, her ex-husband when it came out. I do believe that one was a mistake. But the Kim and Paris ones, I`ve got to say, I think they were behind it.

HAMMER: I`m with you. My belief is if it happened 10, 15 years ago, maybe it wasn`t intentional. Nowadays, I`m not buying it if they say it was not intentional.

CAPLAN: Yes.

HAMMER: David Caplan, Jenn Hobby, thanks, guys.

ANDERSON: So what do you think? Does a sex tape help or hurt a star`s career? We want to hear from you. Grab your camcorder, webcam or cell phone cam and make a video SHOWBIZ iReport. Keep them to 30 seconds or less, then go to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight to send it to us. We love E-mails, too, so write us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.

HAMMER: With so many body-obsessed stars and celebrities, only SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask which is the most body-obsessed? Will SHOWBIZ TONIGHT name Heidi Montag, Kim Kardashian, or Jessica Simpson the most body- obsessed star out there?

Over 40 and fabulous. Halle Berry, Julia Roberts - they are just two of the A-list stars who are over 40 and look great and feel great about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`ve got such a group of big stars who have now gotten to be over 40 - you know, the Jennifer Anistons, the Sarah Jessica Parkers, the Catherine Zeta Jones.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Bethenny Frankel`s post-baby weight body bombshell. "The Real Housewives of New York" star reveals her dramatic post-baby body. How did she lose the weight so fast? Bethenny says eat nothing. Is she serious? This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession," on HLN news and views.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Welcome back to this special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession." I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.

ANDERSON: Right now, 40 and fabulous. You know, there was a time, not that long ago, when an actress in her 40s was considered washed up. But thankfully, not anymore. Stars like Halle Berry and Julia Roberts are in their 40s and are still big-time A-listers.

They are sending a clear message to all those young starlets out there and it is this - being 40-something is nothing short of being fabulous.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Who said 40 isn`t fabulous? Halle Berry, 44. Julia Roberts, 42. Jennifer Aniston, 41. And the other Jennifer, Lopez, also 41, all proving you can be over 40 and fierce.

All four of these sexy, stylish ladies are gracing the covers of the top fashion magazines` September issues, traditionally, the biggest editions of the year previewing fall fashion, a loud and clear message that 40 is the new fabulous. Veteran model and TV host Roshumba Williams tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the choice is strategic.

ROSHUMBA WILLIAMS, VETERAN MODEL AND TV HOST: When you look at, like, the demographic of woman who can actually spend the money and buy these high- end clothes, you`ve got to have people actually older that, you know, the women relating to because women don`t necessarily want to see, you know, their daughters actually selling them products anymore. They want to see women they identify with.

ANDERSON: Move over 20-something starlets, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Hollywood`s long-time leading ladies are not just rocking fashion. Julia Roberts is the flawless face of Lancome cosmetics. Halle Berry is radiant for Revlon. And Jennifer Aniston`s buff bod is the living billboard for Smart Water.

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT went right to the executive editor of "Allure" magazine to find out what in the world is going on here.

KRISTIN PERROTA, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "ALLURE" MAGAZINE: Celebrities who are over 40 are definitely very interesting to advertisers. They help to draw in a lot of more affluent women toward a brand. They also tend to be intriguing toward younger women because these are women who are real role models.

ANDERSON: Pretty young things may be the talk of the tabloids, but when it comes to giving fashion and beauty advice, the talk is all about the older and wiser celebs.

PERROTA: They really do have a lot to say and a lot of knowledge to give. And that`s why we find them to be amazing subjects for our stories.

Our readers do want to know what Cindy Crawford is doing to take care of her skin. They want to know what Mariska Hargitay has done to keep her body in shape, because these are real women with the same problems we`re all going through. But they have just been able to get through things looking a little bit better than the rest of us.

ANDERSON: So SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has got to ask, why such a big difference now? Why the sudden shift?

PERROTA: The difference is partly because we have got such a group of big stars who have now gotten to be over 40. You know, the Jennifer Anistons, the Sarah Jessica Parkers, the Catherine Zeta-Jones - these are the biggest, you know, box office number-driving stars. And now, they happen to be older.

WILLIAMS: That older woman represents that accomplished women, so why not - why isn`t there room for everyone?

ANDERSON: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you it`s a safe bet these fantastic, 40-something women will be dominating those coveted covers for a long time to come.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

But in addition to the over 40 and fabulous, there`s another class of woman dominating Hollywood. They`re the stars obsessed with their bodies. But which star is most obsessed? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is about to crown the most provocative body-obsessed star.

With us now, in New York, is celebrity publicist, Marvet Britto. Also in New York is Emme, founder of "EmmeStyle.com."

Ladies, in the end, we whittled it down to three nominees. Let me tell you, that was not easy. So here they are. Let`s roll them out - the nominees to be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative body obsessed star.

The first nominee, of course, Heidi Montag. She declared herself, quote, "beyond obsessed with cosmetic surgery after she had 10, count them, 10, procedures in one day including a breast augmentation that boosted her to a G cup.

The second nominee, Jessica Simpson who spends a lot of time talking about her body, beauty and weight issues, even telling U.K.`s "Closer" magazine about her, quote, "white girl booty."

Then, we`ve got Kim Kardashian. Her curves always cause a stir on the red carpet, right? But she took her body obsession to new levels of TMI when she told "Allure" that she`s obsessed with laser hair removal and revealed her entire body other than her head, of course, is hairless. Emme, who`s got your vote?

EMME: Jessica, because she`s talking about it and she feels the need to really bring some light to this. I mean, it`s clear that Heidi Montag has some issues going on. But I believe that Jessica wins the body-obsessed because being exposed to women worldwide, she`s bringing it up time and time and time again - thankfully so.

ANDERSON: Marvet, how about you. Who`s got your vote?

BRITTO: For me, it`s got to be Heidi. I mean, it`s one thing to enhance your body. It`s completely different to completely reconstruct your body, which is what she`s done.

So I think to enhance what you already have isn`t really showing that you`re not happy with your body. Clearly, Heidi is obsessed and wants to reconstruct her entire body.

EMME: Very sad.

ANDERSON: And these weren`t just enhancements. She transformed herself into being unrecognizable from what she previously was.

OK. Here is the moment of truth, ladies. Who will SHOWBIZ TONIGHT name the most provocative body obsessed star? Drum roll, please.

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is naming - Marvet, we`re with you - Heidi Montag. She is the most provocative body obsessed star. Emme, what advice would you give Heidi Montag to kind of help her, set her straight a little bit?

EMME: Stop looking outside of yourself for approval. You`ve got to have it inside. You know, take a step away. Take a - you know, walk away from where you live for a while and do a retreat with some girlfriends, seriously, and figure out why is it that you`re looking outside of yourself for acceptance.

G cup? I mean, I didn`t even know that there was that.

ANDERSON: I know.

EMME: But you know what? My heart goes out to her. I - and hopefully her family and her management could step in before something really terrible takes place with her.

ANDERSON: Yes. I think she needs compassion.

EMME: Yes.

ANDERSON: I think she needs support, and probably needs a little bit of therapy or a lot of therapy, bless her heart.

EMME: And friends.

ANDERSON: We`re going to leave it there for now. Marvet Britto, Emme, thank you both. Good to see you.

HAMMER: OK. So now that Heidi has been named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative body-obsessed celebrity, let me tell you about her breast regret.

Heidi Montag reveals the new plan that she has for her G cup breast implants. Here`s what she told "Life and Style" magazine, "I`m desperate to go back to normal. I`m downgrading and going a little smaller to a D or double D."

Now, Heidi also reveals that the 10 plastic surgeries she had in one day - that contributed to the tension in her marriage to Spencer Pratt.

ANDERSON: All right. Bethenny Frankel`s post-baby weight bombshell. Bethenny loses a ton of weight. Then, Bethenny tells women, eat nothing. It`s the great debate over Bethenny`s controversial body comment. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession," on HLN news and views.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BETHENNY FRANKEL, REALITY TV STAR, "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY": I love them. Can you do a spicy king crab roll?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

FRANKEL: I`ll take two of those. Sauteed mushroom medley, please? Salmon salad, too. I`m going to keep a menu.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Certainly.

FRANKEL: Food is porn.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: "Real Housewives of New York" star, Bethenny Frankel, is now singing a different tune about food after revealing her big post-baby weight loss secrets. She says she did it by eating nothing. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the Bethenny weight loss secrets that have stirred up a huge controversy.

Bethenny Frankel`s post-baby weight confession has generated a lot of heat surrounding the reality star. She lost a lot of post-baby weight super- fast. She says she did it by eating nothing. Say what?

Bethenny`s comment raised a whole light of eyebrows from women who demanded to know what Bethenny meant. Bethenny has said maintained a healthy lifestyle before, during and after her pregnancy. So what is she really saying? She said, "Taste everything, eat nothing." That sounds horrible, very unhealthy to me.

I had to ask "In Touch Weekly" senior editor, Ereka Vetrini, and Jenn Hobby, co-host of radio`s "The Bert Show," if they think Bethenny is sending a dangerous message.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EREKA VETRINI, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Really, what I think she`s saying here, the taste - it`s her way of saying - "taste everything, eat nothing" is her way of saying, "Ladies, look out for your portion control."

If you read some of her books, you`d understand she`s big about, you know, not overindulging and really eating what`s right for you and eating the right amounts of what`s right for you. So I`m on her side with this one. It is her business. It is what she does.

ANDERSON: OK. Jenn, I want to throw it to you. Is there anything wrong with what Bethenny is saying here? Or should she be careful considering that she was criticized for losing most of that weight three weeks - I`ll say it again - three weeks after she gave birth in May? That`s quick.

HOBBY: I think she does have to be very careful about what she has to say because people follow her. They love her show. And typically, I really like her on the show. She`s easy to identify with. But to me, saying "eat nothing" sends the wrong message to mothers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Bethenny says, "Eat nothing, but taste everything. This message could be a little bit confusing for some women. And I`m sorry, but to me it sounds like an eating disorder. And I`m here to tell you the great Bethenny post-baby weight debate is far from over.

HAMMER: So Brooke, I`ve got to ask you something. For years now, you and I have been covering on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the ridiculous obsession with weight and body image in Hollywood.

We keep on hearing that things are going to change, yet, it seems as we continue to report on it, nothing changes. Why do you think that is?

ANDERSON: Well, I think it`s because it`s what we most commonly see on magazine covers, on the runways, in television, in movies.

If the magazine editors, the fashion designers, the show runners, the directors, would ban together, A.J., and say, "We`re going to proceed, not by strictly using a completely different look but by mixing it up," then change could begin to take shape. Literally it could be, A.J., a healthy reflection of our society.

HAMMER: And wouldn`t that be something? But you know, it comes down to money, Brooke. It always does. That is it for the special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "Showbiz Body Obsession." I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.

ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Thanks for watching.

END