The Gregory Mantell Show

Gregory Mantell is host of "The Gregory Mantell Show," the #1 internet talk show. More than 350 episodes of the show have been produced, and the program has received millions of hits online.

Pizzazz Magazine: What would you say is the highlight of your life so far and how does it compare to your overall goals?

Gregory Mantell: I love traveling and reading and writing, but without a doubt doing the talk show is the highlight. Just because it incorporates everything I like to do--all of my interests--and it's just a hell of a lot of fun.

Pizzazz Magazine: Have you made contacts using the internet that you know you wouldn't have if it weren't for the web being so accessible?

Gregory Mantell: Absolutely. I do not do internet dating, but I do book almost all of my guests exclusively via e-mail. Because it's so much easier. I can send clips of the show, possible interview times, all sorts of information people would have to write down if you call them first.

Pizzazz Magazine: Funny how it usually works. We grow up wanting to be firefighters or nurses, then due to the glory of media, rock stars, actors, etc. and then reality sits in... We end up being ourselves... Good or bad... What's your story?

Gregory Mantell: When I was growing up, I was never even aware that there really was such a job category as talk show host. I did think a bit about becoming an actor or a singer. But I was a reporter since I worked on my high school paper. I also had other strong interests such as reading, travel, business, etc. What I love about doing a talk show is that it is a way to incorporate all of your interests into your job.

Pizzazz Magazine: What one thing haven't you done you would still like to?

Gregory Mantell: Take my show national--hell, global! I want the Gregory Mantell Show to be on all seven continents. Maybe even other planets, though at the moment I am working on podcasting.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me one of the negative aspects of your field that everyone needs to know. Do not say there are none! The biggest lie about your work is:

Gregory Mantell: Well, there can be sensationalism but in general I am happy that there is a still a forum on television in which people can discuss serious issues and life--and have fun!

Pizzazz Magazine: What are your 5 favorite or most frequently visited websites?

Gregory Mantell: #1 is definitely my e-mail account, #2 www.usatoday.com, #3 is www.cnn.com. My college's website. IMDB and Amazon are up there pretty high.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me something people do not realize about you, maybe it's not a secret, maybe it's not anything special, but it is something no one else has ever asked you about until now. What's boring to you is news to everyone else...

Gregory Mantell: Taking this talk show global!!

Pizzazz Magazine: Anything embarrassing happen when YOU were trying to look cool? What? Embarrassing and crazy are different things!

Gregory Mantell: Should I really tell you this? Well, I was in Athens this summer and I was walking down the street, feeling like Super Stud. When all of sudden I looked down and noticed something dragging behind my shoe. I had just come out of the public rest room, which had a lot of paper and garbage on the floor, and a very long piece of white tissue got stuck to the bottom of my shoe. I pulled it off very quickly with my other foot and tried to disappear pronto.

Pizzazz Magazine: The biggest PLUS FACTOR about your line of business is:

Gregory Mantell: I think the TV talk show is the best kept secret in Hollywood. People move to LA wanting to be movie stars. But with what other job do you get to meet anyone and everyone and get paid to just sit around shooting the breeze? You see a movie and like it--you can interview the actors. You read a book and like it--you can interview the author. If you like to work out, travel, you name it--you can invite experts in the field to come over and talk about it.

Pizzazz Magazine: What question makes you crazy whenever asked and hopefully saying so here will prevent it from being asked again?

Gregory Mantell: I'm supposed to tell you what question drives me crazy? :) There are thing that drive me crazy--waiting in long lines, etc.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me a joke:

Gregory Mantell: I used to get a lot of those e-mail joke lists that everyone seemed to be sending for a while, though it has quieted down lately, fortunately. I rarely forward any of them. But I will share one joke someone sent me that I actually did think was funny and sent to my friends:

One day a man comes home from work. His wife comes up to him all excited and says, "Honey, pack your bags! I've got a surprise for you." He says, "Why? What's going on? Where are we going?" She says, "I don't know, but I just won the lottery and I want you to get the hell out."

Pizzazz Magazine: What music group do you listen to most often and what is their best album?

Gregory Mantell: I run a lot and I have to listen to music when I run. Unfortunately, I listen to a lot of cheesy pop music--uptime, high energy stuff to keep me running. But I'm not sure I want to admit or confess in writing what it is.

Pizzazz Magazine: Who should hang up their hat in your business? Why?

Gregory Mantell: First, I should say I don't watch much TV. On the one hand, I wish anyone who has made it in the talk show realm well-- more power to them. Especially, Oprah, who has really done great things for the talk show industry. On the other hand, all of the major shows have their own philosophy or voice, and I find some more appealing than others. So, as a host, I watch everything on occasion to see what people are up to, though as a viewer I don't have time to watch most on a regular basis. Perhaps because I am too busy doing my own show! I did use to watch Merv Griffin and Phil Donahue when I was growing up.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me your favorite movie genre, name a few titles, think video rental or DVD's you own and watch the most:

Gregory Mantell: I don't watch much TV but I'm a huge movie buff. A good serious drama, comedies, sci-fi. Even a good action or horror film. Mostly I rent movies through one of the online / mail rental services. I have watched all the AFI Top 100 movies, quite a few of which I enjoyed and think tend to be quite a bit better than most of the new stuff. I did buy the boxed set of Superman, one of the few I've actually purchased.

Pizzazz Magazine: What TV show do you miss from childhood... I used to love Land of the Giants and Dance Fever (kidding on that one)....

Gregory Mantell: This will be used against me some day! I never watched Land of the Giants, but I was a fan of Land of the Lost. I even watched the Man from Atlantis, the Bionic Man, and Woman, Battlestar Galactica--my number 1 favorite TV of all time. And my number #2 favorite TV show of all time--Dallas. Even the Facts of Life.

Pizzazz Magazine: If you were anyone besides yourself, who would you be (even for just a day, on a good day, of course) and did you emulate them growing up or is this a recent admiration you have acquired?

Gregory Mantell: I have plenty of heroes, but there is no one else I would want be--perhaps simply because I never considered body-switching a possibility. I admire various people for various reasons: Plato as a philosopher, Jane Austen and a lot of English novelists as writers, Christopher Reeve as Superman and John Wayne as tough guys who didn't take any crap but who were still good people.