The Interview Seen Around the World

Merry Miller says she needs training following her Holly Hunter interview.

ByABC News

August 1, 2007, 5:26 PM

Aug. 1, 2007 -- It's an interview that will live in infamy. You'd have to be living under a rock if you haven't seen the notorious "What's the Buzz" episode hosted by Merry Miller.

Leaked to the Web, the interview has taken the media world by storm, popping up on YouTube, Gawker and VH1's "Best Week Ever," to name a few. Millions of people have seen Miller in one of her first attempts at a television career, and the businesswoman has skyrocketed to instant stardom as a result.

ABC News Now is taking the opportunity to introduce you to Merry Miller, to delve deeper into exactly what happened during that "What's the Buzz" interview that went so famously off-track.

Many people are wondering how such a seemingly inexperienced person ended up as a host of a segment on a national cable news network. Miller had worked as a booker for ABC News' late film critic Joel Siegel, and the beloved host of "Popcorn" introduced Miller to ABC News Now before he died.

"[Joel and I] always laughed that I would look good on air, and I said, 'I'm behind the scenes! I'm a business person!' but I tried it," she said.

Miller had watched Siegel conduct his celebrity interviews and had even interviewed some celebs herself in her former position at the Learning Annex. ABC News Now decided to give her a shot at hosting an installment of the entertainment show.

Miller was set to do a live satellite interview with Academy Award winner Holly Hunter about her new TNT show, "Saving Grace." During these types of interviews, hosts and stars appear to be able to see each other, but in reality, they are usually looking into a camera. They rely on ear pieces called IFBs to hear each other during the interview.

Unfortunately for Miller and unknown to the crew, her IFB failed before she began speaking with Hunter. Another host might have known to alert the crew about the problem and delay the interview while the technical issues were worked out, but the inexperienced Miller gamely tried to speak with Hunter without hearing her responses.