Behind the Scenes on 'Showbiz Tonight': Pattinson comes to co-star's defense

“Showbiz Tonight” staffers had a furious debate in this morning's meeting about “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson’s defense of his on-screen (and reported off-screen) love, Kristen Stewart, and her controversial comments about rape.

Stewart is under fire for telling Elle UK that her encounters with the paparazzi are akin to “being raped,” but Pattinson said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he believes her comments were blown out of proportion - and he puts the blame squarely on Internet journalists.

He told EW that “None of those associations came out and gave a statement [criticizing Kristen] without being called upon by the media first – who were doing it specifically to get hits on their websites…”

What do you think? Is Pattinson right to defend Stewart or is she fully responsible for her inflammatory comments?
One thing the producers did agree on this morning was that it’s a challenge to ignore the outrageous fallout from the “Bachelor” breakup! Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi are publicly flinging mud at each other and it’s getting so ugly that everyone is talking about it.

Jake says Vienna’s jealous of his fame and Vienna says Jake is fame-obsessed and that they were having intimacy issues. So who is telling the truth and - the big burning question today - what happened to that reported $50,000 engagement ring? “Showbiz Tonight” will have the answers.

Do you remember the crying judge in the trial over Anna Nicole Smith’s remains? Three years later, Judge Larry Seidlin is back and he wants the world to know that he thinks Anna Nicole may have been killed.

Seidlin says he wants an investigation into Anna Nicole’s death as well as the death of her son Daniel, and he wants their bodies exhumed.

Really? Three years later? Why the about-face? “Showbiz Tonight” Producer Mara Wilcox wondered the same thing, so she invited Judge Larry Seidlin on the show today - get ready for A.J. to put the crying judge on the stand!

One of the big discussions at the meeting this morning was the plan for our big one-hour special tomorrow called “The Death of Two Icons.”

On June 25 last year, we lost two of the biggest stars on the planet, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, and our team is putting together an unbelievable tribute to honor these two timeless icons. Fawcett’s best friend, Alana Stewart, will join us to pay tribute to the star and a close friend of Michael Jackson will help us unravel some of the big burning mysteries in Jackson’s death.  “The Death of Two Icons” airs tomorrow on "Showbiz Tonight."

Watch Showbiz Tonight live at 5pm ET today and also at 11pm ET/PT on HLN!