Melissas Interview auf KLOS 95.5 FM

Many Thanks to Geoffrey Lane for the original text and the sound files!

(M=Melissa, H=the hosts)

Teil-1.mp3 (2.4 MB)

Melissa:
...cool.
Hosts:
We're crazy over your show.

M:
I've heard.
H:
So you've done The Equalizer?

M:
Yeah.
H:
How old were you?

M:
Um, uh probably 8.
H:
That shows been around for a while.

M:
Yeah.
H:
Saturday Night Live. America's Funniest People?

M:
Yeah, that's right. God, you're bringing back things from my past. Yeah, I did that probably about 4 or 5 years ago when I was on "Clarissa Explains it All" on Nickelodeon. So that was, I was really honored to be asked to be on that.
H:
That show's still going too, Clarissa.

M:
Clarissa, yeah. It shows I think every Sunday now.
H:
Who were you in "Ben-Hur"? Nevermind. It says you made your Broadway debut opposite Martin Sheen in "The Crucible".

M:
Mm-hmm. Well I was doing a lot of off-Broadway at the time and uh, and this was my uh actual Broadway debut. Uh "The Crucible", we did it for a limited run. It was like 2 or 3 months, and it was on a break from Clarissa. And I was an understudy, but then I uh I uh got to go on a couple nights. So ... It was great.
H:
So now, "Sabrina the Teenage Witch". Tell us about the program, your part in it, and you're on the cover of TV Guide this week.

M:
Yeah.
H:
That don't suck does it?

M:
No, it doesn't. Uhm, well Sabrina, let's see, it's we're in the second season, we just finished I think 9 and a half episodes.
H:
And the cat talks.

M:
The cat talks. And so does everyone else. It's a good thing.
H:
Well it's certainly found it's audience because I know my daughter won't miss it, and Chuck's daughter.

Chuck:
I'm in major trouble because I forgot to bring in the copy of Nickelodeon where you're on the cover. And I forgot to bring in the Sabrina comic book that my older daughter subscribes to. (Mel: Oh wow) No we don't miss "Clarissa Explains it All", and we don't miss Sabrina, and we don't miss Salem (Mel: Thank you) the talking cat.

M:
Cool.
H:
How do you handle, how do you like the notoriety? When you're the star of your own show, a very successful show, it's hard to go to the mall.

M:
Yeah, you know, I've found different ways of handling it. Sometimes you know you just you can be polite and sign autographs, but if there's too many people around you gotta be kinda careful and uh, like the other night my mother and I went to the movies and this guy, we were waiting in line for tickets, and a guy came up to me and he goes "Have you ever been on TV?" and I was like "No, I don't know what you're talking about. Sorry." And he just was and he thought he was crazy. And was just just like "Oh, ok, yeah. I guess you just look like, ok, nevermind."

H:
Did he ask you about "Ben-Hur"?
M:
Yeah..heh...

H:
What movie did you see?
M:
Uhm, We were trying to see "Boogie Nights", but it was sold out. So we saw "Seven Years in Tibet". Which turns out to be a much better movie than "Boogie Nights".

H:
Was it good?
M:
Yeah, and we saw "Boogie Nights" last night and I saw "Seven Years in Tibet" two nights ago, and I have to say yeah you know ten years of looking at Marky Mark's (hesitates) genitals just uh (H: Haha, too much huh?) Yeah, it was kinda crazy.

H:
You know it's not all him?
M:
Oh yeah, I know I heard it was like digitally enhanced or something.

H:
But you didn't like the movie "Boogie Nights"?
M:
It was, it was like an hour too long.

H:
Wow, that's a lot too long. But you liked "Seven Years in Tibet"?
M:
Yeah, I couldn't believe it. I felt like I was learning something.

H:
Yeah, what's cool about that is they actually filmed it in real time. See, it's so wacky. (M: That too.) So wild. Alright, so you have been acting since you were a very small child.
M:
Yeah, since I was 4.

H:
Now what was your first commercial?
M:
It was called "Splashy". It was a bathtub doll. And yeah it was one of those weird things I, I got started and I auditioned, and I booked my first audition, and I had to be topless in a bathtub.

H:
Now did you do a lot of commercial work as a kid?
M:
Yeah, I did probably about 150 commercials. I did a lot of uh, a lot of modeling print jobs, that kind of thing.

H:
Would there be one particular commercial we would know you best from?
M:
You know there was one called Arnold's Bread that, at the time, was pretty popular. Uhm, I had to scream "Mom!" at the end, so everyone kind of knew that. Also I did like Rice Krispies and Life Savers. I did a bunch. I did a bunch of Tylenol commercials.

H:
I find it interesting how a starring role for a TV show comes about. Did they write the role for you? Did they know about you then? Or did you go in for a read?
M:
Clarissa?

H:
Uh, no (M: Sabrina?) Sabrina.
M:
Sabrina actually is produced by my mother and I. Uhm, it actually goes back to Clarissa. Because we had a big fan base from Clarissa, uhm, I did a TV movie for NBC and it became, it was a, it was, it did some good numbers so uh, I guess it showed that I had network appeal or whatever. You know, and, and then from there we did a movie, we did the movie "Sabrina", my mother and I produced it, it was an Archie comic. And uh, we produced it, and we made the Showtime movie which was actually on just this Sunday on ABC. So from that, I don't know if this is like a long story but... (H: no, go ahead) Uhm, from the Showtime movie we cut it into a trailer and showed it around to the networks and there was like a bidding war over it. Three networks were fighting for it, and ABC got it.

H:
So you're producing it, so fairly certain you didn't have to audition.
M:
I did not audition (H: ok, cool). I just kinda, I developed the character. My mother and I, and some writers, so it was great. (H: Oh congratulations.) Thank you.

H:
Alright, as you bio says you worked with William Hurt in "Beside Herself".
M:
Yes, that was an off-Broadway play.

H:
How was that?
M:
Well, I think he was going through a whole, I don't really know his life story but, he was going through some kind of divorce or child uhm custody thing and there were reporters outside of our, our stage everyday leaning on our car and my mom would go out and yell at them everyday and stuff. He was, it was a little out of hand, but uh, yeah he, he liked uhm. I was like 11, 12 years old and he would uh try to have conversations with me. Like big conversations, and I was you know 12 years old I, I couldn't understand half the words he was using. So my mother asked him if he would very nicely, you know if he could, you know speak more on my level that kind of thing. And he said "Well, if she wants to play with big boys then she's gotta..." So...

H:
Oh really?
M:
Yeah, so uh, that was interesting.

H:
Have you seen him since then?
M:
No, I have not. Heh.

H:
Ok, so it could have gone a little better.
M:
Yeah, maybe a little bit. But uh, you know. You know who else was in that actually, Calista Flockhart who's now on "Ally McBeal" on Fox.

H:
That's a great show.
M:
Yeah, so she was on it and I, I haven't, I didn't know she was doing the show and I see her every once in a while in New York. But now she's out here I guess shooting this, and I haven't been able to say hi to her.

H:
Well that shows doing very well.
M:
Yeah.

H:
Have you seen one of them yet?
M:
I have, I have. She's very funny.

H:
Yeah, very good. And also says you just completed your first year at New York University.
M:
Yeah, I'm in my sophomore year now and even though I should be a senior. But uh, it's going slow...heh.

H:
Yeah, well how do you do that though with the schedule?
M:
Well, I try to go during the summers. Like I went to Italy this summer and took 4 credits for 3 weeks while I was in Italy. And I try to mix it up.

H:
In what? In acting?
M:
Oh 4 credits. No in uhm Art and Literature. Renaissance Art and Literature. And then uhm, now I'm doing independent study so it's four credits, uhm it's Women, Lives, their biographies something like that. We kinda, we come up with the topics. I come up with a book list and papers to write, and and.

H:
Are you a good student?
M:
I try to be, it's hard when I'm working. But, you know, I try to really concentrate. I haven't been able to get through a book yet.

H:
You know, it seems a lot of younger people that had a successful Hollywood career, when it comes college time, if they're not tied to any particular project they drop it, they go and do college, and then they come back.
M:
Yeah, it goes both, like uhm Kellie Martin, I guess from "Life Goes On" and she was on the show "Christy", I think she left for Harvard or some, that kind of thing. But then there are also those that talk about doing it, and then just decide that their, their careers are too important.

H:
Well plus you have projects going, I mean "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" is a very successful show, and it would be very hard to put that down and go to college.
M:
Yeah, you know it's ... I kind of, I'm lucky to have this opportunity and I don't want to blow it now, but I also do, I'm at that age where I just want to go to college. I just wanna, you know play, those drinking games that you guys are talking about. But uh, heh.

H:
Well you know we got tequila in the office, we can break out and have at it.
M:
Ah, I can't drink tequila anymore. I had a 21st birthday this year.

H:
Hm, well let's go to. Oh really? You got sick on it?
M:
Oh my ...

H:
Ya see, everybody does that.
M:
I've never been sick on, but tequila's the only thing I used to be able to drink. And then, on my 21st birthday, I just way over did it. Heh...And guess what I got for my birthday? Just tons of tequila. Haha...

H:
John on Line 1.
J:
Good morning Melissa. M:
Hi.

J:
I'd like to ask you out.
H:
How old are you?

J:
I am 24.
H:
And you are 21.

M:
Wow, an older man. Uhm, my boyfriend might get a little upset, but..
J:
Ok, yeah, I can see how he might

M:
I might get in trouble for this, but uh, yeah, maybe sometime. Look me up.
J:
Well 's got my phone number, so uh.

M:
Ok, cool.
J:
If he turns out to be a jerk or something...
M:
Uh-huh.

J:
I am gainfully employed...
M:
Ok, great. Do, ok, how much money do you make? No, just kidding. I was just kidding.

H:
Thank God.
M:

H:
Your boyfriend now, how did you guys meet?
M:
Uhm, I did Touched By an Angel. In, uhm, it shuh, it shoots in Utah. So I did a guest appearance on that about 2 and a half years ago, and there was someone working on the show and he took me out to a party and I met this guy, this random guy named James and uh...

H:
They polished off a bottle of tequila and the rest is history.
M:
Smoked a few cigars...
H:
We're going to take a break, we'll be back after this.

Teil-2.mp3 (2.5 MB)

H:
She likes you too. Very nice. And she likes us, obviously.
M:
You're scaring me.

H:
I went to say hi to her and she said "uh, oh hi. I just thought you guys would like to see what she looks like in her underwear."
M:
[laughs] She does that all the time. I've got to talk to her about that.

H:
She pulls out this magazine, Details magazine, October issue the TV Party Tonight, the girls that make you lose remote control.
M:
[laughs]

H:
And then first of all, in the coverfold, there's her, she's the one in the middle in her underwear.
M:
Yep, it's uh, it's

H:
Wait a minute, that's you?
M:
They had that up on Sunset Boulevard. (H: Oh my my) In a billboard.

H:
Look at you, you look naughty girl.
M:[laughs] Just naughty.

M:
I know.
H:
You got a belly button ring?

M:
Yes, yep I do. I'm surprised they didn't airbrush it out. They got rid of all my freckles.

H:
Oh, and then there she is. There she is there in the middle of the magazine. Well my my my my my.
M:
[laughs]

H:
(Can't make it out) Just need to quit it.
M:
I know, and I'm surrounded by like all these gorgeous women.

H:
Oh yeah, you fit right in. It says here you're 21, single, and living with your boyfriend.
M:
Uh-huh. [laughs]

H:
What?!?
M:
Yeah, yeah.

H:
Shacking up, huh? Livin' in sin?
M:
Yep. (H:Oh my God!) And happily.

H:
How's mom feel about that?
M:
Oh, she's, you know. We actually have a magnet on our refrigerator that says "Happily Living in Sin". No, but we, you know. I think it's a good idea that, you know, when you're serious with someone, or or he's from Utah and I'm from New York, and to move out here, it was like, the only way we could be together was to live together, so.

H:
What's he do?
M:
He actually works on the show now. He's, he's had lots of jobs. He was a student, and, you know, just went went around from job to job. He was a ski racer for awhile, now he's, now he works on the show as an actor and a stand-in.

H:
You were saying you met at a party. Did he have an opening line? Did you have an opening line?
M:
He asked me to be his partner uhm playing pool. Shooting pool.

H:
That was the first thing he said to you.
M:
Yeah, he was like "You wanna be my partner?"

H:
And that worked, huh?
M:
Yeah, it was like Hell Yeah!

H:
Wrap 'im. It was like Hell Yeah! Alright, now, as a performer, as an actress, you probably never asked, or wished, or dreamed to be the spokesperson or a model per se for young girls, but you are.
M:
Yeah, no, I know. Uhm, that's one thing that you kinda, it comes with the job. You know? You, doing Clarissa, and having a show on Nickelodeon especially, you had to, you had to be a good role model. And had to look out, when we were doing the show even, look out for things in there that might offend kids, or might be wrong and, and in my daily life I have to do that. You know? Going to the movies, going out, going to the mall. Things I say, things I do.

H:
Now, do you dislike that? Some people say, I'm not the person I play in the show, (M: Um-hmm) I'm me, I'm a human being, I don't do the same things that character does (M: yeah). That's a character.
M:
Yeah, but there is, there is a point where it gets that. But I mean, I am 21, I can go out and have a drink, you know? Or, I am over 18 I can have a cigarette. But I don't smoke. But uhm, I, I'm really against it as a matter of fact. But uhm, you know, if I do decide to do it then that's my choice, but I just try to be careful where I do it. You know, I'm not going to go to like the Nickelodeon Big Help and, and light up. You know? So. Or, you know, bring along my, my flask, you know? So.

H:
Let's go to Melissa on line 4.
4:
Uhm, Melissa Joan Hart, I'm an incredibly big fan of yours.

M:
Thank you. Cool name.
4:
[laughs] I don't know what else I want to say.

M:
Do you... Do you have a question? About the show or anything?
4:
Uhm, no, I just actually wanted to say hi.

M:
Oh, thank you.
4:
Can I get a mouse pad?

H:
I feel so used. (M:[laughs]) Actually you should feel so used.
M:
That's alright.

H:
Let's go to Katie on line 9.
K:
Oh I love you [hosts]. I love you too Melissa. M:
Thank you.

K:
I wanted to ask Melissa, what, what's the best way to get started in the show business?
M:
Well, make sure you have a lot of patience. And, uhm...I would say, try to find, find a manager or an agent, start auditioning, uhm...

K:
Where do you find those guys?
M:
Hmm? Well, you can, you can go, there are places around LA I know that are called like the Casting Break or, or Samuel French Bookstores where they have agent books and they can, they can give you the phone numbers or uh. Or, the best thing to do probably is take acting classes.

K:
Ok. I'm in drama in school.
M:
You are? Cool. (K:yeah) Great, well keep it up.

K:
Oh I love your show too, it's so cool.
M:
Thank you.

K:
Does the cat really talk? I know that sounds really dumb.
M:
The cat, uhm...

H:
Yes, it's the only talking cat in Hollywood.
M:
Yep.

K:
Well, I mean what does he ...
M:
No, well, there's 4, there's 4 live cats that uh do different things like one runs, and one's really frisky,and one is really lazy, and one's good to hold. And then there's, there's uh 2 stuffed, uh 2 uhm animatronic cats. One that sits up, and one that lays down. And those are the ones that, that talk. Their faces move. They've got their violent moves, their upper lip, their cheeks, their ears, their, their tail, that kind of thing. So.

H:
You mean that's not a real cat?
M:
Well there are 4 real cats that we use just for the, like, wide shots.

H:
But when the cat's talking and moving his lips around, that's not a real cat?
M:
No, that's not a real cat. Well, actually, there is one of our cats named Elvis, (H: heh-heh she said Elvis) who does talk. He licks his lips a lot so that's how we get him to...

H:
Elvis is the real king. They used fishing line and electrical shocks to make him talk. But again, his name is Elvis. Brian on 13.
B:
I got a question for Melissa.
M:
Uh-huh?

B:
Uhm, how long are you planning on doing the show? Because it's like a teenage show and, you know, you're like 21.
M:
Yeah, I know. Well, actually, the real, the real title of the show "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" came out because uhm we were doing the Showtime movie at the time and the Sabrina movie, the remake of Sabrina, was coming out with Harrison Ford. So to, we had to, we had to add that part to the name so they wouldn't get confused and it kinda had to stick for the show, too. So, hopefully, one day we'll get rid of that part and it'll just be Sabrina. But uhm, I, I plan to do it for a while, you know, see, see where it goes. And uh, I really enjoy doing it. I love the people I work with. And it's a fun character. It's great because I'll, I'm also part of the, part of the production team. So I get to kinda, be creative.

B:
Alright. So [hosts], can I give you a mousepad?
H:
What kind?

B:
One of yours.
H:
Do you have one?

B:
No.
H:
It was just a cute way of getting one. (M:[laughs]). Wow, what a real witty comment.That was good. Very very witty too Brian. Really good man, thanks. How about that NBC made for TV movie "Silencing Mary"?

M:
Yeah, uhm. We don't have an airdate for it yet. It is called "Silencing Mary". And it's about the campus justice system. And, it's actually really interesting. It's one that, my sister found an article in the newspaper and, and kind of came up with a treatment for the story and, and sold it to NBC. And uh, we made the movie this summer in Vancouver.

H:
It's about what?
M:
It's about the campus justice system. It's about, uhm, my roommate in the movie gets raped by a football player. And, campus systems, have, they have their own courts, their own police, that kind of thing. So they don't have to go to the outside police and, and do the same routine things. So, it's, it's about how this girl kind of helped to try to change the way it works. So. It's actually a really great movie. I'm very proud of it. So.

H:
You probably didn't have to audition for that one either.
M:
Uh, no.

H:
Wow, this is a good tip. If you don't want to audition, just write your own. (M:[laughs]). Alright, well Melissa Joan Hart, she stars in "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch". It airs on Friday nights on ABC at 8 o'clock. Alright, now I got everything autographed, right?
M:
Yeah.

H:
Well you're not going to get out of here. (M:[laughs]) A whole bunch of people (M:lined up?). Ernesto, our switchboarder, loves you, not his kid, it's you he loves. And he's got a picture of you from I think it's a Teen Beat magazine or something he wants you to sign.

M:
Oh my goodness.
H:
He's like your biggest fan.

M:
I was just saying, they have the, they have the weirdest pictures. Those teen magazines just find the strangest pictures in the strangest places, and you just never know what you're going to look like. H:
Hey, the Friday night lineups on ABC, TGIF?

M:
TGIF.
H:
So this is like, Friday night for kids (M: Um-hmm). And it's working, isn't it?

M:
Yeah, it is. I think it is. Uhm, we've got a new lineup this year because "Family Matters" and "Step by Step" went over to CBS. So, we've got uh, "You Wish", which is about a genie. We've got "Teen Angel", and we've got "Boy Meets World", which has been on for years. And uh, actually, there's one night coming up soon, where we do a seamless night where I kind of go over to all the other shows and visit. And Salem the cat swallows a time ball so all the shows go into a different...We're in the 60's, uhm You Wish is in the 50's, Teen Angel is in the 70's.
H:
As if! (M:[laughs]). It's interesting too that it's really always been this way. Our TGIF was "Partrdige Family" and the "Brady Bunch" back to back and it worked like a charm then (M:Yeah) and it still works.

M:
Yeah, it's great to see a block
H:
You probably don't remember those shows Melissa!

M:
Hey. Actually, Maureen McCormick is on uh "Teen Angel" though. We've got her in our block.
H:
Alright, listen. Melissa thank you (M:Thank you) for coming in and doing our program.

M:
Thank You.
H:
Friday nights, 8 o'clock, it's "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch". Melissa Joan Hart, thank you again.

M:
Thanks.
H:
See you again.

M:
Take care.
H:
Alright, buhbye. "> http://www.thur.de