Kilborn Says Doherty Refused Five Questions
Zap2it.com
July 25, 2001
LOS ANGELES--"The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" host says in the history of the show, there have been only two guests who refused to tackle his Five Questions, Kilborn's trademark segment where during the show the top celebrity guest answers five questions--and one of them was former "Charmed" actress Shannen Doherty.

"And I'll name one of (the guests who refused to answer questions) because I don't care if she comes back to the show--Shannen Doherty," Kilborn told reporters during the Television Critics Association Press Tour on Tuesday.

Later, Kilborn backed off from his earlier statement about Doherty saying, "I need to issue an apology already.  That was just a little ribbing.  I do care, and we'll try to get her on, hopefully next month," while smirking at the audience.

Originally developed as part of Kilborn's previous job, as host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," the segment in which Kilborn quizzes his main guest with five questions has become one of the most recognizable segments on the show.  Kilborn says after all the years of doing Five Questions, he's surprised that his celebrity guests are still willing to do the segment.

"It was really refreshing and everyone loved Five Questions when I first started it, and it was like, oh, you get to see these celebrities in the hot seat.  I am really surprised that so many people do it," he says.

The questions, which almost always incorporate jokes or are meant to elicit laughter from the audience, can vary in toughness.  Some are simple questions involving the name of the guest and others require the guest to read the mind of the host.  Kilborn says he usually likes his guests to get at least 2-3 right and will help them on occasion to achieve that end.

"I don't want anyone to get one of five and tie Kathy Ireland," he laughs.