Good Morning America is one of the biggest morning shows in the country, reaching nearly a quarter of the population on any given day. The show is well-known for featuring some of the biggest names in all types of interviews, from politics to health to entertainment. If you’re a celebrity or a celebrity watcher, this is one show you should know about!
But the best part of Good Morning America is the incredible collection of interviews the show has gathered over the years. And now, in celebration of the show’s 75th anniversary, the brand new “Best of” collection is here! It’s a great chance to look back at some of the most memorable interviews from the history of Good Morning America, and we’ve collected them all here for you.
Jackie Chan
One of the most memorable interviews in the history of Good Morning America is without a doubt Jackie Chan. The kung fu superstar dropped by the show in 2016 and told all about his adventures as a movie star. If you’ve never heard of Chan, he’s probably the most famous Chinese actor in the world, with an incredible filmography that includes over 50 projects and nearly 40 years in the industry. During his interview, Chan revealed that he’s actually been dreaming of coming to America ever since he first arrived in the country as a refugee in 1967. He said:
“Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve been dreaming of this moment. To actually come to America and have an interview on one of the biggest shows in America and have the opportunity to tell people my story and what I’ve done.”
Chan went on to discuss how his movies are a combination of East and West, referencing the blend of traditional Chinese culture and Japanese martial arts that are such an important part of his work. When asked if he had any advice for people looking to enter the acting industry, Chan responded:
“I’ve been in Hollywood for a very long time. I acted for 20 years before I became a director. So, I have lots of advice for people who want to become actors. First, you have to understand that it’s not about the looks. It’s about the ability to act.”
Chan also revealed that he’s currently working on a new film, providing some exciting new details about the movie and his role in it. The actor dropped by the set of his new movie, The Legend of Sun Wukong, as he began production in November 2017. Check out the rest of the highlights from this incredible interview below:
Oprah Winfrey
Another incredible interview in the history of Good Morning America is that of Oprah Winfrey. It was in 2007 and the talk show host was in the middle of her farewell tour when she stopped by the set of the show. It was during a taping of her show that she interviewed the Twilight star, revealing lots of interesting details about the filming of the blockbuster franchise. While most people know Winfrey from her talk show, she began her career in television in 1968, with her very first guest appearance being on the then-new show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. Since then, she’s appeared on countless talk shows and interviewed many well-known personalities, from Bill Clinton and Tony Blair to the cast of Sex and the City – just to name a few.
Back in 2007, the last year of her tour, Winfrey was in Philadelphia filming an episode of her show. While there, the crew from Twilight stopped by to say hello, and the whole thing was quickly arranged. Winfrey revealed the details of her conversation with Stephenie in a blog post, saying:
“I remember when I walked into the hotel lobby, there were a couple of people there from the set of Twilight, and we just started talking. It was so much fun, and then they asked if they could take a photo with me. It was something that I had been looking forward to since the movie came out. So, of course, I said they could take a picture with me.”
On the set of her new movie, Winfrey revealed that its theme is inspired by a Dr. Seuss book she had as a child. The movie, which will be released next year, is called The Grinch Game and follows another iconic children’s book, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (1957). The movie will pit two of the biggest movie stars of our time – Tom Hanks and Paul Giamatti – against each other in an epic Christmas showdown. Hanks plays Dr. Seuss’s Grinch, while Giamatti plays Cindy Lou Who alongside Jack Nicholson’s voice as the Grinch. The role was previously played by Jim Carrey in Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (2003).
Speaking of Nicholson, he’s still going strong at the age of 86. The actor and comedian – who has recently been in the headlines for his role in the Amazon series, The Mick – has been in countless movies, but he revealed in 2007 that he considers his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008) to be his defining role. The part allowed him to show another side to his acting, the side he often plays in comedies, such as his performance in About Schmidt (2002). But it was his part as the Joker that made him a household name. In discussing the role with Oprah Winfrey, Nicholson said:
“I did a lot of research into the psychology of rage and psychopathic behavior, and I tried to embody that in the performance. I think I did an okay job of it.”
“To me, it was very clear that this was an iconic role. When I got the call about doing The Dark Knight, I knew exactly what it was. The director, Christopher Nolan, had seen my work in About Schmidt and he wanted me to play the Joker.”
Michael Jackson
And let’s not forget about Michael Jackson. In 1983, the pop superstar stopped by the set of his music video for “Childhood Friends,” an episode of the then-new TV show, Celebrity Game. During his visit, he posed for some photos and signed some posters for fans. Since then, Jackson has graced the cover of many a magazine and has become one of the most recognizable faces in the world. In 1983, he was just 28 years old and had just released his self-titled album, Michael Jackson, a few months earlier. Now, over 30 years later, we’re still talking about that album. On the 30th anniversary of his iconic Victory Tour, Jackson mentioned how important that trip was to him in his autobiography, My Life.
This is one of the iconic interviews for any fan of Michael Jackson. And, while we’re on the topic of his music, it’s worth noting that many of his biggest albums – including Thriller (1982) – are now considered classical standards and are featured on lists of the greatest albums ever made. So, if you’re looking to learn more about Michael Jackson, then this is a great place to start.
Madonna
Madonna is another huge name that graced the cover of numerous magazines in the ’70s and ’80s. The pop superstar – who recently celebrated her 60th birthday – was arguably at the peak of her career when she stopped by the set of the TV show, Designing Women, in 1985. While there, she shared some details about her music. In particular, she talked about how she channelsed her inner child while writing her mega-hit, “Material Girl”. It was the last episode of the third season of the show, and the part where the women talk about their childhood heroes and what they admire about them. In the scene, Madonna’s character, Alex Reed, talks about her idol, Lucille Ball. Ball had just died a few days earlier, and the conversation turned to childhood, with Madonna discussing how she admired the way Ball played with and protected her young son, Desi. Here’s what Madonna had to say:
“Lucille Ball was such a maternal figure to me… She would always be holding up this imaginary train of people, coming to my house – I loved the sound of that train — and she would always be tickling me and making me laugh. When she died, it was like someone died with me. I loved her so much.”
Madonna’s admiration for Ball and how she channeled her inner child while writing “Material Girl” are two of the biggest talking points among fans of the singer. And it’s clear that over the years, Madonna has done a lot to bring attention to herself and her music. She’s released more than 30 official studio albums and has had more number one singles than any other female artist in history. She’s also one of the most followed people on Twitter, with over 140 million followers across all platforms. If you want to learn more about Madonna, then there are plenty of resources available, including the singer’s official website.