Celebrity Interviews

In this compelling interview, Michael Harney from Netflix's groundbreaking series Orange is the New Black discusses the show's fourth season launch and its profound impact on representation in television. Harney reflects on his journey to the role after working with creator Jenji Kohan on Weeds, explaining how he immediately said yes when approached for the project because he knew the quality she would create. He shares his initial uncertainty about the show's potential success, never imagining it would become the cultural phenomenon that helped establish Netflix as a major player in original programming. Harney emphasizes how the show's diverse cast gives voice to marginalized communities that have been oppressed and underrepresented, making his work feel like activism within the entertainment industry.

The conversation delves deep into the importance of backstory in the show's storytelling approach, which Harney considers essential to its success. He explains how revealing why people wind up incarcerated and why prison workers take certain actions allows viewers to identify personally with the characters and realize "that could be me." Harney thoughtfully discusses the complexities of the justice system, acknowledging that it's not black and white but rather a systemic struggle that often fails to find what really happened in situations. He addresses issues like housing mentally ill individuals in prisons rather than appropriate facilities, expressing hope that the show will raise questions and potentially inspire real-world changes in how society handles incarceration and justice.

Hollywood icon John Schneider joins the show to discuss his bold new venture that's disrupting the traditional film distribution model. Drawing on his extensive career from "The Dukes of Hazzard" to "Smallville" and Tyler Perry productions, Schneider reveals how he's built Cineflix DoD (Digital on Demand)—a distribution platform designed specifically to protect independent filmmakers from being exploited by traditional distributors who offer "pennies on the dollar" and eventually cut creators out of their own deals. Inspired by the wisdom of his "Dukes of Hazzard" co-star Denver Pyle who told him he had "the strength of your ignorance," Schneider explains his tenacious approach to creating a Netflix-style competitor that puts filmmakers at the center of both the storytelling and the financial chain, ensuring they receive most of the profits to fund their next projects without having to apologize to investors.

Schneider unveils the premiere of "Like Sun," a psychological crime drama starring Don Shanks (Michael Myers from "Halloween" and "Smothered"), which launches with an innovative collective viewing experience on Thursday night at 8 PM Central. Drawing inspiration from Walt Disney's personal approach on "The Wonderful World of Disney," Schneider has designed a unique interactive event where audiences can stream the film simultaneously to recreate the communal feeling of going to the movies in the 1960s, followed by a live Q&A session filmed from his studio's screening room—just like a film festival. This groundbreaking approach allows independent filmmakers, actors, and film enthusiasts to ask questions about the creative process, casting, and filmmaking while experiencing the magic of cinema in the digital age. Schneider's mission is clear: transform how people think about independent filmmaking and distribution by putting power back in the hands of storytellers and creating opportunities for diamonds in the rough to succeed without getting exploited by the industry's traditional gatekeepers.

Actress Jasmine Savoy Brown shares her remarkable journey from 600 auditions to landing breakthrough roles on HBO's "The Leftovers" and Freeform's "Stitchers." Brown candidly discusses the struggles before her big break, including couch surfing throughout Los Angeles for over a year, working graveyard shifts at a diner, and booking only a handful of commercials and small co-star roles despite constant auditioning. When she finally received the call about booking "The Leftovers," she immediately began weeping with emotion, catching her team off guard with the depth of her reaction. Her role as Evie Murphy in season two brought a much-needed lightness to the dark HBO drama about 2% of the world's population mysteriously disappearing—her character is a vibrant 17-year-old who sings, plays softball, and is full of life before disappearing with her friends after an earthquake, setting up the season's central mystery.

Brown also discusses her contrasting role on "Stitchers" as Nina, a confident comic book store employee and video game nerd who becomes a love interest, allowing her to showcase polar opposite characters from dark HBO drama to lighter Freeform procedural within the same period. She emphasizes the significance of wearing her natural hair on television, revealing she's turned down roles that required straightening her hair because making a statement about the beauty of African American natural hair is important to her. Fans responded enthusiastically to her character breaking stereotypes—being both a proud geek about comic books and video game history while still being portrayed as beautiful and desirable rather than in the typical "unattractive nerd" light. Brown credits the entire production team for creating such a strong character while acknowledging her pride in representing natural hair positively. Though "The Leftovers" season three won't premiere until spring 2017 and "Stitchers" renewal status for her character remains uncertain, Brown maintains optimism, joking that since Nina didn't die, she's assuming she'll return to continue the fan-favorite storyline.

Grammy Award-winning producer and music mogul Jermaine Dupri discusses the success of Lifetime's "The Rap Game" as it enters its highly anticipated third season, premiering Friday, January 13th at 10 p.m. Eastern. Dupri reveals his talent discovery secrets, explaining that finding amazing artists requires constant interest in new talent and genuine listening—he's only had two to three artists fail to meet expectations in his entire career, and those instances occurred when he overestimated their abilities rather than them refusing his guidance. His partnership with Queen Latifah came naturally from their years-long relationship, and together they created something unique that commands attention simply by having both their names attached. The show fills a void in television by providing cultural education about hip-hop that isn't being seen anywhere else, targeting 12-to-16-year-olds while attracting parents who watch alongside their children.

What differentiates "The Rap Game" from shows like "American Idol" and "The Voice" is its focus on hip-hop culture, which Dupri argues resonates more strongly with young people than any other genre. Kids are deeply interested in hip-hop lifestyle elements including fashion, sneakers, and the broader culture surrounding the music. Season three promises elevated competition with higher talent levels, more episodes, and increased appearances from Dupri's celebrity friends sharing invaluable industry knowledge. With season four already beginning production just days after this interview, Dupri expresses amazement at his career trajectory from making music and running his own label to now producing a successful television series entering its fourth season. Looking toward hip-hop's future, Dupri hopes the genre returns to celebrating individual artist styles and distinctive sounds, referencing the Tupac versus Biggie era when each artist had completely unique, instantly recognizable music—a separation that allowed them to become iconic rather than today's artists who create indistinguishable records.

Three-time Super Bowl champion and NFL analyst Mark Schlereth joins The Neil Haley Show to provide his expert breakdown of the upcoming championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. Schlereth confidently picks the Seahawks to win, citing their exceptional six-week run leading up to the big game where they've dominated on offense, defense, and special teams. He emphasizes the importance of special teams play as an indicator of team depth, noting that Seattle's ability to cover kicks and execute returns with aggression demonstrates they have more quality players than their opponents. Schlereth also praises the incredible redemption story of Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, who was considered a bust after being drafted third overall by the New York Jets and subsequently dumped by Carolina before finding success in Minnesota and ultimately landing in Seattle via San Francisco.

When analyzing key matchups that could decide the game, Schlereth focuses on Seattle's defensive front seven against New England's offensive line, which features two rookies on the left side who have given up significant pressures and sacks throughout the playoffs—including 10 sacks total in their first two playoff games. He warns that if Seattle can create pressure and get quarterback Drake May on the ground, they could force turnovers, as May lost three fumbles in those games. However, Schlereth also acknowledges that May's mobility presents a significant challenge for Seattle, noting his 65-plus rushing yards against Denver and his ability to eviscerate man-to-man coverage with his legs. He highlights wide receiver JSN as a potential difference-maker despite running a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, praising his ability to create instant separation at the top of routes and his uncoverable skills that make him phenomenal to watch alongside Darnold.

Philip Winchester joins the Neil Haley Show to discuss NBC's "Chicago Justice," where he stars as prosecutor Peter Stone, a character living in the constant shadow of his father Ben Stone, the main prosecutor from the original Law & Order series. Winchester explains how his character views justice in absolute terms—black and white, right and wrong—but faces constant challenges from district attorney Carl Weathers, an elected official who questions Stone's aggressive pursuit of cases because losses could impact his reelection prospects. He reveals Peter Stone's backstory as a former Chicago Cubs pitcher whose arm injury forced him to fall back on law, creating a complicated and estranged relationship with his famous father that they maintain primarily over the phone from separate cities.

The actor discusses tonight's unprecedented three-hour crossover event beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern, starting with a fire at a rave warehouse on "Chicago Fire," continuing with the investigation on "Chicago PD," and concluding with his prosecution on "Chicago Justice," with "Chicago Med" woven throughout all three hours. Winchester praises working with Carl Weathers, joking about their first scene together when he suggested Weathers should have a gatling gun on the wall next to his boxing gloves and wooden hand, references the actor appreciated. The conversation takes an emotional turn as Winchester remembers Bill Paxton, who recently passed away at 61, recalling how Paxton took him and other young actors under his wing during the filming of "Thunderbirds" in London when Winchester was 24, teaching them about camera work, on-set management, and the craft of acting, describing Paxton as an actor's actor who loved the process and wasn't afraid to share his knowledge with the next generation.

Actor Yul Vazquez calls in from a blustery day in New York City to discuss the season finale of NBC's "Midnight, Texas," where he plays Reverend Emilio Sheehan, the oldest inhabitant of the supernatural town and its moral compass who harbors a dark secret—he transforms into a weretiger during full moons. Vazquez explains the fascinating duality of his character, a man of the cloth who struggles to reconcile his violent nature with his religious calling, spending his energy trying to keep his dangerous side in check and ensuring nobody gets hurt when he transforms. He teases that tonight's season finale will have viewers putting on their seatbelts as the demon threat that's been building all season finally comes to a head in what he promises is "a hell of an episode."

The conversation turns to Vazquez's enduring association with Seinfeld, where he appeared in two memorable episodes including "The Ribbon" and the controversial Puerto Rican Day Parade episode, noting that no matter how many projects he completes, people still recognize him from that iconic show. He enthusiastically discusses the passionate fan base of "Midnight, Texas," explaining how he and the cast live-tweet with viewers during each episode and how these genuine fans know Charlaine Harris's books better than the actors themselves, often commenting on how the show matches their imagination from years of reading. Vazquez makes an impassioned plea for networks to pay attention to social media engagement and streaming numbers rather than just traditional ratings, arguing that fans are tired of investing in shows only to have them cancelled, and warning that there could be "a riot" if networks don't start recognizing the power of devoted audiences who trend every episode and deliver strong demographic numbers.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine actresses Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Fumero discuss the show's successful transition to NBC and Beatriz's directorial debut with the episode "He Said, She Said," which tackles the #MeToo movement while maintaining the show's signature comedic tone. Beatriz expresses her excitement about directing an episode that follows her character Rosa Diaz and Fumero's character Amy Santiago investigating a case related to the movement, describing the challenge of balancing serious social issues with comedy and the pressure that comes with wanting to honor important stories while still making people laugh. She credits the episode's writer and the safe, comfortable environment she created on set for allowing the cast to take risks and fully commit to the material.

Reflecting on what she learned from directing, Beatriz shares her newfound appreciation for the crew's tireless work, noting how actors receive special treatment with comfortable chairs and breaks while crew members work nonstop from arrival to departure. Fumero praises her friend and co-star's directorial skills, emphasizing Beatriz's ability to communicate clearly about what she wanted to see and achieve, creating a relaxed, "homey" atmosphere that felt natural since it was one of their own behind the camera rather than an outside director. Both actresses express gratitude for the devoted fan community that kept the show alive and followed it from one network to another, with Beatriz joking about how creator Dan Goor invented this pretend world that felt so real, good, happy, and safe that viewers remained loyal through the transition to NBC's Thursday night lineup.

Anne Heche joins the Neil Haley Show to discuss her powerful role as Patricia Campbell, Deputy Director of Defense Intelligence for the United States, in NBC's action drama "The Brave," describing the intensive preparation required to portray such a high-ranking official. Heche explains that her character runs an Omega team—special forces units composed of Delta, SEAL, and CIA operatives—and must make life-and-death decisions that impact operations taking place 5,000 miles away while holding what she describes as an encyclopedia of knowledge about pain and darkness in the world. The show takes viewers to 13 different countries over 13 episodes, exploring how these elite teams work together across international boundaries to combat threats and maintain global peace.

The actress reveals that her research included speaking with Pentagon officials who worked alongside Condoleezza Rice, and when she asked if there was anything to smile about in such a position, the answer was simply "no." However, Heche emphasizes that Patricia Campbell is not defined by darkness but rather by hope and the desire to solve the world's problems to create peace. She discusses how the role has changed her perspective on current events and news consumption, noting that someone she met at the Pentagon laughed at her for believing what she read in the New York Times, leading her to search for information in different places and recognize that what the public is told isn't always what's actually happening. Heche stresses the importance of telling stories about military personnel who sacrifice their lives daily, arguing that these teams operating in 136 countries deserve recognition for their service above self.

Broadway legend and Emmy winner Kristen Chenoweth discusses her scene-stealing role as Lavinia Peck in NBC's mockumentary comedy "Trial & Error: Lady Killer" Season 2, where she plays a larger-than-life Southern first lady accused of murdering her husband after 40 years of living in Grey Gardens-type seclusion in her East Peck mansion. Chenoweth explains how she drew on her own Southern upbringing to bring authenticity to the character, noting that Lavinia has adopted the mannerisms and speech patterns of 1930s and 1940s movie stars and refuses to learn anyone's names, simply calling people "Lawyer," "Judge," and "Other person." She describes the creative freedom writer Jeff Astroff gave her through confessional scenes where she speaks directly to the camera, revealing both Lavinia's dramatic flair and her underlying sadness and loneliness.

The four-foot-eleven actress discusses her transition from theater to television, emphasizing that she's always simply been an actor who doesn't distinguish between mediums but rather focuses on whether a role is compelling. Chenoweth reveals that the show is loosely based on Robert Durst and that she's been immersing herself in true crime documentaries like "The Jinx" and "Making a Murderer" to prepare for the role, noting her addiction to Investigation Discovery programming during sleepless nights. She expresses her goal of keeping audiences guessing throughout the season about whether Lavinia is a villain or beloved figure, guilty or innocent, while maintaining the show's satirical edge that pokes fun at the true crime documentary genre that has captivated television audiences.