Fame and Celebrity


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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Interviewees discuss the cult of celebrity.

Highlights
Paul Michael Glaser on dealing with the fame and celebrity that came along with Starsky and Hutch
05:51
Maria Riva on the difference to the public between a movie star and a television actor as she noted when approached by a fan while accompanying her mother Marlene Dietrich in the 1950s
01:33
Kevin Bright on how the instant success of Friends affected the cast and creators
04:06
Leslie Uggams on getting recognized on the street after appearing on Sing Along with Mitch and the extra pressure she felt as an African American woman in the spotlight
01:01
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on meeting his fans and the pitfalls of fame
09:16
Who talked about this topic

Edie Adams

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Edie Adams on Ernie Kovacs' fatal car accident on January 12, 1962
02:25

Alan Alda

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Alan Alda on the downsides of fame
03:49

John Amos

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John Amos on celebrity
06:14

John Aniston

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John Aniston on his popularity playing "Victor Kiriakis" on Days of Our Lives
01:19

Beatrice Arthur

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Beatrice Arthur on fame and celebrity
01:45

Edward Asner

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Ed Asner on being identified with Lou Grant and his fame
04:07
Ed Asner on his celebrity
03:12

Bob Banner

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Bob Banner on how fans approached TV star Dinah Shore versus movie star Bette Davis
01:52

Rona Barrett

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Rona Barrett on becoming a celebrity herself
01:32
Rona Barrett on becoming a celebrity herself
01:59

Chuck Barris

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Chuck Barris on getting recognized once he hosted The Gong Show
01:44
Chuck Barris on being approached by fans
01:37

Linda Bell Blue

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Linda Bell Blue on the public's fascination with Michael Jackson and covering the Royal Family
06:50
Linda Bell Blue on interviewing Charles Manson for KCBS in Los Angeles
08:21
Linda Bell Blue on star quality and covering entertainment worldwide 
05:25
Linda Bell Blue on covering the death of Michael Jackson
04:04
Linda Bell Blue on the biggest story of her career, covering Anna Nicole Smith for Entertainment Tonight
08:17

Pat Boone

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Pat Boone on his first experiences being mobbed by fans
02:38

Anthony Bourdain

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Anthony Bourdain on "celebrity chefs" and dealing with celebrity
05:35

Eric Braeden

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Eric Braeden on how fans took to his Young and the Restless character, "Victor Newman"
01:02
Eric Braeden on how fans react to his Young and the Restless character, "Victor Newman"
01:47
Eric Braeden on being recognized as "Victor Newman" on The Young and the Restless and encounters with fans
03:23

Kevin Bright

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Kevin Bright on how the instant success of Friends affected the cast and creators
04:06

Alton Brown

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Alton Brown on what being on the Food Network has meant for his career and being a "cable-ebrity"
03:31

Mark Burnett

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Mark Burnett on reality show contestants and their fame
01:44

Ken Burns

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Ken Burns on his celebrity
03:11

LeVar Burton

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LeVar Burton on how fame has affected him
01:25

David Canary

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David Canary on how fame has affected him
01:50

Jim Cantore

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Jim Cantore on his celebrity from The Weather Channel
03:33
Jim Cantore on his fans' perceptions of him
03:42
Jim Cantore on "The Cantore Snuggle Factor"
01:30

Marcy Carsey

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Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on problems with Roseanne on the set of Roseanne and how fame changed her
02:52

Chris Carter

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Chris Carter on how fame has changed his life
00:49

Nancy Cartwright

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Nancy Cartwright on being anonymous as a voiceover artist and not enjoying some of the perks of celebrity
00:52

Dick Cavett

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Dick Cavett on fame
00:50

Richard Chamberlain

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Richard Chamberlain on being a teen idol
02:31
Richard Chamberlain on being the first person interviewed for Entertainment Tonight, and the role of celebrity
03:07

Esme Chandlee

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Esme Chandlee on how MGM handled situations that could lead to negative press; on the protective nature the publicists at MGM had for their stars
02:56
Esme Chandlee on working with columnists like Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons
01:45
Esme Chandlee on the publicity of Frank Sinatra's romance with Ava Gardner
02:51

RuPaul Charles

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RuPaul Charles on separating his public and private personas
02:04

Michael Chiklis

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Michael Chiklis on the fans of The Commish
02:42

Connie Chung

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Connie Chung on being recognized and the response to her from Asian-Americans and women
01:11

Dick Clark

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Dick Clark on first realizing he was famous
01:32

Roy Clark

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Roy Clark on how fame and celebrity has impacted him over the years
02:38

Kevin Clash

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Kevin Clash on his dealings with his fans
01:42

Bob Claver

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Bob Claver on working with the kids of The Partridge Family  and how they dealt with celebrity
01:10

Andy Cohen

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Andy Cohen on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and his first experience with "regular people" becoming stars
01:20

Lewis Black with Emerson College

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Lewis Black and dealing with fame and celebrity, and on the trajectory of his career
05:50

Hugh Hefner with Emerson College

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Hugh Hefner on fame and celebrity, and on the importance of laughter
04:31

Paul Rodriguez with Emerson College

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Paul Rodriguez on the drug scene in stand-up comedy in the 1980s, and on dealing with celebrity
05:22
Paul Rodriguez on how he defines success, and on various then-recent celebrity scandals
15:01

Beatrice Arthur with Emerson College

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Beatrice Arthur on her public persona and private life
01:08
Beatrice Arthur on her huge gay following
02:25

Barbara Feldon with Emerson College

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Barbara Feldon on celebrity
02:09

Bill Dana with Emerson College

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Bill Dana on dealing with fame and celebrity
05:06

"Weird Al" Yankovic with Emerson College

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"Weird Al" Yankovic on dealing with fame and celebrity
02:08
"Weird Al" Yankovic on his fanbase and what they expect of him
02:04

Richard Coogan

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Richard Coogan on his fame
04:08

Anderson Cooper

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Anderson Cooper on dealing with fame and celebrity
01:58

Walter Cronkite

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Walter Cronkite on first being aware that newsmen could be recognized in public by their audience; anecdote about Eric Sevareid being recognized at the '52 political convention
02:00
Walter Cronkite on some of the fringe benefits of fame; anecdote about a jewelry store while filming in Houston
02:43

Jane Curtin

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Jane Curtin on dealing with celebrity and fame
03:07

Bill Daily

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Bill Daily on enjoying fame and celebrity
02:42

Ann B. Davis

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Ann B. Davis on her celebrity
03:39

Phil Donahue

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Phil Donahue on celebrity 
02:03

Patty Duke

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Patty Duke on what fans of The Patty Duke Show said/say to her
01:30
Patty Duke on her opinion on fame and getting recognized
01:44

Rebecca Eaton

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Rebecca Eaton on the reception to Downton Abbey, and on the show's fans
02:51

Roger Ebert

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Roger Ebert on how his fame affected his work
00:46

Hector Elizondo

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Hector Elizondo on the fame that resulted from his co-starring on Chicago Hope
02:53

Linda Ellerbee

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Linda Ellerbee on becoming a minor celebrity in Houston, and how she has dealt with celebrity in her career
02:42

Kevin Eubanks

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Kevin Eubanks on Jay Leno's 2009 exit from The Tonight Show and move to a 10pm show (The Jay Leno Show)
03:44
Kevin Eubanks on why The Jay Leno Show didn't work
02:52

Edie Falco

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Edie Falco on being recognized on the street for playing "Carmela Soprano" on The Sopranos
00:58

Jamie Farr

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Jamie Farr on cross-dressing as "Klinger" on M*A*S*H and reaction from fans from the "Big Mac" episode
02:45

Ray Forrest

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Ray Forrest on how many people were watching experimental television in the early days and feedback he received
02:22

Michael J. Fox

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Michael J. Fox on fame and celebrity

Albert Freedman

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Albert Freedman on Charles Van Doren becoming a celebrity because of his appearances of Twenty One and Freedman realizing the power of television
02:48

James Garner

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James Garner on public reaction to Maverick and his fame
05:03
James Garner on his feelings about the press and doing interviews
01:49

Mitzi Gaynor

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Mitzi Gaynor on how celebrity has affected her
01:07

Anthony Geary

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Actor Anthony Geary on his celebrity during the time of the "Luke and Laura" craze on General Hospital
04:17

Larry Gelbart

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Larry Gelbart on how he feels lucky to have had the opportunity to have a soapbox on national television with M*A*S*H where he could speak his mind
01:08

Marla Gibbs

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Marla Gibbs on fame and celebrity
06:32

Melissa Gilbert

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Melissa Gilbert on realizing she was famous; on her fans
04:47

Paul Michael Glaser

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Paul Michael Glaser on dealing with the fame and celebrity that came along with Starsky and Hutch
05:51

Sharon Gless

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Sharon Gless and Barney Rosenzweig on getting recognized by and interacting with fans
04:14
Sharon Gless on being hugged by fans, and the impact of Queer as Folk
01:41

Curt Gowdy

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Curt Gowdy on broadcasters becoming celebrities
00:54

Jon Hamm

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Jon Hamm on how his life changed when Mad Men became successful and he started to get recognized more; on dealing with celebrity
03:06

Don Hastings

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Don Hastings on dealing with fame and celebrity
00:43

Hal Holbrook

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Hal Holbrook on fame and celebrity, and on being part of an acting company
02:33

Felicity Huffman

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Felicity Huffman on the immediate success of Desperate Housewives
01:16
Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy on receiving their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
01:55
Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy on how they've used their celebrity to champion causes
01:36
Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy on receiving their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
01:55
Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy on how they've used their celebrity to champion causes
01:36

Geri Jewell

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Geri Jewell on the challenges she faced when her manager stole the money she earned from The Facts of Life and how the show's producer Al Burton tried to help her
04:13
Geri Jewell on her experience with "overnight fame" and the impact of her visibility as a person with a disability
02:29

Asaad Kelada

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Asaad Kelada on working with the young cast of The Facts of Life and how they handled fame
01:49

Larry King

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Larry King on playing himself in movies, television shows
01:25

Walter Koenig

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Walter Koenig on attending Star Trek  conventions
02:38

Steve Kroft

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Steve Kroft on the movement toward more celebrity-driven news
03:14

Lisa Kudrow

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Lisa Kudrow on the sudden popularity of Friends and the cast's appearance on Oprah Winfrey's show
04:06
Lisa Kudrow on how fame affected the cast members of Friends; on not being able to go out in public after their success hit
02:24
Lisa Kudrow on the "overexposure" of the cast of Friends
01:10

Sheila Kuehl

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Sheila Kuehl on her interaction with fans of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and how they reacted to her character "Zelda Gilroy"
03:56

Mort Lachman

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Mort Lachman on working around fame and celebrity, and on Bob Hope's demanding schedule

Jack Larson

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Jack Larson on the instant popularity of "Jimmy Olsen" on Adventures of Superman and being typecast as an actor
02:34

Lucy Lawless

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Lucy Lawless on dealing with her fame from Xena: Warrior Princess  and being a feminist icon
02:00
Lucy Lawless on how celebrity has affected her
02:05

Vicki Lawrence

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Vicki Lawrence on how Carol Burnett approached fame and celebrity, and on not feeling like a celebrity herself

Jerry Lewis

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Jerry Lewis on celebrity
03:47

James Lipton

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James Lipton on hosting Inside the Actors Studio, and on the fame that resulted
01:40

Barry Livingston

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Barry Livingston on how fans reacted to him when he was on My Three Sons
02:15
Barry Livingston on how fame has affected his life
01:48

Chuck Lorre

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Chuck Lorre on Roseanne Barr singing the National Anthem
00:21

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on how iconic Seinfeld  became and when she first realized how big an audience the show had amassed
03:51

Barry Manilow

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Barry Manilow on how his life changed after his hit single "Mandy" was released, and on the fame that resulted
02:03

Randolph Mantooth

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Randolph Mantooth on his fame
01:46

Penny Marshall

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Penny Marshall on how celebrity has affected her
02:24

Bob May

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Bob May on the fan mail he received while on Lost in Space
00:49

David McCallum

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David McCallum on the popularity of his character, "Illya Kuryakin", on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and dealing with celebrity for the first time
06:20

S. Epatha Merkerson

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S. Epatha Merkerson on cops and fans approaching her with compliments while she was cast on Law & Order
04:21
S. Epatha Merkerson on her fans
01:30

Diana Muldaur

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Diana Muldaur on fame and celebrity
01:02

Bob Newhart

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Bob Newhart on how fame has affected his career
01:15

Laraine Newman

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Laraine Newman on her fame from Saturday Night Live  and who the show appealed to
03:51
Laraine Newman on fan encounters during her time on Saturday Night Live
01:58

Leonard Nimoy

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Leonard Nimoy on the ups and downs of fame
01:17

Agnes Nixon

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Agnes Nixon on the fan mail for All My Children
01:03

Bill Nye

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Bill Nye on reactions from fans
00:36

Ed O'Neill

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Ed O'Neill on getting recognized by fans
00:56

Fess Parker

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Fess Parker on being recognized from Davy Crockett
06:06

Timothy Van Patten

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Timothy Van Patten on his fame after The White Shadow
01:34

Suzanne Pleshette

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Suzanne Pleshette on being a "movie star" who appeared on television
01:10

Martha Quinn

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Martha Quinn on how she dealt with sudden fame and celebrity, and on leaving MTV
04:12
Martha Quinn on what people who remember her as an MTV VJ say to her on the street, and on being a 1980s spokesperson
02:27

Della Reese

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Della Reese on continuing to work as she got older, and on using her celebrity for various causes
01:58

Del Reisman

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Del Reisman on Rod Serling's celebrity
00:58

Maria Riva

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Maria Riva on the difference to the public between a movie star and a television actor as she noted when approached by a fan while accompanying her mother Marlene Dietrich in the 1950s
01:33

Joan Rivers

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Joan Rivers on her celebrity and how she'd like to be remembered
00:54

Andy Rooney

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Andy Rooney on dealing with the fame that resulted from his appearing on-camera
03:24

Barney Rosenzweig

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Sharon Gless and Barney Rosenzweig on getting recognized by and interacting with fans
04:14
Sharon Gless on being hugged by fans, and the impact of Queer as Folk
01:41

Marion Ross

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Marion Ross on her fame once she was cast on Happy Days
01:11
Marion Ross on how the young cast of Happy Days dealt with fame
02:26
Marion Ross on the Happy Days fan mail
01:33

Pat Sajak

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Pat Sajak on worrying about the "celebrity" part of the business
03:45

Isabel Sanford

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Isabel Sanford on dealing with fame and celebrity
02:34

Paul Shaffer

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Paul Shaffer on dealing with celebrity
01:06

Judith Sheindlin

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Judith Sheindlin on dealing with the fame that resulted from Judge Judy
02:13

Doris Singleton

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Doris Singleton on the popularity of I Love Lucy and Lucille Ball
05:43
Doris Singleton on still being recognized as "Carolyn Appleby" from I Love Lucy
01:47

John Singleton

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John Singleton on being nominated for Academy Awards for "Boyz N the Hood"
01:59

Yeardley Smith

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Yeardley Smith on remaining fairly anonymous when The Simpsons first aired because the producers didn't want the actors out there (partially because they didn't want people to know that "Bart" was voiced by a woman)
01:12
Yeardley Smith on her relationship to fame and celebrity
05:23

Suzanne Somers

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Suzanne Somers on dealing with fame and celebrity, and on her writing
03:33

Jean Stapleton

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Jean Stapleton on the professional reasons for not giving her age
00:44
Jean Stapleton on her marriage to producer/director William Putch and maintaining her career
01:30
Jean Stapleton on refusing to reprise "Edith Bunker" or a likeness of her in television commercials
00:37
Jean Stapleton on dealing with fame
01:22
Jean Stapleton on Bette Davis (who she was with when "Archie" and "Edith's" chairs were being donated from the set of All in the Family to the Smithsonian Institution)
03:00

Johnny Stearns

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Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting recognized from Mary Kay and Johnny
01:10
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on using their real identities on Mary Kay and Johnny; on not wanting celebrity
02:22

Mary Kay Stearns

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Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on getting recognized from Mary Kay and Johnny
01:10
Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns on using their real identities on Mary Kay and Johnny; on not wanting celebrity
02:22

Bill Tush

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Bill Tush on interviewing celebrities for CNN's Showbiz Today
06:23
Bill Tush on the culture of celebrity 
07:12

Leslie Uggams

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Leslie Uggams on getting recognized on the street after appearing on Sing Along with Mitch and the extra pressure she felt as an African American woman in the spotlight
01:01

Tracey Ullman

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Tracey Ullman on being recognized (or not) on the street, and on the characters that fans come up to her to talk to her about
01:53
Tracey Ullman on the dangers of fame
01:47

Robert Vaughn

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Robert Vaughn on the fame he and David McCallum experienced
03:39

Bob Vila

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Bob Vila on losing his anonymity 
01:37
Bob Vila on his fan mail
01:40

Bruce Vilanch

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Bruce Vilanch on the fan mail he gets
02:19

Clint Walker

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Clint Walker on fame
01:02

Joseph A. Wapner

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Joseph Wapner on becoming famous from being on The People's Court
01:22

Malcolm-Jamal Warner

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner on meeting his fans and the pitfalls of fame
09:16

Dawn Wells

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Dawn Wells on her fan mail from Gilligan's Island fame
00:43

Tom Werner

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Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner on problems with Roseanne on the set of Roseanne and how fame changed her
02:52

Vanna White

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Vanna White on response from fans
00:28
Vanna White on knowing she had made it and handling celebrity
01:48
Vanna White on "Vannamania" and her fan club
02:42

Andy Williams

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Andy Williams on fan mail that he receives and how people interact with him on the street
02:27

Cindy Williams

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Cindy Williams on fan reaction to Laverne & Shirley  and the fame that resulted from being on the show 
08:02

Henry Winkler

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Henry Winkler on fame and celebrity
01:22
Henry Winkler on handling fame
04:17
Henry Winkler on the popularity of his character on Happy Days
00:50
Henry Winkler on enjoying the perks of fame, going to the White House
02:18
Henry Winkler on respect and camraderie in the acting business
02:02

Terence Winter

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Terence Winter on the buzz surrounding The Sopranos
02:03

Kim Zimmer

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Kim Zimmer on her first TV role on One Life to Live, where she played a character based on Patty Hearst (who was in the news at that time)
04:49

Alan Zweibel

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Alan Zweibel on Chevy Chase being the first breakout star of Saturday Night Live
01:39

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