Aussie comedian Sam Pang’s late night show is making global headlines over a controversial moment with Trump critic Rosie O’Donnell.

Sam Pang has found himself at the centre of a global media storm after one of his celebrity guests made a jaw-dropping statement on his Channel 10 late night show.

The Aussie comedian’s show features an American-style late night format with celebrity guests and marks the most ambitious attempt at a late night series since Rove left the airways in 2009.

Sam Pang Tonight returned to screens this week for a second run of episodes and featured Hollywood A-lister Rosie O’Donnell as a guest.

O’Donnell, a high profile critic of President Donald Trump, relocated to Ireland following his re-election in 2024 and is currently in Australia with her one-woman show.

Sam Pang interviewed Rosie O’Donnell on his late night talk show. Picture: Ten.
Pang quizzed the showbiz veteran about her impressive career, including her best on-air interviews on The Rosie O’Donnell Show, which aired from 1996 until 2002.

At one point, Pang asked O’Donnell who was her “worst” celeb guest to which she named Hollywood movie star Keanu Reeves.

“He’s so sweet, he looks gorgeous, I love all his movies, but he would not answer a question,” O’Donnell said of the Matrix star.

“I’d say, ‘So, Keanu, how’s it going? How are you feeling?’ (He’d respond) ‘Good.’ We were live. We couldn’t re-tape.

O’Donnell named Reeves as her toughest guest. Picture: Chris Pizzello, File.
“I finally said after three minutes, ‘You know, Keanu, it is a talk show. You have to talk.’

“But he did come back and he got the hang of it.”

O’Donnell quickly added that Reeves was “a lovely man and a good-hearted guy” whom she had no intention of throwing “under the bus”.

Nevertheless, the exchange has subsequently been picked up by media outlets in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Meanwhile, a clip of the exchange has already amassed about 100,000 views on YouTube.

Pang’s celebrity scoop will likely give the fledging talk show host a welcome boost after Ten doubled down on Sam Pang Tonight.

The current season of Sam Pang Tonight continues Monday at 8.40pm on 10 and 10 Play.