Our first guest is the co-anchor of Good Morning America
and the executive producer of the new TV movie, Mahalia.
Please welcome Robin Roberts.
[APPLAUSE]
I usually dance on with tWitch.
It's so odd just to be not dancing with you, with tWitch.
You can.
We can watch you dance right now.
And tWitch can dance next to you.
Look, you're dancing together right now.
Yeah.
I'm really good.
I'm a really good dancer when I'm sitting.
Yeah.
[LAUGHTER]
We're all at our best.
Now I feel like I'm on.
Yes.
Now you feel like you're here.
Well, actually, you were here-- the last time I saw you,
you were here just a couple of weeks before lockdown.
Yes.
I was there for the Oscars, came by to see you, as I often do.
And I remember, as a joke, you gave me some masks
because it was right before everything was about to happen.
Yes, right.
And I got to tell you, that no longer exists.
I wore it so much, because I didn't have any masks
when this first happened.
I had to rely on what you gave me.
So thank you very much.
But who knew?
I mean, who knew that was going to be on as long as it was,
and still going on for so many people.
Yeah.
I know.
Yeah, it was kind of a joke to give you that mask.
And I'm glad it came in handy.
How is reporting for you in 2021?
Are you feeling hopeful?
What's happening?
It's a big exhale.
You know, 2020 was so incredibly difficult for everyone.
And then the first month--
I call January of '21, the 13th month of 2020
with what was going on at the beginning of the year.
But now I just feel overall, we're
all just kind of taking a deep breath.
Yeah, yeah.
And are you-- because you are a cancer survivor,
have you gotten a vaccination?
Are you going to get vaccinated?
I am a cancer thriver.
That's what I like to say, not just a survivor,
but a cancer thriver.
[APPLAUSE]
And I am so grateful.
Yes.
In fact, this week, I got my second shot.
I know that you can relate.
I had a few-- not any side effects, just a little fatigue
and that.
But I'm so happy to have that behind me.
In fact, I can't really announce too much about it.
But I'm working on a podcast, Ellen, to help people.
There are a lot of stories out there
and a lot of misinformation about the vaccines.
And so I'm talking with experts and getting people
the proper information so they can make informed
decisions for themselves.
But, yes, I have been vaccinated.
I am happy to hear it.
I'm happy to hear it.
Now, did you do the single-shot Johnson & Johnson
or Moderna or Pfizer?
I wanted the one and done.
I was trying to hold out for J&J.
Yeah.
You know?
I just wanted one and done.
But I had the Pfizer.
I had the two shots.
What about you?
I haven't had any.
I haven't had anything yet.
I still have my antibodies.
I'm still hanging in there.
And I also don't want to get it before anybody else.
I want everybody else to get what they need first.
I'm not of age to ask for that and I
want people to get theirs.
Good for you.
I clicked off a lot of the boxes.
Yes, you did.
Two-time cancer thriver, African-American, I
won't give my age.
But, yes, a lot of those boxes.
No, you definitely should be in that category
of getting the vaccination.
You recently had some big interviews.
And you're doing great.
So congratulations on everything that you've been doing.
Do you remember your first big interview?
Why are you asking me that, Ellen?
Do you know something?
It might be a good story.
I'm just asking.
All the years I've known you, I've never shared this.
But my first big interview, I was still in college.
And I was quite nervous.
And I-- how can I make this--
I wet myself.
[LAUGHTER]
You spilled water on yourself?
Oh, yes, OK.
I'll go with that.
I wish-- no, it was like clean up on aisle one
after I did the big interview.
I don't remember who the interview was with.
Yes, I guess I was nervous.
I was still in college.
I was really wanting to make an impression.
And I think I really did.
Yes.
I'm remembering it after all this time.
But, yes, that's--
I can't believe that I've gone this long
with knowing you and being on your show
and haven't shared it until now.
I'm glad I asked the question.
Don't you feel free now?
Don't you feel like we're closer?
I feel relieved.
OK.
I get it.
Now, wait, did the person know that you wet yourself?
Did they see?
It was pretty-- you know, no follow-ups.
There will be no follow-ups to this.
It was pretty hard not to notice.
Let's put it that way.
Well, I think that that's hilarious.
See, that's the lesson is that we always make
something bigger than it is.
In our minds, something is so like, ooh, I have to do so well
and I have to be perfect here.
And look, you look back and you're like,
I didn't need to wet myself at all.
You don't have to keep repeating it.
(SARCASTICALLY) Repeat that you wet yourself or repeat that--
OK.
What's happening with-- you're on ABC.
How come you're not hosting Jeopardy?
Everybody is hosting Jeopardy.
Oh, first of all, boy, Alex Trebek--
I just enjoyed meeting him over the years.
I mean, he's just-- he was just, in so many ways,
just a beacon of hope and all that.
But I knew that I was not destined
to be a guest host because I was on Celebrity Jeopardy.
I was so bad as a guest that I think
that if I had been on the list that anybody who remembers me
from being on the celebrity show, they knew that.
But I contest it was the buzzer.
I knew the answers.
It was just I couldn't--
Right.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
You stick to it, yes.
All right, Robin, we have to take a break.
And we'll be-- more with Robin after this.
We're back with Robin Roberts.
That's from her new Lifetime movie that she produced,
Mahalia.
Tell everybody about Mahalia.
Oh, my goodness.
First of all, that was Danielle Brooks playing Mahalia Jackson.
And Danielle Brooks, she just brought it.
Mahalia Jackson, the queen of gospel music,
she was born in New Orleans.
She was a phenomenal singer.
And more than that, she was involved in the Civil Rights
Movement.
She was the one--
the March on Washington-- because she sang a song.
Of course, Dr. King was giving a speech.
And when Dr. King was giving his speech
and was going on and on and on, and she
was the one that shouted Tell 'em about the dream, Martin.
Tell 'em about the dream.
And that's what he went into his "I Have a Dream" speech,
which is what we really remember from the March on Washington.
But she was just a force of nature.
And Danielle Brooks, I know she's going to be on your show.
Yeah.
She is phenomenal.
I mean, I have to admit, when Kenny Leon,
who was our director--
when he came on board and he said,
Danielle Brooks, I'm like--
you're talking about Taystee, Taystee from Orange
is the New Black?
And he had worked with her on Broadway.
And he knew what she could do.
And I cannot wait for people to see this.
They're going to be truly moved.
I know they will.
[APPLAUSE]
Yeah.
I can't wait.
She's on in a couple of weeks, so amazing.
Great story.
And the movie looks amazing.
So now I've learned two things about you today.
The first, which I won't bring up again, you know the--
Yes, right.
--the wetting yourself.
And then also that you have a fuzzy slipper collection,
you collect fuzzy slippers.
[LAUGHTER]
Oh, yes, I do.
In fact, I have--
right here I have my-- these are my froggy slippers right here.
These are from Oprah's Favorite Things.
Whew, I shouldn't really put it that way.
But even on the set--
not many people know this.
But at Good Morning America, for the first hour,
we're behind the desk.
So I could be wearing anything from the waist down.
Oh, there you have it.
I need to get me some fuzzy slippers.
They look very comfortable.
I'm going to start doing it too.
Hey, Robin, it's great seeing you, great talking to you.
I can't wait to see you in-person soon.
And say hi to Amber.
My love to you.
Stay safe.
Same to you.
Love you, El'.
Love you too.
So proud of you.
Robin Roberts-- you too.
Robin Roberts presents Mahalia, premieres April 3
at 8:00 on Lifetime.
Check it out, everybody.
We'll be right back.