'Stone Phillips: 15 Years of Dateline'

STAR TURNS

Ellen Degeneres, 2004

Stone Phillips: You exude so much positive energy on the show. Where does that come from?
Ellen DeGeneres: The liquor. I'm sure of it.

If at first you don't succeed, try again.  It was a theme of Ellen Degeneres' career -- and my interview.

Stone Phillips: Your humor has always been good-natured and--and clean.
Ellen DeGeneres: Mm-hmm.
Stone Phillips: Have you ever been tempted to work blue?
Ellen DeGeneres: (BLEEP)...no.
Stone Phillips: (Laughs) Let me ask that question again.
Ellen DeGeneres: All right.
Stone Phillips: Have you ever been tempted to work blue?
Ellen DeGeneres: I'll...(BLEEP)...say it again.

Michael Caine, 2000

Michael Caine: I would never do that because I think that looks ridiculous.

A dead serious Michael Caine was explaining his disdain for nude scenes, when suddenly the academy award-winning Brit began to chuckle.

Michael Caine: I always remember they said to Robert Halpman, who was the boss of the Royal Ballet here, they said, 'Have you ever thought of doing a nude ballet … in the nude?' So he said, 'No, never.' So he said 'Why not?' He said, 'Because not everything stops when the music does!' And that's how I feel. (laughter)

Sandra Bernhard, 1992

Sandra Bernhard: If you can save one straight man from being a complete sexist, you know, idiot -- I mean I think that's like a great thing to do.

Leave it to Sandra Bernhard to pose for Playboy and call it a public service, exposing a whole new audience to her un-bunny-like appearance, unrelenting sarcasm and unabashed lesbianism. 

Stone Phillips: If you wind up with another woman and you want children?
Sandra Bernhard: 'Another woman'?
Stone Phillips: Another woman, and you...
Sandra Bernhard: Are you suggesting that I just left one?
Stone Phillips: you're one woman, and they would be the other woman.
Sandra Bernhard: You mean 'a woman.'
Stone Phillips: 'A woman.' If you wind up with a woman...
Sandra Bernhard: Yeah.
Stone Phillips: ...and you want kids, would you...
Sandra Bernhard: Sure.
Stone Phillips: ...would you do artificial insemination...
Sandra Bernhard:  Yeah, I have a lot of friends who would, you know, throw some sperm my way.  Hey, while you're at it, save some for me.   Stone?
Stone Phillips:  Oh please! 

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