Still Here Hollywood

Before millions of Americans knew Denise Nicholas as Liz McIntyre on the groundbreaking television series Room 222, she was living through history.Denise traveled through Mississippi and Louisiana with the Free Southern Theater during the Civil Rights Movement, an experience that put her face-to-face with violence, racism and even death threats. In this remarkably candid conversation with Steve Kmetko, Denise recalls bombs being thrown at the stage, sleeping on the floor of Fannie Lou Hamer's home because of gunfire, and the terrifying moment a police officer put a gun to her head.Then came Hollywood.Denise takes us behind the scenes of Room 222, shares memories of Karen Valentine and Michael Constantine, and reveals how Carol O'Connor helped turn her from an actor into a television writer on In the Heat of the Night.She also opens up about her relationship and marriage to legendary singer-songwriter Bill Withers, the unsolved murder of her younger sister, a deeply personal secret about the father who raised her, her decision to walk away from acting, and the writing career that became her passion.Plus, Denise reveals the current television series that might just convince her to step in front of the cameras again.It's a remarkable life spanning the Civil Rights Movement, groundbreaking television, Hollywood, love, loss and reinvention.This is Still Here Hollywood. I'm Steve Kmetko.CHAPTERS00:00 Denise Nicholas joins Still Here Hollywood01:18 Acting wasn't remotely part of the plan02:48 Joining the Civil Rights Movement03:04 Fearing for her life in Mississippi04:01 Her mother stops speaking to her05:13 What America gets wrong about the Civil Rights era06:09 Bombs, gunfire and Fannie Lou Hamer07:25 From Civil Rights activist to Room 22210:42 Racism behind the scenes in Hollywood13:50 A police officer puts a gun to Denise's head15:10 The truth about Lloyd Haynes15:21 Remembering Michael Constantine and Karen Valentine17:31 Old-school Hollywood behind the scenes19:31 Carol O'Connor turns Denise into a writer21:25 What happened after Room 22224:17 Turning down demeaning Hollywood roles25:28 Race and opportunity in Hollywood27:49 What Carol O'Connor was really like29:45 The murder of Denise's sister31:33 How Denise met Bill Withers32:35 What Bill Withers was really like35:00 Why marriage was difficult for Denise36:03 Her massive celebrity wedding to Jim Hill37:06 Becoming an author40:19 Why she called her memoir Finding Home40:51 Why Denise walked away from acting42:49 Freshwater Road and owning her words44:17 The family secret she carried for decades47:18 The role that could bring Denise back49:25 What gives her hope49:53 A surprise message from Tai Babilonia51:57 Looking back at race in America Show CreditsHost/Producer: Steve KmetkoAll things technical: Justin ZangerleExecutive Producer: Jim LichtensteinMusic by: Brian Sanyshyn https://stillherehollywood.comhttp://patreon.com/stillherehollywoodSuggest Guests at: [email protected] on Still Here Hollywood: [email protected]: Maggie Perlich: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anson Williams became a television icon as Potsie Weber on Happy Days, but his Hollywood story goes far beyond Arnold’s Drive-In.Anson joins Steve Kmetko for a revealing look back at more than five decades in show business, including how he stumbled into his first acting job with a young Steven Spielberg, what Garry Marshall taught the Happy Days cast about surviving Hollywood, and the extraordinary day John Lennon secretly showed up on the Happy Days set with his son Julian.Anson also tells the remarkable story of how his connection to Dr. Henry Heimlich helped bring the Heimlich maneuver to national television, remembers his late Happy Days co-star Erin Moran, talks about working with Bette Davis and Hollywood legends including Milton Berle and Ethel Merman, and explains how Ron Howard helped inspire his second career as a television director.Plus, Anson discusses his newest project, Crazy Mama, starring Linda Purl.It’s an hour of Hollywood history from someone who was there for an astonishing amount of it.CHAPTERS00:00 Anson Williams joins Still Here Hollywood01:00 Growing up in Los Angeles and trying to break into show business04:00 The disastrous audition that launched his career07:24 His first real break09:00 How a sit-in at a talent agency changed everything12:00 His first acting job, directed by Steven Spielberg14:22 Would social media have changed his career?17:05 Happy Days becomes his big break17:26 The real story of the original Happy Days pilot19:37 Why the Happy Days cast became so close21:03 What made Garry Marshall special22:11 How Anson turned Potsie into a second career25:46 How Happy Days helped spread the Heimlich maneuver30:34 Who made Anson laugh hardest on Happy Days?33:23 John Lennon secretly visits the Happy Days set35:43 What changed after Ron Howard left37:19 Working with Bette Davis41:47 Remembering Marion Ross42:43 Becoming a television director45:35 Growing up around Hollywood legends49:38 Working with Ethel Merman50:28 Remembering Erin Moran52:19 The most important lesson he learned as a director53:37 Learning to direct science fiction56:03 Crazy Mama and Linda Purl1:01:07 Anson Williams looks ahead Show CreditsHost/Producer: Steve KmetkoAll things technical: Justin ZangerleExecutive Producer: Jim LichtensteinMusic by: Brian Sanyshyn https://stillherehollywood.comhttp://patreon.com/stillherehollywoodSuggest Guests at: [email protected] on Still Here Hollywood: [email protected]: Maggie Perlich: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Linda Purl has spent more than five decades building an extraordinary career across television, film, Broadway and music. In this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Linda joins Steve Kmetko for a funny, candid and surprisingly personal conversation about Happy Days, Matlock, The Office, Andy Griffith, Garry Marshall, aging in Hollywood and the unexpected love story that brought her and Dallas star Patrick Duffy together.Linda reveals what The Office was really like behind the scenes, why Happy Days had only one bathroom for the cast and crew, and the remarkable story Andy Griffith told her about fighting for his role in A Face in the Crowd. She also opens up about reconnecting with Patrick Duffy during COVID, their nightly Zoom conversations and the moment he finally drove from Oregon to Colorado to see if their friendship could become something more.Plus, Linda talks about returning to the stage, her lifelong love of music, handling criticism, getting older without “giving up,” and how she and Patrick turned a 70-year-old family sourdough starter into Duffy's Dough and a mission to help fight food insecurity.It's Linda Purl, still working, still laughing, still singing and very much Still Here.#LindaPurl, #PatrickDuffy, #HappyDays, #TheOffice, #Matlock, #AndyGriffith, #GarryMarshall, #RonHoward, #Dallas, #StillHereHollywood, #SteveKmetko YOUTUBE CHAPTERS00:00 Linda Purl Is Still Here01:02 Growing Up in Japan07:34 Becoming an Actor10:42 Auditioning for The Office12:17 Garry Marshall and the Happy Days Family14:49 The Truth About Improv on The Office16:20 The Lasting Bonds of Happy Days18:26 Returning to Happy Days as a Different Character20:16 Working With Andy Griffith on Matlock21:58 Andy Griffith's Wild Elia Kazan Story24:30 Linda's Advice for Young Actors27:43 Criticism and Bad Reviews29:21 Social Media and the New Hollywood32:37 Aging in Hollywood34:20 Linda's Other Career as a Singer38:55 Her New Album, From My Heart41:33 Reinvention and Gregory Harrison's Life Lesson44:22 Playing 16 Characters in Crazy Mama47:55 Falling in Love With Patrick Duffy53:05 Patrick's 70-Year-Old Sourdough Starter56:36 Turning Duffy's Dough Into a Business1:03:33 What Linda Hopes People Remember Show CreditsHost/Producer: Steve KmetkoAll things technical: Justin ZangerleExecutive Producer: Jim LichtensteinMusic by: Brian Sanyshyn https://stillherehollywood.comhttp://patreon.com/stillherehollywoodSuggest Guests at: [email protected] on Still Here Hollywood: [email protected]: Maggie Perlich: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Elisa Donovan became forever recognizable as Amber, Cher Horowitz's fabulously overdressed rival in the 1995 classic Clueless. But behind one of the most memorable characters of the '90s is an actress, writer and mother whose life took turns she never could have imagined. Elisa joins Steve Kmetko for a candid conversation about landing Clueless, creating Amber from the mean girls she knew growing up, working with Alicia Silverstone, and the Clueless joke she didn't even understand when she delivered it. She also opens up about Brittany Murphy, sharing a hilarious memory from the Clueless set and revealing the troubling signs she says she witnessed the last time she saw Brittany before her death. Elisa talks about nearly landing the lead in Showgirls, climbing into bed with Jason Priestley on her first day of Beverly Hills, 90210, her frustration during Sabrina the Teenage Witch, losing her father to cancer, and the extraordinary dreams that changed the way she thinks about grief and death. Plus, Elisa explains why she believes Hollywood is losing the kinds of movies that once gave actors and storytellers room to take chances. This is Still Here Hollywood. I'm Steve Kmetko. Join us with today's guest, from Clueless, actor Elisa Donovan.   00:00 Elisa Donovan joins Still Here Hollywood 01:54 Knowing she wanted to become an actor 04:04 The personality trait that helped her survive Hollywood 05:32 Her first television break on Blossom 07:01 The Showgirls role she desperately wanted 10:14 Learning from rejection in Hollywood 11:41 Did anyone know Clueless would become a classic? 13:19 The intimidating Clueless audition 15:34 Learning how television really works 15:50 Her first day in bed with Jason Priestley on 90210 18:04 Nearly walking away from acting after Sabrina 19:53 Behind the scenes of Clueless 20:00 Remembering Brittany Murphy on set 22:00 Learning Brittany Murphy had died 22:46 The troubling signs Elisa says she witnessed 25:52 Still Here Hollywood 27:12 Breckin Meyer and remembering Brittany 28:25 The real girls who inspired Amber 30:07 Why Amber was so much fun to play 31:13 How Clueless changed Elisa's life 34:22 The improvised moments that made the movie 35:48 The Clueless joke Elisa didn't understand 36:29 Why Clueless still connects 30 years later 38:09 What Hollywood has lost 41:44 Becoming a writer 44:41 What writing gave her that acting couldn't 46:05 Writing Wake Me When You Leave 48:13 Losing her father and losing her way 50:32 The dreams that changed everything 53:18 Writing through grief 56:01 What Elisa would tell Amber today Show CreditsHost/Producer: Steve KmetkoAll things technical: Justin ZangerleExecutive Producer: Jim LichtensteinMusic by: Brian Sanyshyn https://stillherehollywood.comhttp://patreon.com/stillherehollywoodSuggest Guests at: [email protected] on Still Here Hollywood: [email protected]: Maggie Perlich: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Emmy and Golden Globe winner Michael Chiklis joins Steve Kmetko for a remarkably candid conversation about The Shield, Fantastic Four, The Commish, Hollywood, artificial intelligence, reinvention, family, failure, and the future of the entertainment business. Chiklis opens up about the dramatic changes he's witnessed in Hollywood and why he believes the industry has contracted far more than many people realize. He discusses his concerns about AI, actors losing control of their own likenesses, and what happens when technology companies become some of Hollywood's most powerful players. Michael also reveals how his wife helped convince him to completely reinvent himself after The Commish, how he developed Vic Mackey for The Shield, and why he still proudly defends his Fantastic Four movies and his portrayal of Ben Grimm, The Thing. Away from Hollywood, Chiklis gets emotional talking about finally visiting Greece, becoming a grandfather, his family, and what he's learned about failure after decades in show business. And then there's Elton John. Michael tells an extraordinary story about randomly encountering Elton John in a Boston Versace store, discovering Elton was a fan of The Commish, and ultimately watching Elton change his concert for Michael's wife and perform "Candle in the Wind" especially for her. It's Michael Chiklis, candid, funny, thoughtful, occasionally profane, and completely unfiltered. This is Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko.   00:00 Michael Chiklis Joins Still Here Hollywood01:02 Growing Up in an Artistic Greek Family04:32 The Moment Michael Knew He'd Be an Actor07:01 Surviving Hollywood and a Changing Industry09:00 Michael Sounds Off on AI and Owning Your Image11:32 Tech Giants, Mergers and the Future of Hollywood14:35 Why AI Worries Michael Chiklis23:30 Finally Visiting Greece27:17 "A Hard Guy With a Caramel Center"28:03 Becoming a Grandfather31:07 The Commish vs. The Shield33:40 Creating Vic Mackey39:26 How Michael Reinvented Himself45:11 Fantastic Four and Becoming The Thing48:13 Michael Chiklis, the Musician53:42 Why Failure Is Necessary55:21 What Makes Michael Happiest58:15 The Incredible Elton John Story1:06:45 What's Still Left on Michael's Bucket List1:08:32 Why Michael Won't Talk Politics1:09:12 Remembering Telly Savalas Show CreditsHost/Producer: Steve KmetkoAll things technical: Justin ZangerleExecutive Producer: Jim LichtensteinMusic by: Brian Sanyshyn https://stillherehollywood.comhttp://patreon.com/stillherehollywoodSuggest Guests at: [email protected] on Still Here Hollywood: [email protected]: Maggie Perlich: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.