Glenview, Ill., resident Paolo Presta had his life changed by a fairy godmother named Oprah Winfrey when her Wildest Dreams show dropped into his family's grocery store, Valli Produce, and gave him a guest spot on the television show Will & Grace.
Presta moved to L.A. to be on General Hospital and pursue his love of acting.
Lately, he has been filming his web-based show, A Spoonful of Paolo, where he interviews stars such as Sharon Osbourne and Florence Henderson. Recently, he reunited with Oprah for her Lifeclass.
We met to discuss how the sugar makes the medicine go down.
Windy City Times: Hi, Paolo. You are known for your Oprah moment. Take our readers back to that time in your life.
Paolo Presta: It was surreal. Anything that happens I always go back to that day. If she didn't come into my dad's store I wouldn't be able to do any of this. She opened doors for me and on top of it made my father understand that this is what I want to do. It changed the direction of my life.
WCT: Is their store still in Hoffman Estates?
Paolo Presta: Yes; I am doing an episode for Spoonful where I go back to work at Valli and reuniting with employees and some customers. I went there yesterday.
WCT: You have stayed in touch with Oprah ever since?
Paolo Presta: With her producers so I was a part of Lifeclass on OWN. She sent a Spoonful of Paolo to do correspondence work for Sweetie Pies, which is another show on the network. Hopefully there are more plans in the works.
WCT: Where do you live currently?
Paolo Presta: I am based in West Hollywood. I didn't know if I would like it but I love it now. I can walk everywhere.
WCT: Tell me about your experience as a guest on Will & Grace.
Paolo Presta: That was the first time I was on camera on a real show on TV. The minute I walked on set I got a little choked-up. I got to meet all of them one by one. They were all so kind to me. Megan Mullally took my to her dressing room and gave me a few pointers on the business. She told me to always be myself and I will always remember that.
WCT: You just did an interview with Sharon Osbourne not too long ago.
Paolo Presta: That was my first one for Spoonful of Paolo. She was so positive and gave great feedback. One thing I asked her was who would she want to have over for dinner sometime that she hasn't and she said Barbra Streisand. She had heard good things and bad things and would be interested on how a dinner with her would go.
WCT: Who would be your dream interview?
Paolo Presta: I would love to interview Judith Light. She was at The Abbey in California one time and I did say hi. I want to be ready and learn from these other interviews then I will try to set something up. I would still like to sit down with Oprah and tell her how much she has changed my life.
WCT: I think she knows.
Paolo Presta: I have told her here and there but I want that moment on camera. I originally met her when she worked out at the East Bank Club (Harpo's gym was being fixed). When we were walking out, I got the chance to talk to her and tell her how much her show meant to me. Later, when a producer was showing her a story about me for the Wildest Dreams season, she recognized me from the gym. Two weeks later she showed up in the bus and it is all on TV.
WCT: So maybe if you hadn't have stopped, it wouldn't have happened.
Paolo Presta: Stars hear things all the time but I had to tell her how much I adore her when I saw her that time. So who knows what would have happened? That year was my favorite, not because I was on it but people loved seeing other people's dreams come true. It was a good season.
WCT: How has your family been with you coming out of the closet?
Paolo Presta: They are still adjusting. I have four sisters and two brothers so it is amazing with all of them. My mom has been great but my dad is still working on it. It is still a battle for me in my surroundings, especially when I come back home. It is hard for my dad. I do have a loving father and I can tell that he cares. He asks me about my partner so he is trying. It was hard for me coming out but I had to tell him.
WCT: So this was recent?
Paolo Presta: It was just in 2010 on Christmas Eve. He was opening another store and I told him about my life in California. He said that he just wanted me to be happy. I think any son or daughter want to hear that from their parents.
WCT: Do you have a lot of people helping you with Spoonful of Paolo?
Paolo Presta: People ask me on the website for jobs. The truth is it's just me and Patrick. We had someone do the song but Patrick does the editing and the graphics. We have someone help us with the lighting and camera.
WCT: Patrick is your partner?
Paolo Presta: Yes, Patrick Thomassie.
WCT: Where do you see your show going—maybe on the OWN Network?
Paolo Presta: Who doesn't? It has been six months and we have done 12 episodes up until two weeks ago. These things take time. When we interviewed Sheri Salata, the president of Harpo, it was so much fun. She loved the intro when the angel comes down; that is obviously Oprah. I have had a few offers from cable stations to pick it up as a show but, like Oprah says, I have to go with my gut and make the right decisions. So we will see.
[Editor's note: After the interview, Presta explained the title's genesis: "My partner, Patrick Thomassie, came up with the name. We knew we wanted to catch people's attention but in a way for them to know it's just a spoonful (small) amount of me. No 30- or 60-minute interviews—just a spoonful!"]
Episodes of Spoonful are at www.aspoonfulofpaolo.com .
