Brandon Hickman/ET © Entertainment Tonight/2021, All Rights Reserved.Nischelle Turner, cohost of Entertainment Tonight and host and producer of Secret Celebrity Renovation, puts that journalism degree to use. Even a two-minute interview represents hours of research. The first Black woman to cohost the evening show, Turner also cohosts The Big Podcast With Shaq.
On a break from juggling all of this work, Turner answers our “5 Questions.”
1. Who was the first celebrity you interviewed?
Ozzie Smith, a former St. Louis Cardinal. I was a reporter anchor in Evansville, Indiana. It was the best for me because I’m a big Cardinals fan.
2. When were you starstruck?
The very first time I interviewed Oprah, I was like, I don’t even know what to say, how to move, what to do. And I walked into the room, and she gave me a high-five, and I still have a picture of it. And she was lovely, but I was completely petrified. And my first time interviewing Denzel Washington. He’s great. Also, my first time interviewing Meryl Streep. I was about ready to pass out. I actually just had a moment a few months ago. It was such a great day, and I got to sit down with Carol Burnett, and it really was one of my favorite interviews that I’ve ever done. She is like a legend in all caps.
3. Since you’ve talked about this and many reporters had a similar experience, who was the most challenging celebrity interview?
Tommy Lee Jones. That’s a given. That’s, like, No. 1. Everything else is all the way down there. I can deal with anybody else, but it’s him. This was for Men in Black. I tried everything. I got up and walked out of that interview. I was done. You can sit down with people, and maybe they’re not the easiest interview, but honestly, if you’re just going to be rude to me for the sake of being rude — I’m always going to go into an interview with respect, and you’re not just going to disrespect people just because you can.
4. What is your ideal day?
I’m an early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of girl, just always have been because my grandma was my caregiver, and we didn’t play around in the Turner household. My ideal will probably be to keep my eyes closed a little after 7am and get up, not having much to do, go to dance class. It’s my favorite thing; it’s my happy place. Come back, put the grill on. Either have crab or lobster and sit by the pool and just chill out. Sit in the hot tub, sit by the pool, and hang out and catch up on Ted Lasso.
5. What has it been like as a producer on Secret Celebrity Renovation?
I love it! I get a hand in casting and whose stories we’re telling. I’ll reach out to people and say, “Hey, during the show, it’s athletes and celebrities who go back to their hometown and just do something good for someone who’s made a difference in their life, someone who’s helped shape them to become the person we know today.” And I honestly don’t think that I have put a call into anyone who has just said no.
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