We've all witnessed our fair share of awkward, rude, and downright terrible guests on talk shows. It leaves you thinking—if you feel uncomfortable at home, imagine how the host must be feeling. On the Oct. 13 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, iconic morning talk show host Hoda Kotb admitted that the worst guest she ever had on Today was Frank Sinatra Jr.
It all went down when Andy Cohen invited a surprise special guest—past Today co-host Kathie Lee Gifford—to put Kotb in the hot seat during the show's classic game of "Plead the Fifth." The segment features three questions, only one of which the guest can "plead the fifth" to and avoid answering. Kotb didn't hold back when answering the first question.
"Who do you think was my least favorite guest of all time?" Gifford asked. "And I bet it was yours, too." Kotb quickly responded with confidence that, "It's Frank Sinatra Jr." If you haven't seen the interview, we promise it's as painful as they insinuate.
Sinatra Jr. was on the show in Oct. 2015 to promote a book, Sinatra 100, celebrating the life of his father, Frank Sinatra, on what would have been the Chairman of the Board's 100th birthday. However, Sinatra Jr. was pretty resistant to responding to any of the hosts' questions, leaving most of the work to the book's co-author, Charles Pignone.
"It was the worst guest we've ever had, bar none," Kotb said. "He had a book he was promoting, and he didn't want to talk about it, so he didn't say anything. So weird."
Of course, there have been plenty of cringe-worthy talk show guests over the years. For a look at four more of the worst, read on, and for more bad behavior from celebrities, This Airport Employee Rated Celebrities Based on How Rude They Are.
1 | Abel Ferrara
ShutterstockIf an interview begins with the need to chase down the guest, it's safe to assume the chat probably won't go as planned. During an interview with actor Willem Dafoe, Conan O'Brien shared the tale of when his segment producer had to chase filmmaker Abel Ferrara down the street after he ran away from the set.
The ensuing chat from 1996 is just as strange as the hunt through the streets of New York City, featuring Ferrara slouching, holding a cigarette, and mumbling non-answers as a young Conan tries to salvage the interview. And for some surprising celebrity trivia, you won't believe Which Celebrities Don't Have Walk of Fame Stars.
2 | Hugh Grant
ShutterstockIn 2012, during a sold-out fundraiser chat between Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, Stewart admitted that his worst-ever guest on The Daily Show was actor Hugh Grant. "And we've had dictators on the show," he added. Stewart said Grant would never be welcomed back on the show on account of his endless complaining and insistence on reminding everyone he had other places to be.
Grant replied to Stewart's comments a few days later via Twitter: "Turns out my inner crab got the better of me with TV producer in 09. Unforgivable. J Stewart correct to give me kicking." And for more stars with scary pasts, check out these Celebrities You Forgot Were in Horror Movies.
3 | Russell Brand
ShutterstockChelsea Handler, comedian and host of Chelsea Lately, told Grazia, "The only person who was a pain in the *** was Russell Brand. Although Handler had Brand on as a guest three times, she said she would never have him back again.
"He stopped all of our production schedules because he needed three espressos before he could even come on for his interview," said Handler. Talk about a diva. And for more fun content, sign up for our daily newsletter.
4 | Gilbert Gottfried
ShutterstockComedian and voice actor Gilbert Gottfried was named the worst guest on the Wendy Williams Show. Wendy Williams said this guest groped her on live television. Although she didn't want to call out the actor by name, her fans were quick to identify the culprit as Gottfried, Inside Edition reported.
"You all saw it and didn't say a word," Williams said. "And I felt it, and I didn't say a word. My staff saw it, and that guest will never be here anymore. He's not relevant anymore."
Williams generally hugs her guests when they come on her show. When she went to embrace this guest, he laid his head on her breasts "inappropriately," the talk show host disclosed. Williams said she didn't do anything about it because she was new to television and was still trying to get her bearings. "Whereas now, I would definitely push somebody through a glass coffee table," she concluded. And for stars who had shows of their own, revisit these Celebrities You Forgot Had Their Own Talk Shows.
