Vault: Her Lifelong Crush on Olivia Newton-John Led to an Unforgettable Interview

Summary

The Bert Show: Vault - Her Lifelong Crush on Olivia Newton-John Led to an Unforgettable Interview

Episode Date: March 20, 2026
Cast: Bert, Jeff, Melissa (the birthday recipient), and special guest Olivia Newton-John
Main Theme: A lifelong fan’s dream comes true as Melissa gets a surprise interview—and backstage invite—with her celebrity crush, Olivia Newton-John, sparking heartfelt conversation about pop culture, fandom, and lasting musical legacies.

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Episode Overview

This episode centers around a heartfelt birthday surprise for Melissa, who has held a lifelong crush on Olivia Newton-John. What starts as an on-air mystery unwinds into an emotional, memorable phone interview with the music and movie icon herself—Olivia Newton-John. The show explores the powerful connection fans develop with celebrities, Melissa’s coming-of-age experience as a fan, and Olivia’s reflections on her career and impact.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Birthday Surprise: Setup and Execution

• [01:00–03:40]
  • The team recalls past surprise guest misfires, with Melissa sharing her anxiety about awkward celebrity interviews—especially a prior botched surprise involving Jordan Knight.
    • Melissa: “I’m truly nervous…I will never trust that man again.” [03:00]
• [03:41]
  • Melissa is introduced to her surprise guest: “Melissa…this is Olivia Newton-John.”
    • Melissa (overwhelmed): “Oh my God.” [03:47]
  • Olivia warmly invites Melissa to her upcoming show and meet-and-greet.
    • Olivia: “I’d love you to come to the show and be my guest and come back and meet me after the show.” [04:02]

2. Fan Connection and Emotional Impact

• [04:11–04:44]
  • Melissa expresses gratitude and the personal meaning of the moment.
    • Melissa: “I have truly loved you for so long…I’m so glad that you’re still on tour and still doing music and still getting your voice heard.” [04:13]
  • Olivia reciprocates, sharing excitement for the Atlanta show and affection for meeting fans.
    • Olivia: “Every show I do, I hear the songs, and little girls come in poodle skirts, seven years old…that generation keeps discovering [Grease]. It’s quite incredible.” [06:30]

3. Behind-the-Scenes: Making “Grease” & Lasting Legacy

• [05:00–06:52]
  • Jeff brings up Olivia’s age during Grease production.
    • Olivia: “I was 29…worried I couldn’t pull it off…John and I did a screen test, and it turned out really good.” [05:17]
  • Discussion about the enduring popularity of Grease.
    • Olivia: “It’s unbelievable to me...everyday people still love the movie.” [06:30]
  • Laughter about Grease 2:
    • Olivia (candid): “I didn’t think it was that good a movie, unfortunately…Michelle Pfeiffer was amazing, but it was a disappointment as a movie.” [06:56]
    • Show joke: “I think it was the worst sequel ever made.” [07:07]

4. Xanadu’s Broadway Success

• [07:11–08:13]
  • Olivia recounts seeing the Broadway adaptation of Xanadu:
    • “The girl did my accent and sent me up something so funny—I was on the floor.” [07:37]
  • Mentions of notable guest stars (Whoopi Goldberg) and the continued popularity of her work.

5. On Modern Artists with Staying Power

• [08:13–09:10]
  • Olivia is asked about contemporary artists with the potential for longevity.
    • Names Jennifer Hudson: “Her voice just blows me away…she puts such heart in it. She touches me every time she sings.” [08:33]
    • Mentions her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, as an up-and-coming talent.

6. The Personal Meaning of the Moment

• [09:11–10:36]
  • Melissa glows with gratitude for the chance to meet her idol, expressing what it means for her birthday.
    • Melissa: “Thanks for coming to Atlanta and thanks, Jeff, for a fantastic birthday present. I can’t wait to see you.” [09:18]
  • Reflections after the call: The team applauds Melissa’s composure and sincerity.
    • Bert: “You handled yourself well…you kept it together.” [09:58]
  • Melissa pays tribute to Olivia’s cultural impact and her personal realization as a young fan.
    • Melissa: “She was my first love. I knew I was a lesbian when I was little and had my crush on Olivia Newton-John.” [10:12]

7. Iconic Movie Moments (Grease)

• [10:23–10:33]
  • The team recalls Olivia’s legendary transformation scene—tight leather pants, the cigarette stomp.
    • Melissa: “When she came out as Sandy at the very, very end of that movie—those leather pants on…” [10:19]
    • Bert: “You never forget your first leather-panted Sandy.” [10:36]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Olivia Newton-John:

  • "I love my band and it's really just a fun time when we all get together." [04:57]
  • "You’re so worried when you’re young, when you’ve got it all going on. It’s so funny, isn’t it?" [05:22]
  • "It’s quite incredible [how Grease endures]…Every show I do, I hear the songs and little girls come in poodle skirts.” [06:30]
  • “I didn’t think [Grease 2] was that good a movie…a disappointment as a movie.” [06:56]
  • “Jennifer Hudson…just touches me every time she sings.” [08:33]

• Melissa (fan):

  • "I have truly loved you for so long…so glad you’re still doing music and getting your voice heard." [04:13]
  • "She was my first love. I knew I was a lesbian when I was little and had my crush on Olivia Newton-John." [10:12]
  • "When she came out as Sandy at the very, very end…those leather pants on…[iconic]." [10:19]

• The Bert Show Team:

  • “You never forget your first leather-panted Sandy.” [10:36]

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Important Timestamps

• [01:00] – Segment begins, setup for the birthday surprise
• [03:47] – Olivia Newton-John revealed as the surprise guest
• [04:02] – Olivia’s invitation to Melissa for the show and meet-and-greet
• [05:17] – Olivia discusses her age and nerves during Grease
• [06:30] – Olivia on Grease’s legacy and generational appeal
• [06:56] – Honest take on Grease 2
• [07:37] – Olivia on Broadway’s Xanadu
• [08:33] – Olivia names Jennifer Hudson as a standout artist
• [09:18] – Melissa’s emotional thanks and anticipation for the show
• [10:12] – Melissa shares her coming out experience and childhood crush

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Summary

This episode delivers an exuberant, emotional payoff as Melissa’s childhood dream is realized in an authentic, funny, and heartfelt exchange with Olivia Newton-John. The segment is packed with nostalgia, pop-culture anecdotes, candid reflections from both fan and star, and underlines the enduring power of music, movies, and icons in shaping personal identity. The show’s warm, playful tone and sincere interactions make this a quintessential “feel-good” listen for audiences past and present.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

You're on the vert show. All right, Jeff, you want to take it from here?

[C]

Yeah. First of all, I'm bothered that and I came in.

[D]

You did it.

[C]

I know, but I just did it. Bothered in a rel. You know, I kind of. Kind of a revelation that people just always think I'm up to something.

[B]

Well, it's generally because you're usually up to something.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

I have evidence.

[C]

Do I look shady?

[D]

No, you just sometimes think things are funny. Other people may not think they're funny.

[C]

Well, look, here's the. Here's the deal. A couple weeks ago, Jen's involvement should make you feel a little less.

[D]

Well, she was very vague with me yesterday. But I do trust Jen.

[B]

Well, she's become more evil the more she hangs out with Jen. There was a time where I would completely trust Jen, but that time has long since passed.

[D]

Well, it was something that I thought of and brought it up to Jeff.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

So this is Jen's idea.

[C]

Kind of. I mean, here's what happened.

[D]

Notice how I said that in a very lighthearted way. Oh, it's Jen's idea then. And no offense, Jeff, you had asked

[C]

me a question about a month ago.

[D]

Okay.

[C]

Jen overheard it.

[E]

Okay.

[C]

About a week later, she took the nugget of that question and came back to me and said, you know, it would be a good idea essentially for your birthday, which is in a few weeks. Right.

[D]

Correct.

[C]

Okay. This would be a great idea for Melissa's birthday. So I put the wheels in motion. It just so happens that everything came down while we were on vacation last week. And today's. You're getting an early birthday present.

[D]

Okay.

[C]

So there's somebody on the telephone who would like to say good morning to you and know that this. The nugget of this. It's a gift from all of us. But the nugget is Jen's, so it is good.

[B]

But the problem here is that Melissa has been previously scarred by a surprise guest from Jeff.

[D]

I'm truly nervous because there was a time in which we. And it was a birthday scenario, and it was a few years ago, and I forgot whose birthday it was for first. But Jeff had done this really. Or somehow this really cool thing was done for Jeff or Jeff did it for somebody else for their birthday. Really cool thing. And then my birthday came up. So he said, oh, we're gonna. He's. I got this great celebrity interview. You're gonna be so excited. They're gonna come in studio. Oh, my God. You won't be able to. You can't wait. And then ended up being Jordan Knight. From who? You don't care about who at the time was not on the hot list, and you had no idea what to say. And I had no idea what to say. And he completely set me up because he thought it was funny. But I was so embarrassed and felt so awkward. I will never trust that man again. So when he said, oh, I got a surprise for him. Here's an early birthday present. I'm like, I'm truly nervous right now because I think, oh, God, am I gonna be in an uncomfortable situation again?

[C]

Melissa, say hello. Say hello to your birthday present. And I think this one should, if anything, redeem my past.

[D]

Cleanse that, Cleanse that. No offense to Jordan Knight.

[C]

Go ahead. She's on.

[E]

Say hello.

[D]

Okay. Hello. Hi.

[E]

This is Jordan. Melissa.

[D]

Yes.

[E]

Alyssa. This is Olivia Newton John. Oh, my God.

[F]

Hi.

[D]

Thank you so much.

[E]

Oh, my goodness.

[D]

I'm coming to see you the night before my birthday.

[E]

Yeah. Well, yes, I'd like you to come to my show. I'm coming into town.

[D]

Yes.

[E]

And I'd love you to come to the show and be my guest and come back and meet me after the show.

[D]

Oh, my God. It would be my honor to do that. Oh, my God.

[E]

I love that. I hope you're not too embarrassed now.

[D]

I've loved you for so long. That's fantastic. Olivia Newton John. I am so. I don't know what to say because I have truly loved you for so long. So I'm so glad that you're still on tour and still doing music and still getting your voice heard.

[E]

Oh, thank you. Yeah, I'm doing a short tour. You know, it's a couple of weeks. It's really, really close. I'm looking forward to coming to Atlanta because I always love Atlanta.

[D]

She'll be here March 10th. Are you in the midst of rehearsals and everything right now, or are you already out on.

[E]

Not yet. Not yet. No. We haven't started yet. And I get together with my band next week and. And so we're starting in Nashville, so that'd be really good because I love my band and it's really just a fun time when we all get together.

[B]

Can I ask you an age related question and if.

[E]

Oh, sure.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

She's like, oh, crap.

[B]

It's really not about your.

[E]

It's all right. Everyone knows how old I am, I'm sure. Go ahead.

[B]

It's not about your current age, even. But I remember years ago having a conversation with somebody that told me that you were 30 years old when you were in Greece. The movie.

[E]

Yeah, I was. Yeah. I was 29.

[D]

Really?

[E]

Yeah. I was really worried that. Because I thought, oh, how am I going? You know, I look at it now and I go, what were you thinking? But at the time, I asked for a screen test because I was worried that I could pull it off. And I, you know, so worried about everything. You're so worried when you're young, when you've got it all going on. It's so funny, isn't it? And anyway, we did the screen test, John and I, and it turned out really good. Yeah, pretty amazing. And it's still going on. I still meet people every day who love the movie. It's incredible.

[B]

Is it? I don't want to say the word offensive, but now people are calling High School Musical and High School Musical 2 sort of the grease of this generation. Have you seen that movie and do you find that to be true, or is it just a completely different thing for you?

[E]

You know, I'm embarrassed to say I haven't seen it. I should see it because one of my friends, Kenny Ortega, is one of the directors and producers of that show, and he was the choreographer of Xanadu, so it all kind of ties in. Isn't it funny that Such a Small World. But I haven't seen it. No. Is it good?

[D]

Yeah, it's really good.

[B]

I've had to watch it 13 times because I have a 6 year old.

[E]

And that comes at the territory.

[B]

It comes with the territory.

[C]

Right. How far after Greece did you realize that you had made something that's. That's timeless?

[E]

Well, I guess, you know, after like 10 years. And it was still, you know, 10 years and then 15, and then now, of course, it's like 30 years. It's unbelievable to me. And still, every show I do hear the songs and little girls come in poodle skirts, seven years old. I mean, they just found the movie. So that generation keeps discovering it. It's quite incredible.

[B]

Were you happy with Grease too?

[E]

I didn't think it was that good a movie, unfortunately, because it had really good people in it. Michelle Pfeiffer, who's amazing. But I think it was a disappointment as a movie. I'm so glad you said good actors and stuff.

[B]

I think it was the worst sequel ever made.

[E]

Oh, it's.

[D]

Cause she wasn't in it.

[B]

I really do. I think it was terrible.

[D]

Yeah. Now I now, with Xanadu, too, was a big cult favorite and of course has now hit Broadway. How do you feel about that?

[E]

Yeah. Oh, fantastic. Because John Farrow, who's one of my best friends, wrote, you know, the big songs, Magic and Suddenly and that show. And it was so funny. I went to the premiere of it in New York and I probably laugh more than anybody. I thought it was the funniest thing. Did you see it?

[D]

No, I have not seen it yet.

[E]

It was so funny because they, you know, the girl did my accent and she took all my mannerisms and she sent me up something so funny. I was like on the floor. Oh, that's great. It was great. It was really funny. It was a great show. I loved it.

[C]

When you saw that, was she aware that you were in the audience? Cause that's really. If you.

[E]

Yeah, yeah. Poor thing. I think. I'm sure it made her nervous and I didn't want her to be nervous, but I know I would have been nervous. But she did a great job. She was really talented. And I hear there's another cast going now. I think they're doing a tune company now, and that's supposed to be very good or everyone. Whoopi Goldberg did a guest shot in it.

[D]

Oh, did she? Very cool. Very cool. Olivia, if there's one young artist today that you could predict would have a career as long as yours, who would it be?

[E]

Oh, golly, I haven't thought about that question. Young artists. Oh, Jennifer Holiday. Her voice just blows me away. And she's a consummate actress.

[B]

Jennifer Hudson.

[E]

Jennifer Hudson. Sorry. Jennifer Hudson. Yeah. I think she's got an incredible voice and she put such heart in it. And she just touches me every time she sings. There's a lot of young, talented people out there, though. A lot. And of course, I can't think of one because you've asked me the question, but there are a lot of talented singers out there at the moment. Really incredible. And after I hang up, I'm gonna go, ah, why didn't I say that?

[C]

Well, you're gonna see Melissa at the show. So you can just see.

[E]

Have to say Chloe Lattanzi, who you haven't really heard yet, except she did a TV show, but she's working on her album right now, and she's got it all happening. She's beautiful. She's got a great voice. She can act.

[D]

Who is that again?

[E]

My daughter, Chloe.

[D]

Oh, yeah, you better say her, of course.

[B]

Well, Melissa, anything else you want to say?

[D]

I just want to say I look so. I look so forward to your show because I've been given. I've been talking about going to your show because I had already gotten tickets, but now I get to meet you, and that's so exciting. And so thanks for coming to Atlanta and thanks, Jeff, for a fantastic birthday present. So I can't wait to see you on March 10th.

[E]

When I hang up, you're going to go, why did you do that to me?

[D]

I'm going to do like you're going to say, why didn't I say this to her so.

[G]

Well, you can say it all to

[C]

her in person when she's here in concert.

[E]

Thank you, Olivia. Thank you so much. I look forward to meeting you. And it'll be a fun show. I'll do all stuff from all those movies and things that you like.

[D]

Fantastic. I can't wait.

[B]

All right, thanks for calling.

[E]

Bye.

[F]

Bye.

[B]

How cool is that? You handled yourself well. You handled yourself well. You kept it together.

[C]

I always think of this one second too late. But why wasn't the video camera on Melissa Wynn?

[B]

Olivia?

[D]

Because your face was shining. She was my first love I had. So I knew I was a lesbian when I was little and I had my crush on Olivia Newton John.

[C]

I love her that.

[E]

Yay.

[B]

When she came out as Sandy at the very, very end of that movie.

[D]

Ooh, those leather pants on.

[C]

Damn.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

Threw that cigarette down and stomped on it. Yeah.

[B]

Oh, yeah. You never forget that.

[E]

Never forget that.

[C]

You never forget your first leather panted Sandy.

[B]

You're on the Birch Show.

[F]

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[G]

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