Rosie O’Donnell is known for her honesty, and she didn’t hesitate to look back on her time as a talk show host, even when it came to her experiences with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
During her appearance on the October 14 episode of Sam Pang tonightthe former host of The Rosie O’Donnell Show opened up about one of her most awkward interviews and revealed that Keanu Reeves was one of her toughest guests, although she made it clear that she has nothing but love for him.
“I love that man,” O’Donnell said. “But he’s not good at talk shows.”
The 63-year-old comedian explained that while Reeves is “so sweet” and “looks beautiful,” he was an awkward guest due to his silence during their 1997 interview.
“He wouldn’t answer a question,” she recalled, laughing. “I’d say, ‘So Keanu, how are you? How are you feeling?’ and he said, ‘Good.’
O’Donnell said the segment was broadcast live, which made things even more awkward.
“We couldn’t re-record it,” she explained. “I finally said after about three minutes, ‘You know, Keanu, it’s a talk show. You gotta talk.'”
Fortunately, the interaction didn’t end on a bad note. Rosie said that when Reeves later returned to the show, “he got the hang of it.”
She added warmly, “He’s a nice man and a good-hearted man, so I don’t want to throw him under the bus.”
During that original appearance in 1997, Reeves was there to promote The devil’s advocatein which he co-starred with Al Pacino.
When Rosie started asking about his experiences working with Pacino, the Matrix The actor seemed hesitant, prompting her to playfully remind him, “Sorry, you know, but it’s a talk show, we have to ask questions.”
At one point, Reeves admitted that he was not used to TV interviews, saying, “I don’t feel comfortable with it.”
While the encounter may have been awkward at the time, O’Donnell’s story shows the genuine affection she still has for Reeves, a Hollywood favorite long known for his kindness and humility, even if talk shows aren’t exactly his comfort zone.
