Celebrity Interviews

Actress Tara Reid joins hosts Neil Haley and Caregiver Dave Nissani for an intimate conversation about her remarkable journey in Hollywood. Reid, best known for her iconic roles in American Pie, The Big Lebowski, and the Sharknado franchise, opens up about the foundation of her success—her parents, who were both teachers and ran the Donna Reed's Child Development Center. She reveals a personal detail that even Google gets wrong: her middle name is actually Darlene, not Donna, a combination of her grandmothers' names Darcy and Eileen.

The conversation takes a nostalgic turn as Reid reminisces about attending Professional Children's School (PCH) in New York alongside future stars like Sarah Michelle Gellar, Christina Ricci, and Macaulay Culkin. She shares amusing stories about how students would skip tests by claiming they had auditions, with classmates staying behind to gather information for the next day. Reid's big break came unexpectedly when she was cast in The Big Lebowski at age 22, though she had been working as a child actress long before that, starting with her first role in a Stephen King adaptation after being discovered by a talent manager in a New Jersey food court.

Reid discusses the phenomenon of American Pie, admitting she never anticipated it would become such a cult classic that she wouldn't need to audition again for the rest of her career. With nearly 100 films under her belt, she reflects on how the franchise changed her life and led to a three-picture deal with Universal. The actress also touches on the unexpected success of Sharknado, which introduced her to a whole new generation of young fans who couldn't watch her earlier work.

Throughout the interview, Reid displays the grounded personality she credits to her upbringing, discussing her psychic abilities and intuitive gift for reading people—traits she says run in her father's family. Currently residing in Arizona among the red rocks, she speaks about feeling connected to nature and using her intuition to guide both her personal and professional decisions. She remains close with her fan base through social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Cameo, where she maintains genuine connections with supporters.

Legendary actor Ed Begley Jr. joins hosts Neil Haley and Greg Hannah to discuss his journey from Hollywood icon to environmental entrepreneur. The son of renowned actor Ed Begley Sr., Ed reflects on his early acting career, beginning with his first role on "My Three Sons" in 1967 when he kept his makeup on after filming, hoping for recognition. He candidly admits he was "clueless" starting out, delivering newspapers on his bicycle while pursuing acting work. His breakthrough came with "Room 222," where he finally felt comfortable in front of the camera, though he later realized being merely "comfortable" wasn't enough—great actors like Joaquin Phoenix and Meryl Streep always have something compelling happening beneath the surface. His six-year run on "St. Elsewhere" came from a script better than any feature film he'd worked on at the time, proving that sometimes not getting what you want leads to something far better.

Actor Greg Grunberg joins The Neal Haley Show to discuss his deeply personal project, "The Caregiver Series," a partnership with Jazz Pharmaceuticals. As a caregiver to his 26-year-old son Jake, who has epilepsy, Grunberg brings authentic understanding to this production that travels the country meeting caregivers and celebrating their often-overlooked dedication. The series takes participants on personalized adventures—from driving vintage cars to painting sessions with art therapists—creating space for caregivers to reconnect with hobbies they've sacrificed while caring for loved ones. Grunberg emphasizes the universal nature of caregiving, noting that whether dealing with epilepsy, cancer, or other conditions, caregivers share a common bond and shorthand understanding that transcends specific diagnoses.

Host Neil Haley welcomes professional dancer and "So You Think You Can Dance" judge Maks Chmerkovskiy to discuss his transition from performer to judge. Maks opens up about the unexpected discomfort of sitting still after decades of constant movement, explaining how the mental challenge of judging differs dramatically from performing. He emphasizes that the position of a judge isn't something you learn but rather something you earn through years of experience. With 10,000 hours of performing, coaching, and navigating the entertainment industry, Maks brings a wealth of real-world examples to his critiques, making him a consummate professional who has truly earned his seat at the table.

The conversation takes a touching turn as Maks reflects on the late Len Goodman's influence on his judging style. Despite not being the closest of friends, Maks found himself unexpectedly emotional after Goodman's passing, realizing the deep mutual respect they shared. Now modeling his approach after Goodman's legendary tenure on "Dancing with the Stars," Maks is committed to bringing "So You Think You Can Dance" back to its former glory while giving it a fresh direction. His goal is clear: the show serves as the ultimate audition for the entertainment industry, selecting not just the best technical dancers but performers who are ready to walk straight into professional work. Maks's passion shines through as he discusses his foundation in dance education, having taught since age 14 and opened his first studio at 17, including mentoring his brother Valentin Chmerkovskiy, a three-time "Dancing with the Stars" champion and world champion, from childhood through his twenties.

Ana Gasteyer and X Mayo from NBC's workplace comedy "American Auto" join the show to preview the season finale airing Tuesday at 8:30 PM. Ana enthusiastically describes the show as "the best workplace comedy in American network television," highlighting how the season has built from what she calls a "biblical dumpster fire of a premiere" to a high-stakes finale centered on whether the team can raise their stock price enough to save everyone's jobs. The finale promises "comedy hijinks," "hilarious, socially relevant, topical comedy, hard hitting jokes, and a lot of heart" as the season's central conflict reaches its conclusion. X Mayo provides specific details about her character Dory's journey in the finale, describing her as "scrambling, rambling, nervous and trembling" about the stock price while having a crucial heart-to-heart conversation with Catherine that finally builds mutual trust between them, with Cyrus serving as an onlooker giving his signature shady side-eye commentary.

The conversation reveals the strong ensemble chemistry that has made the show successful, with both actors expressing deep gratitude for working with seven smart, funny actors who genuinely get along—something they acknowledge is never guaranteed in television production. X Mayo particularly praises showrunner Jess Spitzer and director Eric Legend, calling him her favorite director, while also celebrating producers Erin Kaplan and Dana Honor for consistently making hit shows. The cast emphasizes their good fortune to be on NBC, a network with a stellar reputation for workplace comedies, noting that the care and commitment of the entire team is evident both on set and on screen. They encourage viewers to catch up on all of seasons one and two streaming on Peacock, with the cast members themselves praising the platform's extensive Universal library and collection of NBC workplace comedies. Their enthusiasm for the sharp writing, talented crew, great costumes and hair, and the show's place in NBC's tradition of workplace comedy excellence makes it clear why this ensemble has connected so well with audiences.

Willie and Corey Robertson, beloved stars of Duck Dynasty, joined hosts Neil Haley and Kim Sorrelle for an inspiring conversation about their journey from reality TV fame to producing meaningful entertainment. The couple, now grandparents to seven with another on the way, shared intimate details about their bustling family life and their latest project, "The Blind," a powerful film about Willie's parents, Phil and Kay Robertson. Through their conversation, the Robertsons revealed how their commitment to authenticity and faith has shaped not only their family legacy but also their approach to creating content that resonates with audiences seeking hope and redemption.

The heart of the discussion centered on "The Blind," which tells the raw, unvarnished story of Phil and Kay Robertson's marriage during its darkest period. Willie and Corey explained the difficulty of bringing such personal family pain to the screen, noting that Phil himself said he was "embarrassed" by that time in his life. The film depicts Phil's struggles with alcoholism and the near-collapse of their marriage—a stark contrast to the loving family dinners that became iconic on Duck Dynasty. Corey emphasized that Phil and Kay agreed to share their story because "if it helps someone else, if it can help their marriage or if it can help their family stay together or if it can help someone who has really lost all hope," it would be worth revisiting that painful past.

Willie reflected on how the family dinner scenes in Duck Dynasty carried deeper meaning because of his parents' journey. "There was a time when he wasn't" sitting at the head of the table, Willie explained, adding that the show represented "the good of what happened by this painful stuff in the past." The couple discussed how authenticity became the cornerstone of their brand, with people seeing themselves and their own family dynamics reflected in the Robertson family. This genuine approach extended beyond entertainment, as Corey shared how countless families told them they began having intentional dinners together and saying prayers because of the show's influence.

The conversation took a personal turn when Kim Sorrell shared her own transformational journey with love after losing her husband to pancreatic cancer. Willie responded by pointing to 1 Corinthians 13 as their foundation for understanding love, crediting the love Christ showed as the model they try to implement in their lives. He praised Kay's deep love for committing to her marriage for 10 years during the difficult times, noting it was "love for not just Phil, which was probably waning at the time, but it was the love for us, for her children, knowing that it would be best if we stayed together." This commitment to love and family, rooted in their faith, became the through-line connecting their past struggles to their present success.

Willie and Corey closed by encouraging people to pre-purchase tickets for "The Blind" at theblindmovie.com, explaining that early ticket sales help independent films secure more theater locations. Their mission through Tread Lively Productions continues to be creating entertainment that is "positive and wholesome and has elements of faith in it and hope and love," addressing what they believe the world is yearning for. The Robertsons' willingness to share both their family's triumphs and darkest moments demonstrates their commitment to helping others find redemption, proving that transformation is possible when faith, love, and family remain at the center.

Keshia Knight Pulliam, beloved for her iconic role as Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show, joined The Neil Haley Show to discuss her latest film "My Brother's Keeper" and her impressive entrepreneurial ventures. The actress, who began her career at just nine months old and was only four when The Cosby Show started, reflected on not fully understanding the cultural impact of the groundbreaking series until studying it academically as a sociology major at Spelman College. Pulliam explained how the show continues resonating with multiple generations through syndication, becoming the one program families agree to watch together at dinner. Beyond her four-decade acting career that includes projects like "Beauty Shop," "Madea Goes to Jail," Tyler Perry's "House of Payne," and multiple Lifetime movies, she has built an impressive business portfolio including the Camp Kizzy Foundation for youth empowerment, her Keshia's Kitchen spice line, and serving as general partner of the Fearless Fund—the first venture capital fund founded by women of color specifically investing in women of color entrepreneurs.

In "My Brother's Keeper," premiering March 19th in theaters, Pulliam plays Tiffany, a church counselor working with a soldier suffering from PTSD, bringing personal authenticity to the role through her family's military connections—her father is a Marine veteran, her grandfather served in the Army, and her fiancé is also a Marine veteran. The film was shot in the military town of Columbus, Georgia, and serves as both entertainment and tribute to families who sacrifice for national security. Pulliam emphasized the critical importance of opening conversations about mental health and PTSD beyond just military contexts, noting that the pandemic has intensified mental health struggles across all demographics. She stressed the universal truth that "everybody has stuff" and the importance of leading with love, empathy, and understanding since everyone faces silent struggles. As an eternal optimist who has embraced the pandemic's challenges while continuing to work and pivot as needed, Pulliam encouraged viewers to use the film as a conversation starter about mental health with their families while supporting the reopening of movie theaters.

James Murray, better known as "Murr" from the hit TV series Impractical Jokers, joined The Neil Haley Show to share the remarkable journey from eleven years of failure to a decade of television success. The Georgetown-educated valedictorian revealed how he and his high school friends persisted through countless rejections and disappointments before finally landing their breakthrough show in 2011. Murray opened up about the show's most terrifying punishments, including having his eyebrows shaved off for his driver's license photo that he still carries today, being forced to skydive despite his extreme fear of heights, and the cigarette punishment where he had to pull cigarettes from strangers' mouths. He emphasized how Impractical Jokers has evolved from what they thought would appeal only to guys in their 40s into a multi-generational family show, with 60-70 percent of their live audiences being female—a demographic shift that completely surprised the comedy troupe.

Beyond his television success, Murray discussed his parallel career as an internationally bestselling author, revealing how the same thriller manuscript he wrote in 2004 and sent unsuccessfully to every publisher for a decade finally hit number one after Impractical Jokers gave him a platform. His "Awakened" trilogy became international bestsellers, with five more books in development including standalone thrillers "Don't Move" and "The Stowaway," plus a three-book children's middle-grade series called "Adventures of Area 51." Murray credited the show's dedicated fanbase for making all his creative outlets possible and reflected on the profound bond between the four jokers who have been best friends for 30 years. He explained that experiencing both success and failure together—traveling together, filming together, and going through everything as a group rather than alone—has kept them grounded and made the journey infinitely more satisfying than any solo career could have been.

Dave Coulier brought his signature warmth to the conversation, discussing the phenomenal success of "Fuller House" on Netflix and his commitment to family-friendly entertainment. Coulier revealed that the show has become the top-rated program across all television, thanks to dedicated fans who never stopped watching the original "Full House" since its 1987 premiere on ABC. He explained how the show went straight into syndication in over 100 countries, creating a cross-generational fanbase where parents who watched the original now watch "Fuller House" with their children. The journey to Netflix wasn't straightforward—John Stamos and creator Jeff Franklin initially shopped "Fuller House" to various networks that turned them down, but Netflix conducted research showing the show would be a monster hit, and they were proven right. Coulier described the surreal experience of returning to Stage 24 at Warner Brothers, the exact same soundstage where they filmed the original series, noting that season two is "bigger and better" with tons of cameos from previous "Full House" cast members and surprise guests. He directed the Christmas episode titled "The Nutcracker," expressing gratitude to fans for embracing the show more overwhelmingly than anyone could have imagined.

Beyond his television success, Coulier emphasized his lifelong commitment to family entertainment and children's welfare through his "Cut It Out" ugly holiday sweater campaign. Partnering with HaHaHoliday.com, Coulier designed holiday sweaters where 90% of proceeds benefit ChildHelp, an organization that rehabilitates abused children. Introduced to ChildHelp by John Stamos years ago, Coulier has co-hosted their Christmas show and witnessed firsthand the transformative, "awe inspiring" work they do with abused children and their mentors, describing it as turning "your heart inside out." He explained that the ugly sweater phenomenon has become ubiquitous at holiday parties, making his sweater the perfect gift that allows people to participate in the festive trend while simultaneously supporting children in need. Coulier acknowledged that while his career path wasn't intentionally designed to focus on family entertainment, he embraced it wholeheartedly, describing himself humorously as "more of a glorified birthday clown" rather than a "hipster comedian." He takes pride in entertaining a wide demographic and providing laughter for entire families in what he acknowledges is "a crazy world right now," recognizing that kids need entertainment and joy in their lives, and if he can provide that for families through his work on "Fuller House," his children's books, and his music, then he's fulfilled his purpose.

Actor Morris Chestnut joined the show to reflect on his remarkable career journey, beginning with his breakthrough role in the iconic 1991 film "Boyz n the Hood." Chestnut shared how that film launched his career and continues to impact audiences decades later, recounting a touching moment when a co-star on "Rosewood" watched the movie for the first time and was so emotionally moved by his character's death scene that she remained affected throughout the entire workday. The enduring resonance of the film, which authentically portrayed life in certain neighborhoods during that era, stands as a testament to its cultural significance and Chestnut's powerful performance. This first major break, which came after he had done a television adaptation of "A Night on the Town" that earned him his SAG card, set the foundation for a successful career spanning over three decades.

Currently starring in the second season of Fox TV's "Rosewood," Chestnut plays a private pathologist who cleverly bends—but doesn't break—the rules to solve crimes and achieve justice. Working alongside the talented Lorraine Toussaint, whom he praised effusively as an amazing actress who elevates every scene, Chestnut described how his character has evolved over the show's 22-episode seasons. Initially prone to breaking rules and sticking out "like a sore thumb" at crime scenes, Rosewood has learned to blend more seamlessly with the police department while maintaining his characteristically optimistic view of people. However, recent storylines have challenged that optimism, particularly an episode where a woman he believed loved him actually robbed him, forcing his character to develop a more nuanced perspective on trust and human nature. Chestnut emphasized the importance of social media in modern entertainment, noting how he actively engages with fans across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, recognizing that direct interaction has become an essential part of an actor's career in today's digital landscape.