Still Here Hollywood

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]

 

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advertising.

Laura Leighton takes us back inside the Melrose Place phenomenon and what it was really like to ride that wave before social media and smartphones changed everything. In this episode of Still Here Hollywood, Laura talks about launching the Melrose Place rewatch podcast Still the Place with Daphne Zuniga and Courtney Thorne Smith, why it feels so freeing to show up without a script, and the surprising emotional impact of revisiting a time that happened more than 30 years ago.

Laura opens up about the cast bond that never went away, the real conversations happening around a potential Melrose Place reboot, and why creating your own opportunities matters more as Hollywood changes and roles for women narrow with age. She also shares the best thing that came out of Melrose Place, her 26 year marriage to co star Doug Savant, and what it means to raise a big family and now become a grandmother.

You will also hear Laura on the shift from water cooler television to reality TV and TikTok culture, the strange new normal of being photographed everywhere, and why self tape auditions can feel harder than walking into a room. Plus, Laura tells two unforgettable stories from her career, a fan encounter so intense a nurse thought her villain character was real, and the heartbreak moment she had to drop out of a musical film role that later went to Renee Zellweger. She also reveals a major career decision she still regrets, turning down the chance to play Rizzo on Broadway.

If you love Melrose Place, Aaron Spelling era television, 90s nostalgia, Hollywood behind the scenes stories, and honest conversations about career, fame, aging, and reinvention, this one is for you.

00:00 Reboot Buzz and Grandma Life Tease

00:56 Intro: Aaron Spelling, Nighttime Soaps, and Melrose Mania

02:21 Laura’s Rewatch Podcast: Still the Place

03:04 Why Podcasting Feels Easier Than Acting

03:34 Rewatching Your 20s on Camera and the “Ick Attack”

04:21 Melrose Love Story: Meeting Doug Savant

04:52 26 Years Married and Raising Four Kids

05:10 Why Melrose Was a Cultural Phenomenon

05:27 Pre-Internet “Water Cooler TV” and Perfect Timing

06:17 Lightning in a Bottle: You Can’t Manufacture It

06:53 The Reboot: Is It Really Happening?

06:59 Who’s In and Why the Cast Still Feels Like Family

07:20 The Group Text, The Podcast Guests, The Real Bond

08:12 Churchill Quote: If You Want History, Write It

08:34 Aging in Hollywood and Steering Your Own Opportunities

09:03 Reality TV Changed Everything

09:19 The Early Reaction: “What Is This Crap?”

10:10 TikTok and Selfie Culture Is Not Going Away

10:28 Being Photographed Everywhere, Even at the Grocery Store

10:59 Social Media as a Tool, But Also Exhausting

11:59 Podcast Learning Curve: Why Rewatch Makes It Easy

12:33 Sets That Feel Good vs Sets That Don’t

13:03 Fondest Melrose Memory: It Felt Like a Family

14:13 You Don’t Fully Appreciate It Until Later

14:34 What’s Next: Producing and Building Projects

15:30 The Joy of Becoming a Grandparent

16:13 Watching Your Kid Become a Parent

17:07 “I Told You So” and Moms Always Being Right

17:28 Holidays With a Grandbaby and the Photos

18:05 Nana Duties: Teaching Piano, LA Traffic Included

18:37 The Weird Fan Encounter: Nurse Thought Sydney Was Real

19:32 Being Too Convincing Can Backfire in Meetings

20:59 Which Show People Recognize You From Now

21:35 Melrose vs 90210 and Why People Mix Them Up

22:05 One-Word Cast Shoutouts: Heather, Rinna, Grant, Marcia

23:19 Cast Friendships That Stayed Warm and Real

23:43 Missing the Weekly “TV Family” Feeling

24:18 Leaving After Five Seasons: The Contract Turning Point

24:42 The Last Day: Fighting Tears

25:02 Rapid Fire: First Crush, Movies, Pizza, Worst Subject

29:09 Fame Before Cell Phones: Honeymoon Recognition

30:14 Fake Names at Hotels During Peak Fame

30:42 The Morning After Leaving: Relief vs Grief

33:34 Being Married to an Actor: Teamwork, Not Competition

34:10 Doug’s Groundbreaking Gay Character and Pride

35:13 Aging in Hollywood and Fewer Opportunities

36:34 Self-Tapes: Why Auditioning Feels Harder Now

37:54 What Self-Tapes Took Away: Feedback and Connection

39:53 Steve’s Acting Dream and the “Pajamas Job” Idea

41:15 The Role She Lost: Torn ACL, Renee Zellweger Replacement

43:12 The Musical Muscle She Wishes She’d Kept

44:36 TV Movies in Hiatus: The 90s Career Strategy

45:30 The Big Regret: Turning Down Rizzo on Broadway

46:14 Closing Thanks

 

 

Laura Leighton's Melrose Place rewatch Podcast is:

STILL THE PLACE

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/still-the-place/id1754955354

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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Gabrielle Carteris helped define a generation as Andrea Zuckerman on Beverly Hills 90210. But the story behind the show is bigger, deeper, and more surprising than you think. In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Gabrielle opens up about the truth behind landing 90210, including the age secret she kept when she was cast as a 16-year-old. She reflects on overnight fame, Beatles-level chaos, and how the show shaped her adult life in ways she is still unpacking. But this episode goes far beyond nostalgia. Gabrielle reveals the devastating on-set injury that temporarily left her partially paralyzed and unable to speak, the lawsuit that followed, and why she refused to sign an NDA after winning her case. That experience ultimately led her into leadership, where she became President of SAG-AFTRA and helped guide the union through historic negotiations. She also discusses: • The real impact of the Hollywood strikes • Why AI and voice replication are changing the entertainment industry • The merger of SAG and AFTRA • Losing Luke Perry and Shannen Doherty • The isolation of extreme fame • Aging in Hollywood and rejecting shame • Why family matters more than celebrity From 90s television icon to labor leader and activist, Gabrielle Carteris shares what she has learned about power, resilience, identity, and what no longer scares her. This is one of the most revealing Beverly Hills 90210 interviews you’ll see. Subscribe for more conversations with the stars you grew up with. 

 

 

Chapters

00:00 Opening Introduction

01:00 Gabrielle Carteris on Aging and Growth

02:32 Learning to Stop Performing for Approval

04:41 Aging in Hollywood and Saying “I’m 65”

06:55 The 90210 Age Secret Revealed

07:57 Overnight Fame and Losing Anonymity

09:45 The Power and Pressure of Being Known

12:33 Looking Back on the 90210 Era

12:47 How Fox Saved Beverly Hills 90210

14:09 Did Andrea Shape Gabrielle or Vice Versa?

15:21 How the SAG-AFTRA Merger Happened

16:29 “I Am an Activist”

17:49 The On-Set Injury That Changed Her Life

20:05 Relearning Speech and Movement

21:35 Refusing to Sign an NDA

22:50 Why Safety Became Her Mission

24:04 Patty Duke, Sean Astin, and Hollywood Legacy

25:14 The Hollywood Strike and the Rise of AI

29:25 Remembering Luke Perry and Shannen Doherty

31:14 Still Close with the 90210 Cast

35:40 Beatles-Level Fame and Fan Chaos

36:25 What Matters Most Now: Family

37:53 Becoming President of SAG-AFTRA

39:25 Leadership and Unsung Heroes

40:02 “I’m Okay” — Owning Her Legacy

41:03 Dubbing for Netflix and Amazon

42:05 Fear of Returning to the Stage

43:25 What No Longer Scares Her

45:22 What She’d Tell Her Younger Self

45:50 “The Girl I Was Is the Woman I Am”

46:23 Closing

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.