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SHOWBIZ TONIGHT

Simon to Return to "American Idol"; GLAAD Draws Attention to Transgender Portrayals; "Gastineau Girls" Dish about Life in Front of the Lens

Aired November 29, 2005 - 19:00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: I`m A.J. Hammer. TV`s only live entertainment news show starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER (voice-over): On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Simon says something really important.

SIMON COWELL, JUDGE, "AMERICAN IDOL": It was what came out of Mikalah`s mouth which was the problem.

HAMMER: Tonight, breaking news about the "American Idol" judge you just love to hate. Will he be leaving the show? And why is he involved in a big legal battle in Britain? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the latest on what`s going on between Simon and Simon. Not those two; these two!

Also, why GLAAD isn`t too happy. Tonight, why the gay rights group is so worked up about transsexuals and a "Desperate Housewives" star. The inside story. Plus, we go one-on-one with Felicity Huffman to set the record straight, in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

Classic rock, rocks on! Tonight, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Elton John still packing them in all over the world. How they do it, why they keep on rolling when others have retired. It`s a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report.

ISAAC HAYES, SINGER: I`m Isaac Hayes. If it happens today, it`s on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer live in New York.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: I`m Brooke Anderson live in Hollywood.

Tonight, the end of the drama surrounding America`s biggest TV show. And Simon says, "I`m in!"

In a blockbuster announcement today, Simon Cowell put an end to a battle that threatened to turn "American Idol" upside down. The bottom line: the straight-talking "Idol" judge is staying put for a long time to come.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COWELL: Bo, probably the closest finale we`ve ever had. You look like my chemistry teacher.

ANDERSON (voice-over): Last season`s finale of "American Idol" drew a powerhouse 66 million viewers. It`s the third largest program in FOX history, and Simon Cowell`s snap wit is one of the major reasons.

COWELL: It would be rather like ordering a guard dog for your home, and getting delivered a poodle in a leather jacket.

ANDERSON: And if you haven`t gotten enough, Simon will be saying a lot more, for at least five more years. FOX just announced he`s signed on for the long haul, if we can all take it that long.

COWELL: It was a complete and utter mess.

ANDERSON: Cowell, a longtime music industry producer, told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT he`s the reason behind the success.

COWELL: Because most people who work in the music industry, they don`t say very much. They`re very, very cautious. I`ve always gotten into trouble, because I`ve got a big mouth.

ANDERSON: Cowell`s big mouth has made big stars of "Idol" names like Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Kelly Clarkson. Can`t forget Fantasia and most recent idol Carrie Underwood. She`s got the No. 1 country album out.

Cowell and "American Idol`s" other Simon, music mogul Simon Fuller, manage, or have managed all their careers. But will it get old?

With the top songs in the country and the top show in America, this franchise is big business. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT went straight to "Newsweek`s" Marc Peyser for the inside scoop.

MARC PEYSER, "NEWSWEEK": It`s a multi-, multi-, multi-million dollar business. I mean, FOX basically exists because "American Idol" is the huge success that it is. I don`t know what would happen to the network if the show went away. And I don`t think the show would be in good shape if Simon had gone away either.

ANDERSON (voice-over): I`m here in Hollywood at the Kodak Theater, where "American Idol" will start up again in January. Cowell`s announcement comes just as he settled a lawsuit filed against him by the other Simon, Fuller, who says Cowell tried to start another talent show in England. That was holding things up.

Now that there is a full go-ahead, I asked fans whether the show needs a bit freshening up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like the format. I like Simon Cowell, Paula, Mr. Seacrest. Everything`s fine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it has a good format, but it needs to change. You know, people are getting bored with the same old reality show.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Audiences don`t like a predictable show. That`s the bottom line.

ANDERSON: "TV Guide`s" Mary Murphy told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the show definitely has staying power.

MARY MURPHY, "TV GUIDE": "American Idol" will be here five years from now, because the resources are there. We have people already sending in their ballots to line up all over America. It will be here, because everybody that wants to be an "American Idol" is already saying, "Maybe, maybe it will be me." That`s why it will be here.

ANDERSON: And with an average of 25 to 30 million viewers per episode, and 360 million votes per season, the juggernaut continues.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Simon Cowell was reportedly making as much as $8 million a year. But for once, he`s being tight-lipped, not divulging what he`ll be making in this new contract.

HAMMER: Well, tonight, gay rights activists are calling for big changes in Hollywood, and they want to set the record straight. GLAAD, which is the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, today demanded the media stop using the words "transvestite," "transsexual" and the term "sex change" to describe characters in three new films that have been getting a lot of buzz these days, including "Rent," "Breakfast on Pluto," and "Transamerica," in which "Desperate Housewives" star Felicity Huffman plays a transsexual, a man who`s about to undergo a sex change operation to become a woman.

But GLAAD says we should describe Huffman`s character as "transgender," and the procedure should be called "sex reassignment surgery."

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT caught up with the Emmy award-winning actress today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FELICITY HUFFMAN, ACTRESS: And I`m proud to represent the transgender community in the small way that I have. I mean, she just represents one individual in a broad spectrum of people like any -- like any group. So I`m proud and I hope that the transgender community approves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Felicity Huffman had a lot more to tell us, including what surprises are in store for her "Desperate Housewives" character, Lynette, in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. That`s coming up in just a bit.

ANDERSON: The controversy today over the media`s use of words like "transsexual" and "transvestites" leads to tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview. Live tonight in Washington, D.C. is Mara Keisling, who is the founder and executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Mara, welcome. Thanks for being here.

MARA KEISLING, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CENTER FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY: Thanks for having me, Brooke. How are you?

ANDERSON: I`m doing well. Thank you.

OK. Now many people may be watching this and think, "OK, we can`t say transvestite, can`t say sex change." Many may say this is political correctness that is out of control. What do you think, Mara?

KEISLING: The most important thing to keep in mind is that how the media respects people, transgender people and otherwise, and how the media -- what language the media uses to describe people really does impact how the public treats people and respects people and what they language they use.

So we believe that the media and journalists in particular really want to use the language that is most accurate and the language that is the most appropriate.

ANDERSON: In the movie "Transamerica," which we just spoke about, it stars Felicity Huffman. She plays a male to female transgender who is about a undergo surgery. Now GLAAD says we don`t need to say sex change. We don`t need to call it that. What should we call it?

KEISLING: Well, the wonderful thing about the movie "Transamerica" is that it isn`t about what people expect. It isn`t about surgery. Surgery is a very small part of any transgender person`s life. And when we talk about sex change surgery, we really are focusing on that in a way that really isn`t true to how most transgender people are.

Many transgender people never have surgery. Even those who transition from one gender to another, usually don`t have any kind of surgery. And focusing on that really does injustice to the subject. There are a lot more interesting things to talk about

ANDERSON: Well, a number of films focus on transgender issues, people who don`t have the surgery. "Breakfast" on Pluto features a cross dresser in London. "Rent" features a drag queen named Angel. Is it incorrect to call them transvestites? How should we refer to them? Even in "Breakfast on Pluto," that character refers to herself as a transvestite.

KEISLING: Yes, absolutely she does. "Transvestite" in the United States has become an archaic term that primarily is used pejoratively. I`m sure there are some folks who do identify themselves that way. But in general, that`s now an archaic term. The term that`s preferred now by most people who fit that classification is cross dresser.

ANDERSON: So very quickly, we have just a few moments left, but is the goal here not just targeting the media, the entertainment industry, but do you want everyone to change their terminology?

KEISLING: You know, the terminology around all things changes over time. What`s important is that transgender people are respected as members of the community, that they are -- that they are safe from discrimination and violence and disrespect. And a really important start to that is the kind of language we use to describe people, and how the language people use to describe themselves is a good way to start.

ANDERSON: Mara Keisling, thank you so much for being here and educating us on this issue.

KEISLING: Thanks so much.

ANDERSON: We appreciate it.

KEISLING: Thanks. Bye-bye.

HAMMER: Coming up, Tom Cruise nuptial news. The wedding date has been set. You can mark it in your calendar. We`ll tell you when it is, coming up next.

ANDERSON: Plus, a mother-daughter team on a cross-country quest to find love. It`s never a dull moment with the beautiful and bubbly "Gastineau Girls" Brittny and Lisa, live. Up next.

HAMMER: And, they are still rocking while many others their age are in rocking chairs. Tonight, how the Stones, McCartney, Rod Stewart and others are able to still sell out seats everywhere. Their secrets revealed, in a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report. That is coming up.

But first, let us get into tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." What was the name of the carnival machine that granted 12-year-old Josh Baskin`s wish in 1988`s film Big"? Was it Zoltron, Zoltar, Zoltan or Zamboni? We`re coming right back with the answer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: So once again, tonight`s "Entertainment Weekly Great American Pop Culture Quiz." What was the name of that carnival machine that granted 12-year-old Josh Baskin`s wish in 1988`s Big"? Zoltron, Zoltar, Zoltan or Zamboni? Well, we all know it wasn`t Zamboni. Little Josh woke up as big Tom Hanks, all thanks to B, Zoltar.

ANDERSON: A great movie.

Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson, live in Hollywood.

Tonight, Tom Cruise reveals when he and Katie Holmes will tie the knot. Cruise has been named one of the Barbara Walters "Most Fascinating People of 2005." On this morning`s "Good Morning America" Walters previewed tonight`s special, where Cruise discussed the ongoing controversy surrounding his comments about psychiatry, and his upcoming nuptials.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARBARA WALTERS, ABC NEWS: You know, you took this car ride in a silver Mercedes and he dropped the hint. You`ll hear.

TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: I don`t have a film after "Mission: Impossible." I`m sure.

WALTERS: Well, that`s a good time to get married.

CRUISE: Yes. We`re going to get married next summer or early fall.

WALTERS: Do you regret anything you said or did?

CRUISE: No, not at all. No, it`s the truth. You look at, you know, what has occurred over this past year, where you have the kind of labels that have been put on these psychiatric drugs.

Since I started talking out about it, over 465,000 children have come off these depressants. So I think it`s exactly the opposite; it`s been a very successful summer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And on last night`s "LARRY KING LIVE," Walters talked about how Tom Cruise bought a $200,000 sonogram machine. This of course, so he and Katie can monitor the development of their child.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALTERS: Tom Cruise was talking about the birth of his baby and I said, "Is it a boy or a girl?" And he said he didn`t know. But then he said that he had a purchased a sonogram machine. He has -- he added to us later that he was having medical technicians teach him how to use it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Cruise also says he is not ashamed one bit about the time he jumped on the couch on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" earlier this year, when asked about how he felt about Katie Holmes.

"The Ten Most Fascinating People of 2005" airs tonight on ABC.

And now, we want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Tom Cruise, is he getting a bad rap? Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Send us an e-mail at ShowbizTonight@CNN.com. We`re going to read some of your thoughts later on in the show.

HAMMER: It is time now for a "SHOWBIZ Sitdown" with the Gastineau girls. The mother-daughter team star in the popular reality show on E! as they search for true love, successful careers and along the way they get to live the high life.

Lisa Gastineau, Mom, was once married to New York Jets football star, Mark Gastineau. Their daughter Brittny is an up-and-coming model. Lisa and Brittny Gastineau joining us live here in New York. Nice to see you, ladies.

LISA GASTINEAU, REALITY TV STAR: Nice to see you.

HAMMER: So a lot of America may be watching our show right now. They see your show on television. Can we put this two shot up, Ellie (ph)? Look at them. This does not look like mother-daughter. A lot of people would say these look like sisters or people very close in age. Do you work very hard at keeping that image?

BRITTNY GASTINEAU, REALITY TV STAR: She`s going to love you forever for saying that.

L. GASTINEAU: I can`t. I don`t have time to work at anything. But that`s sort of what the show is built around. Sometimes I laugh around because I look and think that your vision has to be a little bit off to think we`re sisters, but it`s very flattering to me.

HAMMER: But you have to go out, you have to go to all these big society events or the clubs that you go to. People must mistake you for sisters, right?

L. GASTINEAU: No one I know.

HAMMER: Really? It`s never actually happened?

B. GASTINEAU: No. Yes, of course, it happens all the time. "You guys look like sisters." Ever since I was little, my mom was like -- all my friends at school were like, "Your mom is so beautiful." And my mom was, everyone brought their, like, dogs for show and tell, and I brought my mom into my show and tell.

HAMMER: That`s nice. And were all your guy friends then in high school were like, "Your mom is so hot"?

B. GASTINEAU: Even now, everybody. Like, "Can I go with your mom?" I`m like, no.

HAMMER: So for your show, you guys have the cameras following you every moment of the day, documenting your lives. It`s not always extremely flattering. I have to ask you about one thing that was on last season. You`re an aspiring model. You went to the elite modeling agency, met with an image consultant. And the guy -- and this played out on TV -- the guy said you need to lose a couple of pounds, cut your hair, wear less make-up. Not really flattering.

B. GASTINEAU: Yes. That`s modeling. They always say that. Even, I mean, everybody they tell that.

HAMMER: But seeing that stuff playing out on television, how does that make you feel? Do you every feel like, "You know what? Maybe this wasn`t such a good idea of documenting our lives for the world to see"?

L. GASTINEAU: I think it`s great. Because the whole objective with the show was getting a launching pad for product lines, which we`re doing. So it gave us exposure that we needed, and it brought our bond closer together. And I think it`s been a positive experience.

I mean, I won`t kid you it`s not easy having cameras there all the time and there are lots of moments you would prefer not to have a camera there. And you`ll see that on the show. I mean, this season you`re going to see things that you didn`t see last season. It`s a whole different show.

HAMMER: And particularly elements of relationships playing out. I have to ask you. I was just noticing your hand. That`s not an engagement ring you`re wearing, are you?

B. GASTINEAU: No, oh god.

HAMMER: We`re just here to set the record straight about this stuff.

B. GASTINEAU: My boyfriend is watching. He`s not going to be very happy about that.

HAMMER: One of the things...

L. GASTINEAU: That`s her right hand.

HAMMER: One thing that we do see play out on the show, though, is a certain level of competitiveness.

L. GASTINEAU: We don`t see that. We don`t see that.

HAMMER: Come on, are you competitive with Mom?

B. GASTINEAU: Not at all. That`s my mom.

HAMMER: About clothes, about times you`re spending, about where you get to do your individual thing?

B. GASTINEAU: No.

L. GASTINEAU: No. I mean we`ll catch a moment, and I`ll always be making -- I have a very sarcastic humor, so you know, they`ll come up with something and they`ll say, "Brittny you`re going to get to do this. And Lisa, you get to do this." And I say, "Oh great, she gets the thing, and I get to be Happy the Clown." You know, so that`s part of my humor, but it`s not really...

B. GASTINEAU: She`s very sarcastic.

HAMMER: She`s sarcastic. She`s a fun person. You say sarcastic, though. What`s one thing about Mom that you`re not crazy about? One little personality trait?

B. GASTINEAU: Nothing.

HAMMER: Oh, come on.

B. GASTINEAU: My mom is the best person in the whole entire world.

HAMMER: Lisa, what about Brittny?

L. GASTINEAU: She`s great. I mean, really. We really love each other.

B. GASTINEAU: That`s why we`re friends.

HAMMER: It`s so lovey-dovey all the time. I`ve seen you on the show, going at each other.

B. GASTINEAU: I borrow her clothes, and she doesn`t want, you know.

L. GASTINEAU: You know, Brittny is tough on material things, like fabrics.

B. GASTINEAU: We`re only children.

L. GASTINEAU: You know, and I`m an only child. She`s an only child and we like our things a certain way.

HAMMER: All right. Well, let`s see on the level of competitiveness how you deal with this. There`s a little poll going on on your show`s web site right now. Who is hotter, Lisa or Brittny? Who`s going to win?

L. GASTINEAU: She is, please.

HAMMER: Who`s going to win?

B. GASTINEAU: The mom.

HAMMER: OK.

B. GASTINEAU: All the guys want to go out with my mom

HAMMER: Lisa and Brittny Gastineau, thanks for joining us on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

L. GASTINEAU: Thanks.

HAMMER: And of course the premier that we`re speaking of, of "The Gastineau Girls," will make its debut tonight on E!

ANDERSON: Anthony Hopkins proves his need for speed in his new movie, "The World`s Fastest Indian." It`s the true story of Burt Monroe, who spent decades perfecting his classic 1920 Indian motorcycle so he could put it through the ultimate test, breaking the world`s land speed record.

SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has your exclusive first look in tonight`s "SHOWBIZ Showcase."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANTHONY HOPKINS, ACTOR: All my life I wanted to do something big.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s what we`re here for.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now what exactly do you intend to do here in the United States?

HOPKINS: Set the land speed record.

I`m from New Zealand.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome to Hollywood.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is this?

HOPKINS: It`s a cork from a brandy bottle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`s got no parachute; he`s got no brakes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aren`t you scared you`ll kill yourself if you crash?

HOPKINS: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you know how fast you were going back there?

HOPKINS: Yes, about 150, 160 miles an hour.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. That sounds about right.

HOPKINS: Ever since I was a lad I`ve been interested in things that go fast.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: "The World`s Fastest Indian" races into theaters nationwide in New York and L.A. on December 7 and nationwide February 3.

HAMMER: You may have wondered this before. How do celebrities look so darn good in those magazines? Their secrets revealed in tonight`s "Talk of the Day." That`s next.

ANDERSON: Plus, Felicity Huffman`s juggling career and family on "Desperate Housewives." Well, now she`s juggling her gender in a brand-new movie. That and "Housewives" surprise secrets from the set in the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, coming up.

HAMMER: Also, cynics called the Rolling Stones "Steel Wheels" tour, Steel Wheelchairs because of Mick and company`s age. Well, the Stones and many other classic rockers are still going strong. Tonight, the secrets of their success. It`s a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Time now for "Talk of the Day," the best from today`s talk shows. Now earlier on "The View", co-host Star Jones showed a fan the truth about why celebrities always look so good in the magazines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are there a lot of celebrities that their pictures are airbrushed?

STAR JONES, CO-HOST, ABC`S "THE VIEW": Oh, you bet you.

PATRICIA HEATON, ACTRESS: Airbrushing is an actress`s best friend. I don`t care. You know, take that thing and spray it all over my face.

WALTERS: There`s not that much to spray on you.

EVA LONGORIA, ACTRESS: Cleavage. I`m not as endowed as you think.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They make it?

LONGORIA: They make it.

RACHEL RAY, ACTRESS: I absolutely love airbrushing, because this one time. And I mean this one time, I did "FHM" magazine. I know, crazy. So I`m pulling this turkey out of the oven and I got the spider veins, you know. Years of working in the kitchen. Not only did they get rid of those veins, they gave me a tan. And I`m telling you, my legs looked better than that bird.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Every bit helps, I guess.

So which popular rock group gave a sky high performance for troops who served in the Middle East? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the amazing aerial video. That`s coming up next.

ANDERSON: Plus, rockers who keep on rocking. The secrets of how the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and others still pack them in. Calling all young bands. You might want to take note of this SHOWBIZ TONIGHT special report, coming up.

HAMMER: And George Clooney`s "Good Night" has a really good day. Why he might want to dust off that mantle piece. We`ve got that and more coming up in "Hot Headlines," which is next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SUSAN HENDRICKS, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues in just one minute. I`m Susan Hendricks with your "Headline Prime Newsbreak."

A man suspected of shooting a Texas police officer is in custody. His surrender ended a dramatic stand-off with police. The suspect holed up inside a Fort Worth home with a female hostage who was freed shortly before he gave up. The officer was shot in the head and is listed in critical condition.

Four Western aid workers in Iraq have reportedly been kidnapped. Al- Jazeera is airing video from a previously unknown group calling itself the Swords of Justice. CNN can`t independently verify the video`s authenticity. Earlier today, President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said withdrawing troops from Iraq would be a terrible mistake.

And it wasn`t part of the game plan, but a man arrested for running onto the field at Sunday`s Philadelphia Eagles game says he was spreading his late mother`s ashes. He is charged with defiant trespass. The team says it doesn`t allow fans to spread ashes on the field.

That`s the news for now. I`m Susan Hendricks.

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 31 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer live in New York.

ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson, live in Hollywood, and you are watching TV`s only live entertainment news show.

HAMMER: Brooke, let me throw a couple of names out at you: Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, I`m talking about rockers who are out there...

ANDERSON: Legends.

HAMMER: ... making a lot of money on tour and, not for nostalgic reasons, but because they still strike a chord with fans. Coming up, we have a really interesting special report on why these veteran rockers still are relevant today, in 2005, just a few minutes away.

ANDERSON: And appeal, also, to younger generations, as well, A.J. And also, we heard from Felicity Huffman earlier in the show about her transgender role in the new film "Transamerica." Coming up, she`ll talk more about that and her transformation for the film, the Oscar buzz surrounding her role, also press reports about her struggle with eating disorders. And, A.J., she gives us some great, really hilarious scoop about "Desperate Housewives." That interview is coming up...

HAMMER: Got to find out about that.

ANDERSON: Absolutely. That`s coming up in just a few minute.

But first, let`s get tonight`s "Hot Headlines." CNN`s J.J. Ramberg is here for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT live in New York.

Hey there, J.J.

J.J. RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Brooke.

Well tonight, it certainly is good night and good luck for George Clooney. Clooney`s political drama earned four nominations from the Independent Spirit Awards today. That includes best director. David Strathairn, who plays Edward R. Murrow in the movie, was nominated for best male lead. "Good Night" is also in the running for the best feature and best cinematography.

"American Idol" fans can look forward to plenty more insults from Simon Cowell. Cowell has signed on to judge the FOX show for another five years. Cowell also settled a lawsuit with "Idol" producer Simon Fuller, who claimed that Cowell copied "Idol" when creating his own show, "X Factor."

And tonight, a reunion to sing about for Peter, Paul and Mary. Mary Travers will rejoin the folk trio in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. It`s their first performance together since her bone marrow transplant in April. The 69-year-old singer who has been battling leukemia is said to be making a steady recovery. The concert will take place on December 9th.

And those are tonight`s "Hot Headlines" -- Brooke?

ANDERSON: That`s great news, J.J. Good for Mary. Thank you so much. J.J. Ramberg reporting for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

HAMMER: Well, Super bowl fans can`t always get what they want, but they will be getting the Rolling Stones this year. Yes, the bad boys of rock and roll just announced they are going to perform at this year`s half- time show.

Now, back in 1967, the Super Bowl was born. And that same year, a 24- year-old Mick Jagger topped the charts with the hit "Ruby Tuesday." Pretty amazing.

Well, the Stones, along with countless other rockers, from Elton John to Rod Stewart to Paul McCartney, they`re still out there, they`re still in huge demand. They`re selling out arenas around the country and around the world. And this is going on while many younger musicians and groups just can`t pull that off.

Tonight, a showbiz special report: What is it about these veteran rockers that make them resonate after so many years in the limelight?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER (voice-over): This isn`t your typical group of senior citizens.

BARRY JECKELL, "BILLBOARD" MAGAZINE: Mick runs the stage, left to right, back and forth, works the audience and all that, just like he was 18 or 20.

HAMMER: They`re just one example of the dozens of older rockers still out there rocking and rolling and filling arenas after decades of fame.

JECKELL: They have a lot of history behind them. They also have a fan base that`s aged with them, and with age comes money.

HAMMER: Thousands of Stones fans will fork out hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a ticket. That adds up to big money. And those fans come in all forms.

PHIL COLLINS, MUSICIAN: They`ve all laughed at the idea of the Stones at 60, 65 going out there and doing it, but I`d still pay money to cross the street and go and see them. I think they`re fantastic.

HAMMER: And it doesn`t end there. Former Beatle Paul McCartney is touring the U.S. now. They`re banking he`ll make a whopping $2 million a night on the road. Compare that to an Usher-Kayne West show in Miami that brought in only around $700,000.

NATHAN BRACKET, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE: You`re only seeing a handful of younger acts who can consistently sell out places like Madison Square Garden. And you find that those kind of venues are waiting all year round for a Mick Jagger or a Rod Stewart or an Elton John to come to town so they can make some money.

HAMMER: So what is it about these sexagenarian rockers that keep them relevant through so many years?

JECKELL: When you go see Elton John, when you see the Rolling Stones, you don`t know what you`re going to hear. There are 20 and 30 years worth of albums and songs to really draw upon.

BRACKET: The most important thing is that fans relate to the music and they want to see the music live. They want to go and experience the Rolling Stones live.

And whereas, say, with somebody like Jay-Z or 50 Cent, it might not sound as good as the record, if you go see them live, you know? You know the video is better, and that`s kind of the most important medium.

HAMMER: It`s also about re-invention. Aside from sell-out tours, many older rockers are branching out. Take Elton John for example, who`s teaming up with Starbucks for a holiday album. He told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT re- invention is important for older artists.

ELTON JOHN, MUSICIAN: Any way that artists like myself, who are older, like myself, like McCartney, like the Stones, like Bob Dylan, who don`t get played on the radio so much, we have to look at alternative ways of marketing our product.

HAMMER: Even the Rolling Stones have gotten in on the action, teaming up with AmeriQuest.

JECKELL: Branding is big in music, period, right now. And artists of a certain age are looking at it and saying, why should we let this younger crowd only have this? We`re the ones with the songs that everybody knows.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Paul...

HAMMER: And Paul McCartney has a big, lucrative contract with Fidelity, a financial firm.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`ll help you plan for the next part of your life.

JECKELL: In the case of McCartney, he`s one of the richest men alive. Does he need more money? Probably not. But at the same time, it gets his voice out there, it gets some of his music out occasionally, and these things open him up to another audience.

HAMMER: And for rocker Rod Stewart, an entirely different tactic to stay relevant: going from rebel rocker in leg warmers to this...

ROD STEWART, MUSICIAN (singing): I`ve got a crush on you, sweetie pie.

HAMMER: This sweetie pie is rolling in dough. So far, his great American songbook collection has sold over 7 million copies.

JECKELL: A bit of reinvention, it`s not his own stuff, and it`s not even really working in contemporary forms, it`s working with the classics.

HAMMER: Stewart told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT it adds a new dimension to his work, but one thing has stayed the same.

STEWART: I`ve always managed to sell out concerts. I have enough musical history behind me and enough vitality to get up on stage and entertain.

HAMMER: And it`s worked. His fourth album in the collection peaked at number two on the album chart. And if you take a longer look at the list, Stewart is joined by several other veteran rockers. Santana`s latest album debuted at number two, John Fogerty at 13, and Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, Neil Diamond, even Johnny Cash are all on there, too.

JECKELL: These artists are putting out music that`s worth listening to. It`s not just about their hits, but it`s also about their new stuff. And when something new is going to sell or when someone`s going to stay in the limelight, it really comes down to good music. It`s at the key to everything we do. Trends aside, good music rules.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: Going and going. And in their 40 years of rocking and rolling, there are still a few places that the Rolling Stones haven`t performed, if you can believe that. One of them, St. Petersburg, Russia. But they`re going to change that, when they kick off their European tour on May 27th. And that`s one of the first places that they will hit.

ANDERSON: Tonight, Korn is performing in New York City, after bringing the concept of "High Performance" to a whole new level. Listen to this. In a ground-breaking move, Korn performed a live set on a private plane en route to New York from London. Their audience at 37,000 feet included eight U.S. troops who have served in the Middle East.

Lead singer Jonathan Davis crooned through the plane`s P.A. system, while other band members used battery-powered amps. Davis says the band wanted to give the soldiers a break before they return to work.

HAMMER: Well, now that those soldiers are home, someone else is flying high. Tom Cruise, with news today that he`s narrowed down his wedding date and then he bought fiancee Katie Holmes a sonogram machine. His every move, his every quote being dissected by the media. And that leads us to our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Tom Cruise: Is he getting a bad rap?

You can still vote by going to CNN.com/showbiztonight. Got more to say? Our e-mail address is showbiztonight@CNN.com. We`ll share some of those e-mails at 55 past the hour.

ANDERSON: Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Ricky Martin lends his voice to a special humanitarian cause.

HAMMER: Also ahead, it`s happy trails for Felicity Huffman, as she makes a transgendered road trip in "Transamerica." She tells us about her wild ride in Hollywood. And she`s going to share some dark and "Desperate Housewives" secrets. It`s the interview you`ll see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

ANDERSON: And a house call that will cure what ails your closet. A closer look at "House" star Hugh Laurie, our man of style, in "Tuesday InStyle."

HAMMER: But first, it is time for a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT birthday shout- out. This is where we give fans a chance to wish their favorite stars a happy birthday. Tonight, it`s a happy birthday shout-out to Don Cheadle, who was nominated for an Oscar for "Hotel Rwanda," of course, celebrating his 41st birthday today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Vanessa Fahi (ph). I`m a student from Ireland. Happy birthday, Don Cheadle. You`re a phenomenal actor. I love everything you do. You`re a wonderful, wonderful performer. Have a wonderful day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.

Time now to check out what`s new in music. It is, after all, Tuesday.

Shakira shimmies out today with "Oral Fixation: Volume 2." Now, this is an English follow-up to her volume one Spanish version. The Dave Matthews Band spins "Weekend on the Rocks." The two-CD set, which also comes with a DVD, highlights the band`s four nights at Colorado`s amazing Red Rocks Amphitheater.

And a big switch for INXS. It`s the band`s very first album with new singer J.D. Fortune. It`s also their first CD since the 1997 death of front man Michael Hutchence.

Also making his debut, Chris Brown. He scored with the single "Run It!" The 16-year old is out with his self-titled album. And The Darkness take a "One Way Ticket to Hell and Back." Their sophomore CD promises more hard-driving metal.

ANDERSON: Tonight, Ricky Martin steps up his fight against human trafficking in Colombia. Martin is teaming up with a U.N.-related agency to star in commercials warning of the threat that trafficking poses to children.

The International Organization for Migration says the ads will also have a hotline offering assistance and information. Martin, who a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Children`s Fund, was recently in Colombia on tour. In October, I sat down with Martin and I asked him about what he calls the slavery of a new era in Colombia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICKY MARTIN, MUSICIAN: Two hundred thousand people are trafficked into this country for sexual labor every day. And I said, "How come there are so many victims out there?" And no one knows about this. So, you know, I`ve been very aggressive. I need to -- it`s all about creating, you know, a better world. And with my music, I can do something about this; with the power of music, I can create awareness.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The spots will begin airing next year.

HAMMER: Tonight, in another "Showbiz Sitdown," Felicity Huffman. She plays a working mom on "Desperate Housewives," but now, Felicity is starring in a new movie, playing a very different kind of a role, a man who is about to undergo a sex change operation to become a woman.

In "Transamerica," Felicity`s character, Bree, learns that she fathered a son, who is now hustling on the streets of New York. She sat down today with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT producer Jenny D`Attoma.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNY D`ATTOMA, CNN SHOWBIZ TONIGHT PRODUCER: What did it feel like going through this transformation?

FELICITY HUFFMAN, ACTRESS: Towards the end of the shoot, I was in wardrobe, and makeup, and hair. And we took a break from shooting. And I walked into the ladies room, and I remember going, "Oh, I`m not supposed to be in here," and I walked out and I went, "No, no, I am supposed to be in here. And I walked in, `No, I`m not.`"

And it took me, actually, a moment of standing outside the bathroom saying, "Alright, I actually am a woman and I`m going in."

It was like I was walking cross-country with a full glass of water, juggling with the other hand, and on a unicycle. And at any point, I could have blown any of them and fallen on my ass. That`s what it felt like.

D`ATTOMA: Recently, you went public with a very personal struggle that you had with eating disorders.

HUFFMAN: Yes.

D`ATTOMA: Why did you choose to come out with that story?

HUFFMAN: I didn`t really. Will, who was interviewing me, was just -- I was talking about, you know, I guess women and body issues. And I was sort of like, "Yes, sure, that`s part of my past," and it is part of my past, so it wasn`t like a big reveal. It was just part of my history.

D`ATTOMA: Now, you`ve already won the Emmy, and people are already talking about Oscar for you. How does that feel when you hear that?

HUFFMAN: It feels completely out of my control and, like, pie in the sky. And it`s a small movie. I`m thrilled that people are watching it. So those kinds of things are completely out of my control.

D`ATTOMA: Cherry on the top?

HUFFMAN: Well, no, pie and the sky, brass ring.

D`ATTOMA: Everyone loves your character. I would imagine that so many fans come up to you about your character for "Desperate Housewives."

HUFFMAN: In "Desperate Housewives"?

D`ATTOMA: Do you get that a lot?

HUFFMAN: I do. I mean, I`m sure all the women get it, because it`s kind of a Rorschach test of, who do you identify with, or a litmus test. So I get, which I love, the moms, because I am a mom. And I`m so happy that they feel there`s a voice of motherhood out there that represents some mothers that didn`t have a voice before.

D`ATTOMA: Things are heating up on the set of "Desperate Housewives" this season. We saw Roger Bart`s character, George...

HUFFMAN: Yes?

D`ATTOMA: ... his demise...

HUFFMAN: You did? I didn`t watch it on Sunday. I can`t stay up that late. I`m putting my kids to bed.

D`ATTOMA: So what kind of surprises do you think "Desperate Housewives" fans will see this season unfold?

HUFFMAN: I don`t know if I`m supposed to tell the secret, but Lynette is transgendered. And she is actually the father of Gabrielle`s baby. That`s just entrenous, right, between you and I? OK.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: Oh, the secrets we get out of the stars. "Transamerica" will open in New York and Los Angeles this weekend.

ANDERSON: And it`s time now for "Tuesday InStyle." Well, Hugh Laurie may don the white lab coat while playing the brutally honest Dr. Gregory House on television, but this month`s man of style goes for the casual look of jeans and motorcycle boots.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, everybody loves a handsome Brit, and Hugh Laurie is a very handsome British gentleman who also happens to be starring on a hit medical drama called "House," which has been sort of FOX`s runaway success this season.

CLINT EASTWOOD, ACTOR: Go ahead, make my day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hugh Laurie grew up worshipping Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry," specifically. He said that he was cool -- Clint Eastwood was cool because he wasn`t trying to be cool. He wore sort of clunky shoes and brown corduroy jacket. And Hugh really embodies that same kind of masculine, unfettered, sort of sexiness that Clint Eastwood also has.

Hugh Laurie sort of grew up in England idolizing an American icon, Clint Eastwood. Also, he`s got a bit of a Steve McQueen vibe to him. He rides a motorcycle. He wears a sort of rugged, brown, leather motorcycle jacket and motorcycle boots. He`s not a sneaker guy.

Hugh Laurie is living out a lot of guys` fantasies. He drives a motorcycle to work everyday. And it`s the same brand that Steve McQueen used to drive back in the `60s.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: And to read more about Hugh Laurie`s style, check out this month`s "InStyle" magazine. It`s on newsstands now.

HAMMER: It is time now for tonight`s "Laughter Dark." This is the best from late-night TV. On "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, the best of the worst things to make the papers last week. And here are some of our favorites.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": What is Santa doing down here in the corner? What`s that all about?

(LAUGHTER)

Here`s another creepy one. Earthenware Santa Claus dish. What`s more fun? Reach into Santa`s pants and grab something.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: I have no idea what that`s about.

Still ahead on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, a star is born. We`re going to introduce you to the country`s newest, and arguably the cutest, celebrity. Find out about the panda-monium he`s causing, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.

Well, move over, Heath Ledger and Ashton Kutcher. A new young star is captivating the cameras, at just 4 1/2 months old. It`s true. Giant panda cub Tai Shan made his media debut today at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and he proved ready for his close-up.

More than 100 reporters and camera crews from around the world served as cub scouts, getting an early audience with the endangered panda. The public will be able to visit Tai Shan starting on December 8th.

And he`s proving to be a hot ticket. In fact, 13,000 tickets were snapped up just two hours after they went on sale. Now, Tai Shan`s name, which means "peaceful mountain," was chosen by votes cast on the zoo`s web site.

ANDERSON: I`m sure it is a hot ticket. Tai Shan is adorable.

All right. Moving on, throughout the show, we`ve been asking you to vote online on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT "Question of the Day." Tom Cruise: Is he getting a bad rap?

Let`s take a look at how the vote is going so far: 22 percent of you say he is; that means 78 percent of you say he isn`t.

Here are some of the e-mails we`ve received. Tracy from Michigan thinks Tom is getting a bad rap. "It is his choice to live life the way he wants, and because it`s different from the norm, he shouldn`t be condemned."

Laura from Texas disagrees. "Tom Cruise needs to stick to making movies, instead of making a fool of himself."

And Tim from Alabama says, "It might be time for Tom to take some time off. Cruise is a great actor and a popular celebrity, but he is was overexposed."

Thank you for your e-mails. You can keep voting at CNN.com/showbiztonight.

HAMMER: It`s that time, where we find out what`s playing on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT tomorrow. To do that, let`s take a look at our "Showbiz Marquee," with our Marquee Guy.

MARQUEE GUY: Tomorrow, the weight is over as "The Biggest Loser" is revealed. We`ll have the thinner winner, or is that the thinner loser? Whatever. And we promise: We may have donuts standing by. Danger, Will Robinson, danger. "The Biggest Loser," live, tomorrow.

And then on Thursday, purple rain. "The Color Purple" opens on Broadway. Producer Oprah Winfrey is investing some green in the show, and we`ll be live at the opening. Plus, the show`s star, LaChanze, tells us about her plum "Purple" role. That`s Thursday.

This is the Marquee Guy, and, as usual, I am in a purple haze.

ANDERSON: I don`t doubt it.

HAMMER: And LaChanze, the star of "The Color Purple," not only beautiful, wait until you hear her sing.

That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.

ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Stay tuned for the latest from CNN Headline News.

END