NBC Live:
Giselle and Pat are now with us! Thank you for joining us this evening.

Pat O'Brien:
Hi everyone, this is Pat and Giselle, and we are thrilled to be with you, and let's get right to work.

NBC Live:
Is this your first time chatting?

Giselle Fernandez:
It is my first time chatting, but I am being well guided by my friend, veteran Pat on the web. And I have to say it's terrific being able to chat with you all like this in cyberspace.

IssacHayes:
What's the toughest decision you've ever had to make professionally?

Pat O'Brien:
At this level, there are so many decisions that you make on a day to day basis, it'd be easy to say they're all tough. The real answer is, it's only television. If we were brain surgeons, now you'd have a story.

IssacHayes:
Are the episodes live or taped? From start to finish, how long does each episode take?

Giselle Fernandez:
The episodes are taped live, meaning we go through a live show, but it's taped earlier to make sure we can make our east and west coast feeds. If there's breaking entertainment news, we handle it just as any other newsroom would, we update the broadcast.

Giselle Fernandez:
It's a tremendous amount of fun, particularly because Pat and I have great chemistry and enjoy sparring with one another on set, and have a passion for what we're doing.

18princess18:
what has been your favorite piece on AH?

Pat O'Brien:
Mine's tomorrow, when I expose my golf game with Cuba Gooding, Jr. And I have to be honest with you, it's not a pretty sight.

Pat O'Brien:
I also was proud of today's conversation with my friend Scott Hamilton, who has beaten cancer.

Dcdubois:
I want to know what Giselle Fernandez does to be in such great shape?

Giselle Fernandez:
I'm an avid runner, and really watch what I eat. And thank you for saying so.

Mentallo:
Hi Giselle and Pat I am an aspireing actor from Toronto and I was just wondering with your knowledge of the way Hollywood works and all, what would be your advise for a budding actor on how to get into the business

Pat O'Brien:
First of all, get your foot in any door, work for free if you have to. And the bottom line here is, if you're good, you'll make it. If you're not, you might make it for awhile, but remember, talent rises.

Giselle Fernandez:
I heard a great quote recently, that said "Real talent will never be ignored." I've seen a lot of people in Hollywood who are famous and have little talent, commercial exposure is huge in this town. But the greatest advice for longevity of any kind in this business I can give is to really study the craft. I tell journalists, if you want to make it in broadcasting, read, read read, write, write, write, and become the best you can be in your field. I think that's true for acting as well. Classical training, practice, auditions, all the basics to me a solid foundation is your key.

A_Butter:
How did you get you start in the industry?

Pat O'Brien:
I started out getting coffee for David Brinkley, and then I was a production assistant on the Huntley Brinkley Show, even though I'm not really that old. Then, I was a writer, a producer, an editor, a reporter, an anchorman, and here I am.

Dasisgood:
PAT DO YOU MISS THE SPORTS WORLD THAT YOU CAME FROM AND DO YOU EVER PLAN ON GETTING BACK INTO IT

Pat O'Brien:
I spent a great 17 years at CBS doing sports, and after 16 US Opens, 4 Superbowls, 4 World Series, 9 Final Fours, 2 Olympics and so on, I felt that was a pretty good career there. But you never know what will happen. Right now I'm thrilled to be where I'm at.

Giselle Fernandez:
Next to me!

A_Butter:
Giselle, what's the difference between hosting "Today" or the "NBC Nightly News" and "Access Hollywood"?

Giselle Fernandez:
There's a lot that's different, there's a lot that's the same. Here at Access we don't take ourselves so bloody seriously. Without being funny, they're apples and oranges, tacos burritos, two different animals. On the one hand, in hard news, you're dealing with real life issues and stories that affect people's lives. And a lot of them have to do with tragedies, policies, politics. That mandates a different type of preparation, tone than is necessary for an entertainment show.

Giselle Fernandez:
But the same skills are used in writing the broadcast, interviewing, reporting, the same integrity, work ethic, everything from my past life I use in my present. The tone is different, that's all.

Appleplum:
How do you two like working together?

Giselle Fernandez:
We hate it.

Giselle Fernandez:
Honestly, I can say this with total sincerity, ask any of my friends, I've never been happier on the air. Pat and I have wanted to work together for years, ever since I was at CBS News and he was doing a late night show for the Olympics in Norway. It's fabulous to work with someone you respect, enjoy personally, and have great chemistry with. Plus he does great dinners, knows his wine, dresses like a stud, has a hell of a wife, and can talk sports, politics, rock and roll, and my hairdo on a nightly basis. Plus he's a runner, how cool is that?

Pat O'Brien:
Could we hear more from Giselle please? Seriously, and I'll make this short...

Giselle Fernandez:
No please Pat, go on as long as you wish!

Pat O'Brien:
...she's as smart as she is beautiful.

NIN1002:
Mr. O'Brien: I was wondering what you do during your time off from work. I seem to remember (especially when I was younger) you on almost every week doing the World Series and NCAA basketball. So, what does a person like you do to relax and how often...

Pat O'Brien:
I spend a great deal of time with my son, who is at that great age where there's football games, baseball games, basketball games, and go-cart rides.

Pat O'Brien:
And to be honest, just having weekends off for the first time in memory is like having Christmas everyday.

SonnyWest:
Pat, do you prefer working next to the beautiful Giselle Fernandez or does your sports background still yearn for the "smelly locker room?"

Pat O'Brien:
Well, there's something to be said about a smelly locker room, but I'm very happy in this world.


Giselle Fernandez:
Hi Isaac!

IssacHayes:
What type of stories do you like to cover the most?

Giselle Fernandez:
I love covering all entertainment news, and stories of any kind that are good. Right now I have the most fun interviewing entertainers who I admire or who I think reflect a voice that really mirrors our time. Like today, I had a great interview with Jenny McCarthy. We all know her as the sexy bimbo psychotic playgirl playmate, now in a sitcom. But sitting down with her, you get this rare opportunity to talk to the person behind the persona, and meet a smart woman with depth and dreams of acting. It's cool to see the many sides of famous personalities, and bring those sides few see to the airwaves.

Giselle Fernandez:
I had a similar experience recently with Francis Ford Coppola who talked about feeling insecure during the making of The Godfather, and to Danny Devito who said his first job as a hairdresser made him very happy. Julio Iglesias said he's not the Latin lover everyone thinks, and told me in Las Vegas this past weekend a terrible car accident left him paralyzed at 19 and he never thought he'd become anything in his life. As you can see, as Pat will tell you as well, choosing what you'd like to cover is pointless. Everyone has a story, everyone has something interesting to share, it's all fun.

Rasklat:
How soon will Hollywood jump on the Louise Woodward story and come up with a Movie of the Week, and who do you think will play the lead role?

Pat O'Brien:
That was our lead story tonight, and Hollywood has already jumped on the story, we're told there are several producers who want to turn it into a television movie.

Pat O'Brien:
And I would be hard pressed to suggest who would be the lead, although I'd guess it'd be an unknown, because of the nature of the story. I'm not sure any established actor would want the role.

Redlob:
What is your favorite aspect of the business?

Pat O'Brien:
I liked the television business, I enjoy everything about it. It's my job,and I enjoy everything about it, and I try to learn something new everyday. It's really a lot of fun at any level, and it can be quite rewarding.

Giselle Fernandez:
Are you kidding...

Giselle Fernandez:
The best part without question for me is getting a front row seat to the greatest artist of our time, and in the case of hard news, history in the making. Television is fun, the personalities are interesting, you are constantly learning something new, it's very rarely boring. And we get paid for that.

Pat O'Brien:
Hey, I didn't know we were getting paid for this.

Clift_Note:
What type of preparation goes into covering a story?

Giselle Fernandez:
A lot.

Pat O'Brien:
Everyday you prepare, just like you would in your job. But in this business when you're on a day to day show, you're preparing all the time, because you never want to be taken by surprise.

Giselle Fernandez:
Hey Buzzy, if you're out there, hi buddy! I love the internet, and I love my website, thank you!

NBC Live:
Are you married? And if not, are you looking? (lots of people on the web are asking!)

Giselle Fernandez:
Pat is married to a beautiful woman- his high school sweetheart Linda. I love her! They have been married 24 years. I on the other hand, fear the only time I'll go down the aisle will be in a coffin!

Giselle Fernandez:
However, Pat is working hard to change that so we can double date. I must confess, I am not lonely though, for I have a 2 year old border collie named Nellie Bly, impregnated by 8 year old Sky Dog, whom I treat like my children. I'm sick I know, Pat tells me

Pat O'Brien:
Just so you know Giselle, I'm looking for 5 other guys.

Access_Hollywood:
(We need at least 6 pall bearers)

Cugraduate:
Pat, do you think Marv Albert was given an easy sentence?

Pat O'Brien:
No, I think what he went through in public is like a life sentence.

NBC Live:
Buzzy's here!

Buzzy_97:
Hi, Giselle! It's Buzzy...saw you were on Politically Incorrect a while back. What was that like? Would you do it again if you were asked?

Giselle Fernandez:
I've been asked, and would love to do it, think it's a great show. And Buzzy, have I told you lately that I love you?

Pat O'Brien:
Buzzy, are you available to be a pall bearer?

NBC Live:
ATTENTION PLEASE: Now for the moment that you've all been waiting for.......... We're about to give away 1 of Pat's fabulous tie.

NBC Live:
All you need to do is be the first person to answer the following question correctly:

NBC Live:
The question is --- Who found everlasting love with the song "This Will Be"? It was a hit for her in 1975. The clock is ticking..... get your answer in to us now and win one of Pat's ties. Plus, he autographed it!

NBC Live:
To retrieve the tie, you need to include your email address & phone number!!! The first person is......

NBC Live:
And Dalex 7777 is the winner! Be sure to send us your email info. or phone number! Congratulations to Dalex 7777, you have now won one of Pat's ties.

NBC Live:
Tune in to Access Hollywood daily....check your local listings!!!!

NBC Live:
Thank you to Pat and Giselle for being with us this evening!

Pat O'Brien:
It was a pleasure chatting with all of you in cyberspace today. We'll definitely be back!

Giselle Fernandez:
Thanks everyone. I really enjoyed chatting with you all this evening, and I appreciate all of your questions.

Giselle Fernandez and Pat O'Brien:
Congrats to the lucky winner - Dalex 7777!

Giselle Fernandez and Pat O'Brien:
BYE! :-)

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