[Baldwin:] Welcome back. We're looking at what hot, what you're talking about. That means we're talking "trending." Brooke Anderson is joining me from Los Angeles with all the scoops. Brooke, Let's begin with the Kardashian gals and issues about reading the fine print of a pay as you go card.
[Brooke Anderson, Hln Host, "showbiz Tonight":] Yes, big issues here. You know the Kardashian sisters are accustomed to their business ventures achieving wild success, but not today. The prepaid debit card that they put their name and face on has completely back fired on them. The "Kardashian card," as it was called, has been canceled. Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney have now terminated the deal after they were slammed for it. Connecticut's attorney general had announced that he would investigate the card because of its, quote, "predatory fees combined with its appeal to financially unsophisticated young adults." Also personal finance expert Suze Orman had lashed out at Kim as she said "swindling impressionable kids." Suze wrote, "shame, shame, shame." So enough was enough. The Kardashians severed ties. And I think this was a wise move by the sisters. Hopefully in the future they or their advisers will look a little more closely at their fine print before signing on the dotted line. That's very important.
[Baldwin:] Trending number two, Ms. Anderson. Hobbit movie casting, some sort of race issue.
[Anderson:] Yes, there's outrage over race and casting. I have to tell you, director Peter Jackson's movie adaptation of "The Hobbit" is two years away from being released, but it's already been plagued by problem after problem. The movie has been delayed over and over. There's been director drama. There have been issues with the production in New Zealand. And now there's this. A casting agent working on the movie has reportedly been fired after the agent is said to have placed advertisements for extras with, quote, "light skin tones." This person also reportedly told a woman at an audition that, hey, she was too dark to be in the movie.
[Baldwin:] Really?
[Anderson:] A spokesman for "Wingnut Films, the production company owned by Peter Jackson, reportedly said no instructions were given to the company, so the agent in question got the axe. We reached out to New Line Cinema which is distributing the movie for comment. We're awaiting a response. Brooke, maybe the woman didn't look like their hobbits, but this film is most likely to also have dragons, throw in some elves. It seems like there could be room for everybody.
[Baldwin:] Yes, exactly. At least the guy got the axe. Trending number three, Fran Drescher, what a lovely would, kind of a gnarly voice. Needless to say she has a sitcom coming her way.
[Anderson:] Unmistakable voice. The actress who hit instant fame as the star of "The Nanny" is working on a new TV pilot for TV land that is based on her life, specifically her dating struggles after she finds out that her husband is gay. The show is called "Happily Divorced," and it gets even better." Guess who is co-writing and producing with Fran, Brooke?
[Baldwin:] Who?
[Anderson:] Her ex-husband, Peter Mark Jacobson. They divorced in '99 after being married for 21 years. Obviously they're on great terms, not only friends but they're co-workers post divorce. That really is saying something. And TV Land tells "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" that the people they cast will be actors, not people in Fran's real life.
[Baldwin:] Got to be interesting.
[Anderson:] Fran herself has not been cast in the show but that could happen down the line.
[Baldwin:] Got to be honest, sounds kind of interesting. Brooke Anderson, good to see you.
[Anderson:] You too.
[Baldwin:] Have you heard about this? Reports indicate a well known figure has booked the entire wing of a major hospital in New York. Yep, I'm talking recovery rooms, treatment centers, the whole kit and caboodle. Who is this? Who has this kind of power? That is ahead. Plus, we are days away from the military's top leaders testifying on the possible repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." But first, they're revealing what many members of the military think about it. And that is next.