Still Here Hollywood

She was on the biggest show in the world, but behind the slow motion runs and global fame, Nicole Eggert was dealing with something very different.

 

On this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Nicole opens up about joining Baywatch in her early 20s, why she walked away from the #1 show on the planet, and how the “Baywatch bimbo” label shut down her career. She shares what fame really cost her, from dating struggles to doors suddenly closing in Hollywood.

 

Then the conversation takes a powerful turn.

 

Nicole talks candidly about her breast cancer diagnosis, discovering it herself after it was missed in screenings, and what it’s really like to live with cancer long term. From the emotional toll of telling her daughters, to the mindset it takes to fight through treatment, this is an honest, raw look at survival and perspective.

 

This is Still Here Hollywood. I’m Steve Kmetko. Join me with today’s guest, from Baywatch, actor Nicole Eggert.

 

00:00 Intro

00:45 How Nicole Eggert landed Baywatch

02:30 Leaving the #1 show in the world at 20

04:10 The downside of fame, dating and perception

05:10 “Baywatch bimbo” label and career fallout

05:40 The truth about slow motion running

07:15 Why Hollywood doors suddenly closed

08:20 Stepping away from acting

09:10 Global fame and being recognized everywhere

09:54 Charles in Charge and early career

11:30 Growing up on set and life decisions

13:20 Real estate passion and life outside acting

15:30 Working with Scott Baio

15:45 Would she let her daughters act?

16:50 Cancer diagnosis and discovering it herself

19:00 The hardest part of cancer, mental vs physical

21:00 Living with cancer and ongoing treatment

22:20 What she’s learned from other cancer patients

24:50 Advice for women facing cancer

26:20 Telling her daughters the diagnosis

28:10 How cancer changed her as a person

29:00 Career today and finding purpose in podcasting

30:45 Chemo side effects and “chemo brain”

31:50 The lowest moment during cancer

32:50 Scary fan encounters and real threats

35:20 Does she regret Baywatch?

36:05 Producing the Baywatch documentary

37:15 Bringing Baywatch full circle

 

Show Credits
Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko
All things technical: Justin Zangerle
Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein
Music by: Brian Sanyshyn
Transcription: Mushtaq Hussain

https://stillherehollywood.com
http://patreon.com/stillherehollywood
Suggest Guests at: [email protected]
Advertise on Still Here Hollywood: [email protected]
Publicist: Maggie Perlich: [email protected]


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Melora Hardin, best known to millions as Jan Levinson on The Office, joins Steve Kmetko for a funny, revealing, and surprisingly wide-ranging conversation about her life and career in Hollywood.

Melora looks back on working with Steve Carell, the improvisational magic behind The Office, and why the legendary “Dinner Party” episode still makes her laugh. She also opens up about her early years as a child actor on Little House on the Prairie, working with Michael Landon and Clint Eastwood, her thoughts on AI and creativity, and what it was like seeing Miley Cyrus at 15 during the Hannah Montana movie.

Beyond acting, Melora talks about dance, directing, cabaret, parenting in Hollywood, Transparent, Dancing with the Stars, and the creative energy that still drives her after more than 50 years in the business.

This is a smart, funny, and honest conversation with one of television’s most memorable performers.

#MeloraHardin, #TheOffice, #JanLevinson, #SteveCarell, #StillHereHollywood, #SteveKmetko, #LittleHouseOnThePrairie, #Transparent, #MileyCyrus, #Hollywood

CHAPTERS

00:00 Cold open, Steve Carell and AI tease

00:49 Intro, Melora Hardin joins the show

02:05 Melora’s colorful outfit and new scarf collection

02:43 More than 50 years in show business

03:23 Little House on the Prairie and first screen kiss

05:48 Working with Michael Landon

06:50 Clint Eastwood stories and singing for him

09:24 Did the cast of The Office get along?

10:01 Greg Daniels, improv, and the collaborative set

12:08 Does Melora watch old episodes of The Office?

13:29 The “Dinner Party” episode and breaking on set

15:37 Melora’s lifestyle brand, wallpaper, and scarves

16:16 What kind of a kisser was Steve Carell?

16:38 How much improv happened on The Office

19:05 Miley Cyrus at 15 and the making of Hannah Montana

19:35 Melora’s thoughts on AI and creativity

23:58 Acting, dancing, singing, directing, and creative energy

25:04 Why ballet didn’t become her career

27:34 Playing Baby in Dirty Dancing

29:41 Biggest influences, her parents, and growing up in Hollywood

32:04 What she still wants to do next

34:17 More on Miley Cyrus and child stardom

36:32 Cabaret, singing, and getting through Covid

38:37 Social media, parenting, and raising kids without phones

42:18 Raising grounded children in Hollywood

44:54 Emmy nomination for Transparent

48:14 Why film and TV is the ultimate team sport

50:07 Directing, editing, and her documentary Hunter’s Thunder

54:11 Melora on going to the movies

55:30 Dancing with the Stars and loving dance

55:50 From Jan on The Office to Tammy on Transparent

57:03 What she wants next in her career

57:50 Where the name Melora comes from

58:31 Jan’s breakup on The Office

59:32 What still “flaps” Melora

1:00:46 Gratitude, family, and staying grounded

1:02:30 Final moments and ruby slippers story

Show Credits
Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko
All things technical: Justin Zangerle
Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein
Music by: Brian Sanyshyn
Transcription: Mushtaq Hussain

https://stillherehollywood.com
http://patreon.com/stillherehollywood
Suggest Guests at: [email protected]
Advertise on Still Here Hollywood: [email protected]
Publicist: Maggie Perlich: [email protected]


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Frances Fisher joins Steve Kmetko for a candid, funny, and deeply thoughtful conversation about acting, ambition, heartbreak, Titanic, Clint Eastwood, Lucille Ball, and what it really means to build a life in Hollywood.

Frances talks about growing up around the world, finding acting through community theater in Texas, bartending in New York while chasing work, and the unusual creative choice that transformed her performance in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She also shares a remarkable story about the phone call that may have led to Titanic, what made James Cameron such an effective director, and why Rose’s mother was one of the easiest characters she ever played.

The conversation goes deeper as Frances reflects on grief, aging, motherhood, social media, ambition, and the one thing she wishes she had told her younger self: aim higher.

This is Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko.

Episode Hashtags:

#FrancesFisher,#Titanic,#ClintEastwood,#JamesCameron,#LucilleBall,#StillHereHollywood,#SteveKmetko,#HollywoodStories,#ClassicHollywood,#Acting,#FilmHistory

 

00:00 Introduction

00:49 The artist comes before the actor

01:34 Her first big acting paycheck

03:09 The black hair story from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

06:35 How acting first hooked her

08:45 Growing up around the world

12:21 How being the new kid shaped her

13:27 Why the work mattered more than fame

16:35 The phone call before Titanic

18:26 Why she wanted Titanic so badly

19:43 James Cameron on set

22:04 Working with Leo, Kate, and the costumes

27:27 Playing Lucille Ball

31:36 What acting really is

36:08 What Clint Eastwood was like

42:19 The joy of being a grandmother

45:05 Frances Fisher on grief

48:49 Her thoughts on social media

52:19 Her toilet paper theory of life

54:40 Why she wishes she had aimed higher

Show Credits
Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko
All things technical: Justin Zangerle
Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein
Music by: Brian Sanyshyn
Transcription: Mushtaq Hussain

https://stillherehollywood.com
http://patreon.com/stillherehollywood
Suggest Guests at: [email protected]
Advertise on Still Here Hollywood: [email protected]
Publicist: Maggie Perlich: [email protected]


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Adrienne Barbeau joins Steve Kmetko for a candid and entertaining conversation about a career that has spanned Broadway, television, cult films, and animation.

 

Long before becoming a horror icon, Adrienne Barbeau first gained national attention playing Carol Traynor on the groundbreaking sitcom Maude opposite the legendary Bea Arthur. From there she built a career that moved effortlessly between stage, television, and film, appearing in classics like The Fog, Escape From New York, Creepshow, and Swamp Thing. She also became the unforgettable voice of Catwoman in Batman: The Animated Series, a role that continues to resonate with fans decades later.

 

In this episode, Adrienne looks back at her early days performing for U.S. troops overseas for just seven dollars a day, her Broadway run in Fiddler on the Roof alongside Bette Midler, and what she learned working with Bea Arthur on one of television’s most influential sitcoms. She shares behind the scenes stories about working with directors like John Carpenter and George Romero, explains how she accidentally became a horror movie legend, and reveals why she never saw herself as the “bombshell” many fans remember from films like Cannonball Run.

 

Adrienne also talks about aging in Hollywood, why she has avoided cosmetic procedures, the surprising fan encounters that still happen at conventions, and how her children keep her grounded after decades in the spotlight.

 

It’s a funny, insightful look at a remarkable career that continues to evolve more than sixty years after her first professional job.

 

This is Still Here Hollywood. I’m Steve Kmetko. Join me with today’s guest, actor Adrienne Barbeau.

 

 

00:00 Introduction – Adrienne Barbeau joins Still Here Hollywood

00:48 A Career That Spans Broadway, Television, and Film

02:07 Entertaining U.S. Troops for $7 a Day

03:10 Broadway Years and Fiddler on the Roof with Bette Midler

04:22 Learning the Difference Between Stage and Film Acting

06:07 Adrienne Barbeau on Fame and Success

09:19 A Wild Story About Burt Reynolds and Celebrity Life

10:35 How Maude Impacted Fans in Real Life

13:12 What Adrienne Learned from Bea Arthur

14:53 Life on the Set of Maude

17:30 When Adrienne Realized Maude Was Groundbreaking

19:03 The Behind the Scenes Rhythm of Filming Maude

22:22 Finding Confidence as Carol on Maude

24:04 The Controversial Maude Abortion Episode

27:27 How Adrienne Became a Horror Movie Icon

29:30 Almost Turning Down George Romero’s Creepshow

31:08 When Horror Fans Started Recognizing Her Work

33:04 Adrienne’s New Film Oddities

35:37 Voicing Catwoman in Batman: The Animated Series

37:23 The Acting Advice That Changed Her Career

40:05 The “Bombshell” Label in Hollywood

41:15 The Famous Cannonball Run Costume Story

43:00 Do Actors Have More Freedom Today?

44:47 What Keeps Adrienne Barbeau Grounded

45:11 Adrienne Barbeau on Turning 80

49:30 Her Early Days Working in a New York Nightclub

51:23 Advice Adrienne Would Give Her Younger Self

53:35 Playing Catwoman and Voice Acting Work

54:40 HBO’s Carnivàle and Her Favorite Role

56:30 Closing Thoughts

Show Credits
Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko
All things technical: Justin Zangerle
Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein
Music by: Brian Sanyshyn
Transcription: Mushtaq Hussain

https://stillherehollywood.com
http://patreon.com/stillherehollywood
Suggest Guests at: [email protected]
Advertise on Still Here Hollywood: [email protected]
Publicist: Maggie Perlich: [email protected]


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What really happens inside the room where casting decisions are made?

Casting director Paul Ruddy has spent nearly three decades shaping careers in film, television, and now the emerging world of vertical storytelling. In this revealing conversation, he explains how actors get cast, why self-tapes changed Hollywood forever, and how star power can be felt in the first 20 seconds of an audition.

Paul shares behind-the-scenes stories about discovering talent early, including Sydney Sweeney’s early auditions, the tiny acting choices that win roles, and why memorizing your lines still matters more than anything else.

He also dives deep into:

• The rise of verticals and micro-dramas
• Why pilot season disappeared
• The impact of streaming and the Hollywood strikes
• Why in-person auditions are unlikely to return
• How actors accidentally talk themselves out of roles
• The truth about success, ego, and reputation in Hollywood

If you’re an actor, filmmaker, or simply curious about how Hollywood really works, this episode pulls back the curtain on the casting process and the industry’s evolution.

Subscribe for more insider conversations with the people shaping entertainment.

00:00 Intro: Inside the Room Where Careers Are Decided
01:02 Paul Ruddy’s Origin Story: Scranton, TV Obsession, Law School
03:10 The Leap to Hollywood and the “Lied on My Resume” Move
05:21 The Power of Casting and Changing Lives
05:39 Early Talent Spotting and Sydney Sweeney’s First Jobs
07:42 How Fast Casting Instincts Kick In
07:46 Paul’s Best Advice: Do the Homework, Understand Tone
08:20 The #1 Audition Killer: Not Being Off Book
09:46 Can You Feel Star Power Right Away?
10:10 The Wetsuit Audition Disaster and Growth Over Time
12:39 Estelle Getty and Why Careers Can Start Later
13:20 Casting Directors Have Long Memories
14:05 When Someone Walks In and Wins the Role Instantly
16:20 What Are Verticals and Micro-Dramas?
16:35 TikTok Meets Soap Opera on Red Bull: The Vertical Model
18:40 How Episodes Work: 1–3 Minutes and Constant Cliffhangers
20:10 The Paywall Funnel and Why It’s Exploding
21:20 Why Verticals Are a New Frontier for Hollywood
22:08 Patreon Break
22:57 How Casting Works: Breakdowns, Submissions, Narrowing Down
25:15 Will In-Person Auditions Ever Return?
25:25 Why Self-Tapes Took Over Permanently
27:49 The Reality of Nerves and “Pilot Season” Chaos
31:24 Self-Tapes vs Live Auditions and the 47th Take Problem
32:19 How the Pandemic Accelerated the Industry 10 Years
33:20 How Actors Talk Themselves Out of Roles
33:30 “You Sold It. Don’t Buy It Back.”
38:58 Small Choices That Instantly Elevate an Actor
39:08 The Peephole Choice That Got Attention
40:15 The Orange Slice Prop That Won the Role
42:27 Break
42:43 Calling an Actor With Life-Changing News
44:11 Does Success Change an Actor’s Energy?
44:30 Reputation Matters and Word Travels Fast
46:54 Watching Movies as a Casting Director
47:03 Why Every Role Must Be Cast at a High Level
48:49 Why He Didn’t Become a Full-Time Producer or Director
50:00 Why Verticals Are an Incubator for Future Stars
52:10 “Nothing Is New” and Why People Always Dismiss New Formats
54:00 Verticals, Short Attention Spans, and the Real Competition
56:08 What He’s Proudest Of After 27 Years
57:15 Advice for Actors: Tenacity and Knowing the Business
59:43 Is Hollywood Becoming a Dinosaur? Production Slowdown Explained
1:05:01 Fewer Risks, Fewer Sitcom Hits, and Why Shows Need Time
1:07:13 The Loss of Shared TV Culture and Knowing What Came Before
1:09:20 Closing and Thanks Show Credits

Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko

All things technical: Justin Zangerle

Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein

Music by: Brian Sanyshyn

Transcription:  Mushtaq Hussain

 

https://stillherehollywood.com

http://patreon.com/stillherehollywood

Suggest Guests at: [email protected]

Advertise on Still Here Hollywood: [email protected]

Publicist: Maggie Perlich: [email protected]

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.