Imagine sitting across from Hollywood's biggest names, night after night. For Rosie O'Donnell, hosting her own talk show in the '90s was exactly that – a dream come true... and sometimes, a comedian's worst nightmare! She revealed her most and least favorite guests, and the stories are juicy.
Rosie O'Donnell's daytime talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, captivated audiences for six seasons, from 1996 to 2002. During that time, she interviewed a staggering number of celebrities. Recently, during an appearance on Sam Pang Tonight, the now 63-year-old actress-turned-host reminisced about her experiences, singling out both the guests who were a joy to have on and those who proved surprisingly challenging.
So, who topped her list of favorites? "Favorite? Probably Barbra Streisand," O'Donnell confessed. But here's the kicker: while Streisand might have been a personal favorite, O'Donnell revealed that Martin Short was the ideal guest. "But the best guest to have on, and you should book him, is Marty Short because you come out and say, 'How you doing, Marty?' And it's over for you. And he stands up and he goes, 'I'm here.' He was the funniest and the nicest guy." Think about that for a second – a guest so engaging they practically run the interview themselves! This highlights the importance of guests who are naturally charismatic and comfortable in the talk show environment.
Now, for the less glamorous side of things. O'Donnell revealed her most challenging guest was someone you might not expect: Keanu Reeves. "I love the guy, but he's not good on talk shows," she explained. "He's so sweet. He looks gorgeous. I love all his movies, but he would not answer a question. I'd say, 'So, Keanu, how's it going? How you feeling?' [He'd say] 'Good.'"
And this is the part most people miss... It wasn't that Reeves was being difficult; it was simply that he wasn't naturally inclined towards the talk show format. As O'Donnell elaborated, "And finally, after like eight minutes, we were live. We didn't, couldn't retape. I finally said, after like three minutes, 'Keanu, it is a talk show. You have to talk.' But he did come back and he got the hang of it." Footage from the episode confirms this, showing O'Donnell playfully prompting Reeves and even offering him snacks to loosen him up.
O'Donnell, ever gracious, was quick to defend Reeves, stating, "He's a lovely man and a good-hearted guy, so I don't want to throw him under the bus." This is a great reminder that a 'bad' talk show guest isn't necessarily a bad person! Some people simply shine in different environments.
But here's where it gets controversial... O'Donnell revealed that she could have chosen Tom Selleck as her least favorite, but the situation was more complex. "I could have said Tom Selleck, which would have been easy to do," she admitted, recalling how "very awkward" that exchange was "because I had never been unkind or controversial."
The context? The Columbine tragedy had just occurred in 1999, and Selleck had an ad campaign identifying him as a member of the NRA. O'Donnell, deeply affected by the school shooting, challenged Selleck on his stance during the interview. "I was so torn up about Columbine that I just didn't give up. And then, like an innocent idiot, I walked off stage and said to my staff, 'Do you think that'll get any press?' " she recalled. "Well, it's hard to switch back to Magnum when that comes up."
This raises a fascinating question: Should talk show hosts shy away from controversial topics, or is it their responsibility to address them, even if it means creating an uncomfortable atmosphere? Some might argue that a daytime talk show isn't the appropriate forum for such serious discussions. Others might say that O'Donnell was right to use her platform to raise awareness and challenge potentially harmful viewpoints. What do you think? Was O'Donnell right to challenge Selleck, or should she have stuck to lighter fare? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
