Rosie

AOLive
July 3, 1996


OnlineHost: You're here live chatting with Rosie O'Donnell, star of Nickelodeon's first feature film, Harriet the Spy, which opens next Wednesday, July 10, in theaters everywhere. Rosie will be here answering your questions until 8:45pm (ET). Remember to click on "Interact with host" to get a question to Rosie.

AOLiveMC14: Welcome, Rosie O'Donnell. We are very happy to have you here.

Rosie: Hello Nick fans. Ask away.

Question: You've had Elmo and Miss Piggy on your show. So, do you like Muppets or what?

Rosie: I love the Muppets. Always had. Always will. And I'm going to be on "Muppets Tonight" sometime in August.

Question: Do you ever have time to do stand-up comedy anymore?

Rosie: Not very much. Sometimes I work weekends in Las Vegas but I'm mostly just doing the TV show now.

Question: Where did your son's name, Parker, come from?

Rosie: From Parker Stevenson (one of the Hardy Boys) who I had a crush on when I was twelve.

Question: Will you ever take your TV show to different cities for live audiences?

Rosie: I hope so. We've only been on three weeks but should we stay on for a long time, we hope to go to different places.

Question: Was it fun making a movie with Nickelodeon?

Rosie: It was great. I got free "gak." And everyone tried to slime me.

Question: Who is your favorite Nickelodeon character?

Rosie: Shelby Woo. And Stimpy.

Question: Rosie, what big musical guest would you like on your show?

Rosie: Barbra Streisand.

Question: When did you start acting?

Rosie: Well, I did school plays when I was a kid and my first professional acting gig was doing stand-up comedy when I was 18.

Question: Rosie, do you have a photographic memory? I never saw someone who could remember so many lyrics!

Rosie: Sadly, I do. I can't get the songs out of my head even when I try.

Question: Rosie, who is your idol?

Rosie: Bette Midler.

Question: What would you want to be if you were not a "star?"

Rosie: A teacher because teachers taught me a lot when I was a kid and I think that it's the most important job in the world. The most important job in this country is to be a teacher and a parent.

Question: Is it hard doing a live TV show?

Rosie: It's not hard but it's very tiring and I'm having a lot of fun.

Question: Hi Rosie! I love your new show, especially how all the guests think they need to give you a gift. What has been the most outrageous gift and who was it from?

Rosie: I got corn on the cob from Erika Slezak and it was really good. And I ate it all, myself.

Question: Who would you most like to be stuck in elevator with?

Rosie: My son.

Question: Rosie, did Harriet wear a red sweatshirt during Harriet the Spy like in the book? Did you read the book when you were a kid?

Rosie: Yes, I read the book when I was ten years old. I loved it. And yes, Harriet wore a red sweatshirt.

Question: What is your favorite scene in Harriet The Spy?

Rosie: When Harriet makes the tomato sandwich, she tells her mother, "I know what I like."

Question: Have you spied on anyone, lately, yourself?

Rosie: I live in New York City and I do have binoculars near my window. Sometimes I look across the street and I see other people looking at me with their binoculars.

Question: Have you ever had to kiss someone in a movie? What was it like?

Rosie: Yes, I had to kiss a bunch of people in different movies and at first you feel awkward but eventually, it's fun.

Question: Ever going to record a duet with Madonna?

Rosie: I'd love to but she wouldn't let me. I love to sing but I'm not a good singer.

Question: Who is your favorite Beatle?

Rosie: Paul. I thought he was cutest.

Question: Rosie, I love your show! Is it taped in the old Donahue studio? How can one get tickets?

Rosie: Yes it is taped in the old Donahue studio and, if you watch the show, they post a number to call for tickets.

Question: Who is a celebrity that makes you nervous?

Rosie: Well, Jane Pauley makes me nervous because she's an interviewer herself and I didn't want to mess up. And we're taping Cher's show tomorrow and I'm a little nervous about that.

Question: What was your favorite movie that you were in and why?

Rosie: A League of Their Own because I love to play baseball and I got to play everyday and I think it's the best movie I've been in.

Question: What is your favorite talk show?

Rosie: My favorite talk show of all time was Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin.

Question: Rosie, you're so multi-talented with singing, comedy, and acting. When you were a child, did you know you wanted to be in show business?

Rosie: Yes, I knew from the time I was 5 years old.

Question: You like to sing. Who is your favorite singer?

Rosie: Wow, my favorite singer. I'd have to say Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler.

Question: Was it fun working with Christina Ricci?

Rosie: Yes, it was. She's a great girl. I was a fan of hers from "The Addams Family" and I was very happy to play her as a grown-up.

Question: Who would be your favorite guest to have; Tom Cruise?

Rosie: I'd LOVE to have Tom Cruise. He hasn't called me yet. If he doesn't call soon I may have to break up with him.

Question: Rosie, I love the show and you're a really funny lady. Who has had the greatest influence on you, comedically speaking?

Rosie: Bette Midler. And Totie Fields.

Question: Rosie, how did you like working with Demi & Melanie, besides what you said in your HBO stand-up

Rosie: Now And Then was a really fun movie to do. I'm a real big fan of Melanie's and Demi's and I was excited to work with them both.

Question: What was your favorite TV show when you were growing up?

Rosie: "The Brady Bunch."

OnlineHost: You're here live chatting with Rosie O'Donnell, star of Nickelodeon's first feature film, Harriet the Spy, which opens next Wednesday, July 10, in theaters everywhere.

AOLiveMC14: Who do you want to win the next election? Bill Clinton or Bob Dole?

Rosie: Bill Clinton. Bob Dole is older than dirt.

Question: If you could be invisible, what would you do?

Rosie: If I could be invisible, geez, I dunno. I'd probably go into The White House and see what's going on.

Question: How do you feel to be a really big star of the best channel

Rosie: I feel very happy.

Question: I read the book Harriet the Spy. Is this movie anything like it?

Rosie: Exactly like it. It follows the book to a "T". And if you're a fan of the book, I think you'll like the movie.

Question: How hard was it for you be accepted by the public being that you are not the normal female star (looks and personality wise), being popular and strong.

Rosie: I think there's always the role of the best friend; Ethel on "I Love Lucy," Rhoda on "Mary Tyler Moore." So, I think that America was familiar with the normal-looking best friend comic persona.

Question: Rosie, how do you respond to the critics that say that the late night talk show format just will not work in the morning?

Rosie: I say, "We proved them wrong."

Question: Will you be making another movie soon?

Rosie: No, I'm going to be doing the talk show and no movies for awhile.

Question: What do you think the biggest drawback is about being famous?

Rosie: You lose your anonymity and when you do normal things like go into McDonald's or go into the mall, people are shocked. I think that when you're famous that people forget that you're a normal person.

Question: Rosie, I loved you in A League of Their Own. Did you root for the major league baseball teams in New York when you were younger?

Rosie: Yes, I love the Mets. Bud Harrelson and Tom Seaver were my favorites.

Question: You are so funny. You finally brought laughter to daytime. Whose idea was the format for your show?

Rosie: Oh, it was Merv Griffin's idea and I stole it.

Question: What was it like working on The Flintstones?

Rosie: It was the best job that I ever had in the movies. I got to have bare feet and I only had one dress in the whole movie.

Question: Hi Rosie! I love your show. Has your own talk show changed your life?

Rosie: Not too much yet. It's only been three weeks. I go to sleep a lot earlier because I have to get up very early but besides that things are the same and I'm having a lot of fun.

Question: What has been your worst show business experience?

Rosie: My first movie I ever did, Car 54, Where Are You?

Question: How does it feel to be a TV host and movie star on top of being a new mother?

Rosie: Well, the best part is being a Mom and the other two are pretty good too.

Question: Are you ever going to do Broadway again?

Rosie: I don't think so but you never know. It is very, very, very, very, very, very tiring and I'm not a trained singer.

Question: Rosie, Will your show remain live?

Rosie: Yes, always live.

Question: Rosie, what is your favorite movie you've been in?

Rosie: A League Of Their Own.

Question: If you could have three wishes, what would they be?

Rosie: A cure for AIDS. That every kid in our country was safe. And that there was no more pollution.

Question: Rosie, first of all love, love, love your show. Second, when do you do the "All My Children" stint?

Rosie: The week of July 8th. It'll air the middle of July. I'm playing a maid in the Tyler mansion.

Question: Rosie, do you watch the "soaps" yourself?

Rosie: Yes, all the ABC soaps.

Question: What do you do for fun?

Rosie: I play with my kid and I go to the movies. I saw "Independence Day." It was great.

Question: Are you going to have Madonna on your show?

Rosie: Yes, in November when she's promoting Evita.

Question: Any famous people you would like to meet that you haven't already met?

Rosie: Sure, there are a lot of them; Princess Diana, Barbara Streisand, Tom Cruise.

Question: Hi Rosie, do you think that your new movie Harriet the Spy will be a big blockbuster hit at the box office?

Rosie: Well, I'm not really sure. I know that it's an entertaining film with a great message and I hope that everyone goes to see it.

Question: Rosie, I love the way you sing! You have a terrific Broadway voice! Are there any other Broadway musicals you would like to be in and which parts?

Rosie: They're Playing Our Song. I'd love to play Sonya which is the role that Lucie Arnaz played on Broadway.

Question: Rosie, do you know the "Get Along Gang" theme song?

Rosie: "Get Along Gang?" No, you stumped me. What is it?

Question: Rosie, do you enjoy the show as much as you seem to?

Rosie: Yes, I'm having a great time. It's a lot of fun.

Question: Hi! I was wondering what was the funniest thing that happened on the set of Harriet the Spy?

Rosie: I had a cherry pit fight with Michelle, Gregory and Vanessa and I won.

AOLiveMC14: Wow! Time sure seems to have flown. We have time for one more. Ready?

Rosie: Sure.

Question: Rosie, how are you handling all this terrific fame and success?

Rosie: Well, I feel the same as I always did. So I guess I'm handling it okay.

AOLiveMC14: Thanks, Rosie O'Donnell for being with us this evening. It is too bad we couldn't get to all the questions. Thanks.

Rosie: Thanks for chatting with me online. I hope you had as much fun as I did. See ya on Nick.

AOLiveMC14: Thanks to the audience, also for the great questions.

Rosie: Thank you very much.

AOLiveMC14: Good night, everyone.

OnlineHost: Copyright © 1996 Nickelodeon; licensed to America Online, Inc.

Copyright © 2001 Patrick Spreng.