Still Here Hollywood

Kevin Pollak joins Steve Kmetko for one of the funniest and most revealing conversations yet on Still Here Hollywood. This episode is sponsored in part by Quince. Shop Quince at https://www.quince.com/stillhere Thanks to Quince for supporting Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko. From performing stand-up comedy at just 10 years old to starring alongside Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Gabriel Byrne and Kevin Spacey, Kevin shares unforgettable stories from one of Hollywood's most remarkable careers. He discusses: • The Usual Suspects • A Few Good Men • The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel • Christopher Walken impressions • Jack Nicholson behind the scenes • Bruce Willis and their friendship • Rob Reiner • Aaron Sorkin • Tom Cruise • Martin Scorsese • Barry Levinson • Poker • Podcasting before almost anyone else Kevin also reveals how one casting director told him acting "wasn't for everyone," why he almost passed on The Usual Suspects, and what really happened behind the scenes on some of Hollywood's biggest films. This is one of Kevin Pollak's funniest and most candid interviews. Chapters 00:00 Kevin Pollak joins Still Here Hollywood 02:12 Starting stand-up comedy at age 10 04:45 The football coach who hated his impression 07:22 How stand-up prepared him for acting 10:42 Dana Carvey's audition advice 12:23 The manager who said he couldn't act 15:09 Quince sponsor break 17:13 Christopher Walken and his famous impression 18:21 Steve's uncomfortable Walken interview 20:31 The impression that almost got Pollak in trouble 24:40 Making Christopher Walken laugh 28:15 The Usual Suspects and its unlikely success 35:14 A Few Good Men changes everything 36:00 Jason Alexander almost gets the role 38:51 Remembering Rob Reiner 42:00 Rob Reiner's kindness to Kathy Bates 44:12 Bruce Willis and his family 46:00 Bruce Willis' unforgettable compliment 48:35 Jack Nicholson makes Tom Cruise laugh 50:27 Steve's encounter with Jack Nicholson 53:03 Hollywood poker games and celebrity friends 57:45 James L. Brooks and his Emmy Awards 01:00:13 Getting older and losing touch with pop culture 01:02:39 The benefits of being a character actor 01:05:52 Kevin Pollak's pioneering video podcast 01:09:50 Closing thoughts

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. CHAPTERS 00:00 Anson Williams joins Still Here Hollywood 01:00 Growing up in Los Angeles and trying to break into show business 04:00 The disastrous audition that launched his career 07:24 His first real break 09:00 How a sit-in at a talent agency changed everything 12:00 His first acting job, directed by Steven Spielberg 14:22 Would social media have changed his career? 17:05 Happy Days becomes his big break 17:26 The real story of the original Happy Days pilot 19:37 Why the Happy Days cast became so close 21:03 What made Garry Marshall special 22:11 How Anson turned Potsie into a second career 25:46 How Happy Days helped spread the Heimlich maneuver 30:34 Who made Anson laugh hardest on Happy Days? 33:23 John Lennon secretly visits the Happy Days set 35:43 What changed after Ron Howard left 37:19 Working with Bette Davis 41:47 Remembering Marion Ross 42:43 Becoming a television director 45:35 Growing up around Hollywood legends 49:38 Working with Ethel Merman 50:28 Remembering Erin Moran 52:19 The most important lesson he learned as a director 53:37 Learning to direct science fiction 56:03 Crazy Mama and Linda Purl 1:01:07 Anson Williams looks ahead

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

Heather Thomas became one of television's biggest stars as Jody Banks on The Fall Guy alongside Lee Majors. During the height of her fame, her posters covered bedroom walls around the world and she became one of the defining television icons of the 1980s. But behind the scenes, fame came with a darker side. In this candid conversation with Steve Kmetko, Heather opens up about the terrifying stalking incidents that ultimately pushed her away from Hollywood, her battle with substance abuse, working with Lee Majors, life as an 80s sex symbol, raising a family, activism, writing, and finding happiness beyond fame. From The Fall Guy to the recent movie reboot, Heather shares stories and perspectives you've probably never heard before. #HeatherThomas #TheFallGuy #LeeMajors #StillHereHollywood #SteveKmetko #ClassicTV #EightiesTV #HollywoodStories #TVLegends #JodyBanks Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro 00:36 How Heather Thomas Got Started In Television 01:48 Landing The Fall Guy 03:37 UCLA And Breaking Into Hollywood 05:24 Why Heather Walked Away From Fame 06:18 The Terrifying Reality Of Stalkers 08:16 Raising Chickens And Family Life 10:06 Being Typecast As A Sex Symbol 11:48 Activism And Charity Work 12:29 Keeping In Touch With Lee Majors 12:50 Writing Novels And Screenplays 16:09 Doing Her Own Stunts 16:26 Substance Abuse And Rehab 17:32 Becoming An 80s Sex Symbol 19:03 Being Sexualized In Hollywood 20:00 How Hollywood Has Changed For Women 23:47 Why She Became An Activist 25:31 Working With Ted Lange 26:19 Advice For Today's Stars 27:20 The Fall Guy Movie Cameo 27:58 Her Romantic Paris Wedding 30:25 Did Her Looks Hurt Her Career? 31:20 Family, Grandchildren And Life Today 33:21 Finding Happiness

Kristanna Loken became a household name as the deadly T-X in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, but her path to Hollywood started on an apple farm in upstate New York. Kristanna joins Steve Kmetko to discuss working with Arnold Schwarzenegger, surviving the pressure of one of Hollywood's biggest franchises, coming out publicly at a time when few actors did, raising her son outside the digital world, and why she believes authenticity is more important than fame. It's a candid conversation about success, identity, family, and finding purpose beyond the spotlight. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Cubs Fan Origins 01:52 Growing Up on an Apple Farm 03:30 Modeling Misconceptions 04:04 First Acting Jobs 05:21 Landing Terminator 3 07:30 Training for the T-X 08:46 Working with Arnold Schwarzenegger 09:09 Arnold's Prediction for Her Career 10:45 How Fame Changed Her Life 12:06 Coming Out as Bisexual 16:49 What Terminator Means Today 18:11 Creating the T-X Character 19:51 AI and Hollywood 22:07 Female Action Stars Then vs. Now 23:40 Hollywood's Authenticity Problem 25:51 Raising Her Son Thor 29:00 A Screen-Free Household 31:04 Sci-Fi Fans and Comic Cons 31:39 Life on Love Apple Farm 34:22 Aging, Authenticity and Growth 36:31 Lessons Learned From Failure 38:04 Advice From Ben Kingsley and Bruce Dern 41:03 Why She Never Walked Away From Acting 42:33 Why Her Best Work Is Still Ahead 46:10 Women She Admires 50:12 The Role She Wanted But Didn't Get 52:01 What Kristanna Does For Fun 54:02 Closing Thoughts

Before streaming, before social media, and before reality TV took over, millions of viewers stayed up late watching USA Up All Night. This week on Still Here Hollywood, Steve Kmetko sits down with television personality, comedian, actress, entrepreneur, and USA Up All Night host Rhonda Shear. Rhonda shares behind-the-scenes stories from one of cable television's most beloved late-night shows, the challenges of being a woman in Hollywood during the 1980s and 1990s, her experiences with Playboy, Joan Rivers, George Burns, and Johnny Carson, and how she reinvented herself after Hollywood to build the wildly successful Rhonda Shear Intimates brand and the famous Ahh Bra. She also discusses the reboot of Up All Night, the changing comedy landscape, her thoughts on political correctness, and finding love with her junior high school sweetheart after decades apart. Subscribe for more conversations with the stars you remember and the stories you've never heard. #StillHereHollywood #RhondaShear #USAUpAllNight CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:36 The Legacy of USA Up All Night 03:58 Landing the Hosting Job 05:26 Was Rhonda Shear a Trailblazer? 08:21 Why Fans Still Love Her 09:55 Building Rhonda Shear Intimates 12:12 The Story Behind the Ahh Bra 13:52 Returning to Stand-Up Comedy 15:10 Wild HSN Stories 18:36 Creating the Up All Night Character 21:09 Comedy Training and Improv 22:04 Being Told She Could Never Make It 24:19 Becoming an Accidental Feminist 26:09 Creating Opportunities for New Talent 27:29 Female Comics Today 29:20 Finding Material in Real Life 33:06 How Rhonda Sees Herself 34:11 Beauty Queen Beginnings 35:53 Working with Johnny Carson 36:11 Political Correctness and Comedy 37:07 Rebooting Up All Night 39:28 Career Regrets and Reinvention 41:38 Dating Glenn Frey 42:43 What Wouldn't Fly Today 48:24 Advice from Joan Rivers and George Burns 50:07 The Most Important Part of Her Story 52:12 Jewelry, Creativity and Never Retiring 54:23 Up All Night Returns

Actress Marisol Nichols joins Steve Kmetko for one of the most intense and emotional episodes of Still Here Hollywood yet. Known for her roles on 24 and Riverdale, Marisol reveals the shocking double life she led off-camera, working undercover alongside law enforcement in operations targeting human traffickers around the world. She opens up about: Going undercover in dangerous trafficking operations The terrifying mission that made her write a goodbye letter to her daughter Working with ex-CIA and military operatives How acting helped save lives The heartbreaking loss of Luke Perry What it was really like working with Kiefer Sutherland on 24 Growing up in Chicago Hollywood struggles as a Latina actress The dark side of social media and online predators This is one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on Still Here Hollywood. Subscribe for more legendary guests and untold Hollywood stories. #MarisolNichols #Riverdale #24 #LukePerry #KieferSutherland #StillHereHollywood #SteveKmetko #Hollywood #TrueCrime #HumanTrafficking #CW #FoxTV #TVLegends #Podcast CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:45 Marisol’s Secret Undercover Operations 02:18 Going Undercover For The First Time 04:36 The Most Terrifying Mission Of Her Life 05:50 Why She Got Involved In Fighting Trafficking 08:05 Helping Put Criminals In Prison 10:38 What She Hopes People Learn From Her Work 12:48 The Monsters Behind Trafficking 14:18 Steve Kmetko’s Chilling John Wayne Gacy Story 16:14 How Acting Helped Her Go Undercover 18:15 Discovering Acting In Chicago 20:48 Moving To Hollywood 22:47 Advice To Her Younger Self 23:52 Being Latina In Hollywood 25:02 The Frustration Of Self-Tape Auditions 26:20 Riverdale Becomes A Cultural Phenomenon 27:51 The Role That Challenged Her Most 29:47 What She Learned From Kiefer Sutherland 30:35 Working With Luke Perry 33:31 How Undercover Work Changed Her Acting 35:38 Talking To Her Daughter About Predators 36:44 The Internet And Child Safety 38:51 The Project She Wants To Make Next 39:39 Growing Up In Chicago 41:32 Her Daughter’s Creative Talent 43:01 Dream Actors & Directors To Work With 44:34 Turning Down A Major Movie Role 47:17 The Dark Side Of Hollywood 49:04 Why She Could Never Move Back To Chicago 52:08 Social Media Pressure & Mental Health 53:24 Fashion, Makeup & Being “A Girl” 54:26 Final Thoughts

Some actors play powerful men. Others understand what power actually costs. On this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Steve Kmetko sits down with legendary actor Eric Braeden, the man behind Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless, a role he’s defined for more than four decades. But this conversation goes far beyond daytime television. From growing up in post-war Germany, to arriving in America and confronting its contradictions, to working with icons like Marlon Brando and James Cameron, Eric shares a deeply personal and unfiltered look at the life experiences that shaped both the man and the character. He opens up about the brutal demands of soap operas, the psychology behind Victor Newman, the reality of Hollywood, and why acting, at its core, is about truth, discipline, and survival. This is a powerful, honest conversation about legacy, resilience, and what it really means to endure in this business. THIS IS STILL HERE HOLLYWOOD, I’M STEVE KMETKO. JOIN ME WITH TODAY’S GUEST, FROM THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, ACTOR ERIC BRAEDEN. 00:00 Opening Tease 00:01 Intro, Eric Braeden 01:25 Seinfeld, Comedy, and Great Casting 03:07 The Brutal Reality of Daytime TV 05:00 Why Acting Still Excites Him 06:16 Growing Up in Post-War Germany 09:51 Loss, Hardship, and Early Life 13:08 Working with Brando, Duvall, Legends 14:21 Hollywood, Cynicism, and Purpose 16:55 Why Acting Became Meaningful 19:27 Could Brando Handle Soap Operas? 21:07 Inside a 100+ Page Workday 22:36 Sports, Discipline, and Competition 24:48 Why He Didn’t Choose Sports 25:25 Life Outside Acting, Staying Sharp 31:49 What Young Actors Get Wrong 35:25 Almost Turning Down Titanic 41:56 Working with James Cameron 42:16 Thoughts on Streaming vs TV 46:43 Eric vs Victor Newman 47:08 The Evolution of Victor Newman 50:09 Breaking Out of “Bad Guy” Roles 51:08 Discovering the Truth About History 55:48 A Life-Changing Moment in America 59:53 His Autobiography 01:01:18 Closing Thoughts