Talk show legend Rosie O'Donnell recently spilled some surprising tea about her time as a host, and let's just say not every celebrity guest left a sparkling impression. One A-lister, in particular, stands out as a surprisingly difficult interview: Keanu Reeves.
While appearing on the Australian talk show Sam Pang Tonight, O'Donnell reminisced about Reeves' appearance on her show in the late '90s. Despite her admiration for him as an actor, she recalled his reluctance to engage in conversation.
"He's so sweet, he's gorgeous, I love his movies, but he wouldn't answer a question," she explained. "I'd ask, 'Keanu, how are you feeling?' and he'd just say, 'Good.' Live TV, no retakes – it was a challenge!" O'Donnell even had to gently remind him, "Keanu, it's a talk show. You have to talk."
But here's where it gets interesting: O'Donnell emphasized that Reeves eventually returned to her show and improved his interview skills. "He's a lovely man, a good-hearted guy," she clarified, not wanting to paint him in a negative light.
The Post has reached out to Reeves for comment, but the actor has yet to respond.
On the flip side, O'Donnell gushed about Barbra Streisand as "probably" her favorite guest. Another standout was Martin Short, whose infectious energy and humor made him a memorable interviewee. "He was the funniest and the nicest guy," she recalled.
And this is the part most people miss: O'Donnell also reflected on a heated 1999 interview with Tom Selleck, where their differing views on gun control following the Columbine massacre led to a tense exchange. "It was very awkward," she admitted. "I had never been unkind or controversial, but Columbine had just happened."
This incident later sparked a feud with her The View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck, with Selleck advising O'Donnell to "take a deep breath" and remember that differing opinions don't equate to evil intentions.
In a 2021 interview with People, O'Donnell acknowledged that challenging Selleck was a departure from her usual style. "I was not a 'gotcha' kind of interviewer," she explained. "I had no desire to make anyone feel uncomfortable."
But the controversy doesn't end there. O'Donnell recently claimed that a 2007 on-air argument with Hasselbeck over American military activity in the Middle East was orchestrated by the show's producer, Bill Geddie. She alleges that the now-famous split-screen moment, unprecedented at the time, was premeditated. Hasselbeck, however, tearfully denied these claims on Instagram, urging O'Donnell to "stop the lying."
This raises a thought-provoking question: To what extent do producers manipulate on-air conflicts for ratings, and where do we draw the line between entertainment and ethical responsibility?
What do you think? Was O'Donnell justified in her accusations, or is there more to the story? Let us know in the comments below!
