Still Here Hollywood

Actor and director Paul McCrane joins Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko for a funny, honest, and surprisingly deep conversation about building a career by leaning into the roles people remember most.

Paul talks about intentionally pivoting into “bad guy” parts, his first reaction to reading RoboCop, and the night a massive explosion on set got a little too real. He also looks back on ER and what it was like joining the biggest show on television, plus how the stability of a long-running series can change your life outside the job.

The conversation goes beyond credits and into craft. Paul breaks down why self-tape auditions can feel like sending your work into a void, why in-person collaboration matters, and what directing taught him about managing pressure, people, and performance. He also shares one of the most valuable lessons of his career: how a brutal review early on forced him to learn how to truly do the work, and how Jason Robards showed him real generosity in the process.

If you love behind-the-scenes stories, acting talk that’s actually useful, and Hollywood history with some bite, this one’s for you.

Support the show and get early access and bonus content at Patreon: patreon.com/StillHereHollywood

00:00 Intro, Paul McCrane from ER and RoboCop
00:42 What Paul would be doing if he wasn’t acting today
01:09 Songwriting, music, and creative curiosity
01:19 Becoming “the bad guy” on purpose
02:41 First reaction to the RoboCop script
03:18 The infamous RoboCop explosion story
06:11 Did he expect RoboCop to become iconic
06:28 How RoboCop reshaped his career
07:55 Why he became an actor, his father and backstage magic
08:27 Other careers he could have pursued
09:06 Turning the interview back on Steve
10:10 Fame, the movie, and early terror on set
11:44 Shooting Fame on the streets of New York
12:33 Did he ever consider quitting acting
14:03 Patreon break, then critics and insecurity
16:30 Retirement, insecurity, and why actors do this
18:38 Chevy Chase, SNL, and success myths
19:03 ER and staying close with the cast
20:43 Why Paul hates self-tape auditions
22:07 The danger of isolation in modern acting
28:33 How ER changed his life and stability
29:29 Fame, perspective, and avoiding distortion
31:20 Philadelphia roots and football fandom
31:37 “Paul McCrane dies at the end” reel
32:15 What the ER set was really like
34:33 Is he happy with his career
36:11 What fans recognize him for most
37:27 Directing vs acting, what he loves more
43:04 Overthinking, directing pressure, and communication
44:06 The role that taught him the most
46:38 The New York Times review that crushed him
50:00 Jason Robards’ advice and generosity
55:21 Learning to survive criticism
56:50 Memorizing ER medical dialogue
57:01 The origin of the famous RoboCop line
58:25 Final thoughts and wrap

Paul McCrane interview
Paul McCrane podcast
Paul McCrane Still Here Hollywood
Paul McCrane Steve Kmetko
Paul McCrane actor interview

Paul McCrane RoboCop
RoboCop behind the scenes Paul McCrane
RoboCop explosion scene story
Paul McCrane villain RoboCop
Paul Verhoeven RoboCop cast stories

Paul McCrane ER
Dr Robert Romano ER
Paul McCrane ER helicopter scene
ER behind the scenes Paul McCrane
ER cast reflections

Paul McCrane Fame movie
Fame 1980 behind the scenes
Paul McCrane Fame audition story
Fame movie cast interview

Paul McCrane acting advice
Paul McCrane directing career
Actors on self tape auditions
Why actors hate self tapes
Directing vs acting Paul McCrane

Career longevity themes

Character actor Hollywood career
Villain roles in Hollywood
How actors survive bad reviews
Jason Robards acting advice
Broadway failure lessons

Culture + philosophy hooks

Why actors feel insecure
Human connection vs technology acting
Why collaboration matters in film
Modern acting industry problems 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.

Book: My Four Hollywood Husbands
https://a.co/d/bTbuNAj
 
 

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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amy's Foundation in memory of her husband John Ritter is https://johnritterfoundation.org/
Another favorite charity of Amy's is https://angelfood.org/

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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this unforgettable episode of Still Here Hollywood, Ted Lange, forever known as Isaac from The Love Boat, joins Steve Kmetko for a deep, funny, and brutally honest conversation about classic television, Hollywood power dynamics, racial inequality in entertainment, and the long game of creative survival.

Ted takes us behind the scenes of one of the most iconic shows in television history, sharing stories about Gene Kelly, Diahann Carroll, Cloris Leachman, Howard Keel, and the revolving door of legendary guest stars that made The Love Boat a cultural phenomenon. He reveals what really went on when the cameras stopped rolling and how respect, chemistry, and mentorship made the cast a family.

But this episode goes far beyond nostalgia. Ted opens up about the realities of being a Black actor in Hollywood, the battles he fought for equal treatment, fair representation, and meaningful storylines, and how he learned to “pivot” rather than become bitter. His stories about pay disparity, industry politics, and subtle discrimination are powerful, eye-opening, and still painfully relevant today.

We also dive into Ted’s remarkable second act as a writer, director, and playwright. From directing television to writing over 27 plays, including historical dramas about forgotten figures like John Hanson and Mary Bowser, Ted explains how storytelling can reclaim lost history and give voice to those erased from textbooks. His passion for uncovering untold stories turns this episode into something far bigger than a Hollywood interview.

Plus, he shares hilarious and unexpected stories about working with Jenna Jameson on the “Ask Isaac” advice column, his Shakespeare adaptations, directing The Fall Guy, and the surprising friendships that shaped his career.

This is a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and navigating Hollywood with intelligence, humor, and integrity. Ted Lange proves he is far more than a TV icon. He is a historian, a playwright, a director, and a truth teller who is very much still here. 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.

Relive the wild ride of Grease 2 with actor Maxwell Caulfield, the man behind Michael Carrington, in this full episode of Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko. Maxwell opens up about knowing early he was meant to act, his London roots, and the moment everything changed when he auditioned for Grease 2 and suddenly found himself stepping into a Hollywood spotlight that can make or break you.

Maxwell shares what it was like working alongside a young Michelle Pfeiffer, why Grease 2 didn’t hit the way the studio hoped at release, and how the movie later found its true life as a cult classic with a passionate fanbase. He also dives into the behind-the-scenes reality of movie-making, including a hilarious “Bike Heaven” moment that did not go how he wanted.

Beyond Grease 2, Maxwell talks about his love of live theater and what the stage gives an actor that the camera never can, plus what he’s working on now, including a one-man play centered on Pontius Pilate. And yes, we go there on the big career chapters too, from Hollywood momentum to TV fame, including his run on The Colbys and the long view of staying in the game.
Wikipedia

If you grew up on 80s movies, movie musicals, backstage stories, and the art of actually lasting in show business, this episode is for you.

Want to get more involved with the show?
Support Still Here Hollywood on Patreon for early access, behind-the-scenes extras, and the chance to submit questions for upcoming guests. 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.