
A-list stars used to side-eye ‘Hot Ones.' Now they're knocking down Sean Evans' door
In a recent episode of 'Hot Ones Versus,' actor Hailee Steinfeld looked at her 'Sinners' co-star Michael B. Jordan with a mix of shock and amusement, and asked, 'What the f— is this? This is press for our movie?'
It's a question that has likely been asked before in the 10 years that 'Hot Ones' (and subsequent spinoffs like 'Versus') have been pushing out episodes on YouTube. The concept is both simple and outrageous — an interview done while guests eat a series of chicken wings of increasing spice levels, often with disorienting discomfort — and the show has become a popular sensation and an essential stop on the modern celebrity promotional tour.
'Hot Ones' host and co-creator Sean Evans, 39, has been there for the entire ride, eating wings right along his guests, which have recently included Selena Gomez, Bill Murray, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Ben Stiller, Serena Williams, Cate Blanchett, Demi Moore and, in a particularly memorable appearance, Conan O'Brien.
The show has also become a great business, as last year Evans and co-creator Chris Schonberger were part of a group of investors who bought First We Feast, the studio behind 'Hot Ones,' for more than $82 million.
Long past its origin as an online upstart and continuing its move into the mainstream, the show is eligible to compete for an Emmy in the talk series category against the likes of Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert.
Based in New York City, Evans sat for an interview with The Envelope while recently in Los Angeles.
How has the pitch to talent changed over the years? People presumably get the premise now?
The most profound way that it's changed is now we're taking the pitches. There was a time where we had to be very persuasive, almost to the point of tricking people into doing the show. And now the tables have completely turned. You even just see it in the way that people sit down. I remember very early on there was always this challenge for me to win over the guest in the first couple of wings and make them understand that this is going to be ... very different from what they'd expect from what's written on paper.
A lot of times guests came in with some sort of preconceived notion for how it would go and then had their minds changed just over the course of doing the interview. We actually have a name for it. We call it the 'Charlize Theron Shoulder Drop,' because when she came on the show, I remember she was kind of side-eyeing her publicist. And I remember her saying something like, 'Am I gonna have to eat all of these?' And by the second or third wing, her shoulders had dropped. She was completely loose. And to me, it's one of the most important tentpole episodes that we've ever created.
How would you describe the vibe of what you're looking for? What is that feeling you want in the room?
Early on, it was kind of gonzo-ish. But in the time since, what I'm looking for is something real. I think what happens is guests are in a PR-driven flight pattern, and what you want is something very real to happen. And on 'Hot Ones' you have those moments of people who are struggling, who are vulnerable, who are in a borderline state of panic. You have emotions that are real, and all of these things are so hard to get to in a traditional interview setting. The fact that we can create these moments, and then combine it with this thoughtful career-spanning interview, all of those elements working together, it just gives you a unique look at the celebrity guests. And, of course, celebrity is this lifestyle that by definition is unobtainable. But what we're doing is knocking them off of that pedestal down to a level that everyone can relate to. It's very human. And that's what people respond to in a lot of ways. I think we accidentally invented the 'What's it like to have a beer with this person' show.
What does it mean to be competing for an Emmy?
It's never really something that I wrapped my head around or thought was even possible, but they're opening up the eligibility, which I think is overdue and inevitable anyway. So then it was just about getting the paperwork together and putting together a submission and hoping for the best. But I do think that when you look at the shows that have defined this category for so long, the throughline with all of them is that they're the cultural reference point for where you can see celebrities in a looser, edgier environment. And 'Hot Ones' satisfies that definition. ... I didn't know that we'd be a part of the conversation, never dreamed of it. But now that we are, I'll say with my full chest that we belong.
Just physically, after 10 years, is the show difficult for you to continue to do?
The nice thing about spicy food is you develop a familiarity with the things that are uncomfortable. And I've been there so many times that I know that there's light at the end of the tunnel. I think that it's been overall a net positive because I take so much better care of myself outside of the show than I otherwise would. I do have a clean bill of health and go to the doctor every year and have them hook me up to everything and do every kind of blood test, because I have this unique vocation, this unique lot in life, this unique path that I'm on. But also, there's lots of jobs where people have had long careers even though there's a physical toll to it. Ray Lewis played 17 years in the NFL, and he was out there playing linebacker every Sunday. How bad can a couple wings be?
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Verge
an hour ago
- The Verge
Don't worry, this isn't an ad for medicine. Regardless of what you think of Apple's new
No more Liquid Ass. Liquid Glass design, the company doesn't want you, or its own video, calling it Liquid Ass. Apple has changed its YouTube thumbnail for its Liquid Glass video, because the play button was in a really unfortunate position. 1/2


Eater
an hour ago
- Eater
Eater Has a New Look
In case you haven't noticed, we have a new look! Just ahead of our 20th anniversary, which we'll celebrate starting next month, we've given ourselves a refresh across the board: on our website, across social platforms, on our newsletters, and soon, on our app. First, let's start with what hasn't changed. Twenty years in, we remain committed to covering where to eat and why it matters. Restaurants are a life force for so many communities, and across 23 city sites, we cover the ins and outs of the dining scene and make daily recommendations for the best places to eat via our thoughtfully curated maps. On we zoom out for a nationwide (and sometimes global) look at food culture, bringing our eye for lifestyle trends into how we cook and entertain at home. And that same sensibility translates to our behind-the-scenes video coverage on YouTube, social-first videos, as well as our newsletter-exclusive content. We haven't had a wholesale update of our site design since 2017, when the goal was very much the same: 'Make it easier for Eater's audience to figure out where to eat.' Fast forward eight years, and our team, led by associate creative director Nat Belkov and Vox Media's product and design experts, has looked at every element of how we express ourselves visually — resulting in a streamlined new look that's a cleaner and bolder version of the Eater you know and love. I particularly appreciate the little touches we've sprinkled in that take inspiration from menu design, from inset corners to scotch rules. Remember the fast-paced blog era when you'd frequently refresh a homepage to see the latest news of the day? As a call back to those times — and to more seamlessly connect the Eater universe — now prominently features all the latest news from across the network at the top of the site. Plus, we've made it easier to find some of the coverage we're most proud of: our maps, our themed packages, and our main pillars of coverage, including restaurant news and dining recommendations on our city sites. Eater at Home and Eater Travel stories from the national team are also front and center. And no matter what part of Eater you're on, the navigation bar will get you to all our sites, including companion brands Punch, Thrillist, and Gastropod. Our goals with the new site experience aren't that different from what we want out of a restaurant. The best restaurants are full of energy and encapsulate their community. They bring people together, they expose us to something new, and they're familiar yet fun. Welcome to the new Eater — we hope you settle in and stay awhile. See More:


Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
Why cozy content is king for stressed-out young adults
Meredith Hayden, a New York-based social media influencer and cookbook author, didn't start out wanting to create comforting content. But that's exactly what resonated with audiences. She went viral a few years ago by posting about her 'day in the life' as a private chef in the Hamptons. Now she has a large following on YouTube for her Wishbone Kitchen brand and her 'Dinner With Friends' video series, where she shows herself setting up relaxing dinner parties, making French-style hot chocolate and re-creating a cozy coffee shop at home. You might see her online wearing pajamas or in bed with her dog while talking to the camera. She doesn't edit out the parts where she messes up the recipe, saying her fans appreciate the flubs. Hayden, who recently completed a tour for 'The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook,' said she isn't necessarily going for a vibe, at least not intentionally, despite the clear Ina Garten influence. 'This is really just how I live my life,' Hayden, 29, said by phone. 'I am glad it comes across as comforting, because I'm definitely someone who gravitates more towards 'comfort content' myself.' 'I'm not planning on watching 'Severance,'' she added, saying she gravitates toward more wholesome, grounded content, such as home makeover shows of the non-competitive variety. That personal preference aligns with a broader trend among young adult viewers, according to recent data from United Talent Agency, the Beverly Hills representation firm. The company's data and insights group, UTA IQ, compiled stats suggesting that many younger consumers are leaning toward material that soothes the nerves and acts as a warm blanket, rather than ratcheting up the anxiety. 'Comfort content' is like popping a Lorazepam (though not in the excessive dose Parker Posey's character takes in 'The White Lotus') or CBD gummy at the end of the day. The trend is playing out across TV, streaming, literature and social media, said UTA IQ executive Abby Bailey. She sees it in the rise of #CleanTok videos (totaling 49 billion views last year), in which people do mundane household chores, as well as robust streaming viewership of nostalgic low-intensity sitcoms including 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' and the successful February debut of a new CBS soap opera, 'Beyond the Gates.' 'Somber themes, intellectual depth, cultural satires — those have always defined prestige entertainment, and it's left many to discount the value and the viewership of this more lighthearted, comforting programming,' Bailey told The Times. 'But as audiences are prioritizing their well-being and taking brain-breaks from the weight of the world, the definition of what's capital 'I' important in entertainment is shifting.' The changing attitudes are particularly noticeable in the young adult entertainment space, which several years ago was dominated by postapocalyptic teen dramas such as 'The Hunger Games' and the 'Divergent' series. More than half (58%) of U.S. adults ages 18 to 30 say TV shows and movies depicting young adults have become too dark and heavy, according to UTA IQ's April poll of more than 1,000 people. More than 70% said they want to see lighter and more joyful TV shows with young people. That's not to say that the upcoming season of the dark and sexually explicit 'Euphoria' won't be successful or that the next 'Hunger Games' film won't work at the box office. That type of content still has its place, even as tastes evolve. But studios and streamers appear to be noticing the audience's shifting habits. Examples are popping up in the young adult space on streaming services, including Tubi's 2024 sports romance movie 'Sidelined: The QB & Me,' which is getting a sequel. The Netflix teen drama 'My Life With the Walter Boys' was recently renewed for a third season, ahead of its Season 2 premiere. There are plenty of other opportunities now for young people to take mental breaks on the couch, from the rise of 'cozy gaming' to the crossover appeal of 'healing fiction,' a genre of whimsical books from Japan and Korea that have taken off elsewhere. Olympic diver Tom Daley, who went viral when he was photographed knitting between his events in Tokyo, created a competition show called 'Game of Wool' that will debut on Channel 4 in the U.K. Some millennial parents have turned to gentler, less overstimulating TV shows from decades ago — think 'Arthur' and 'Clifford the Big Red Dog' — to co-view with their young children. Comfort content is certainly nothing new. The term brings to mind the idyllic autumnal walkways of Stars Hollow, the fictional small town from 'Gilmore Girls,' as well as just about anything on the Hallmark Channel, which has enough of a following to justify its own $8-a-month subscription streaming service. But there may be a reason the category is finding renewed purchase in trying times. Bailey hears that theme from consumers who just aren't in the mood for any more nail-biters. 'Time and time again, I get people saying, 'I just can't bring myself to watch anything serious,'' Bailey said. ''Like, all I want to do is watch Bravo.'' As expected, Warner Bros. Discovery will split into two companies, separating its streaming and studios businesses from the struggling television networks business, the New York-based media giant said Monday. The Streaming & Studios company will consist of the film and TV studios as well as HBO and HBO Max. The Global Networks company (which is taking on much of the debt) will have CNN, Discovery and other channels. The divorce is aimed to be completed by mid-2026. Afterward, Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav will be CEO of the streaming and studios group, while Chief Financial Officer Gunnar Wiedenfels will run the networks. The firm previously foreshadowed this move by restructuring its operations along similar lines. Warner Bros. Discovery thus joins Comcast's NBCUniversal, which is sweeping basic cable networks, including MSNBC and USA, into a new separate entity called Versant. It's widely speculated that Paramount Global — if and when the Skydance deal happens — will also eventually unload declining legacy networks. The breakups reflect an ongoing reality — linear television is in big trouble. The struggles of the cable bundle have continued to weigh on studio finances, with customers moving rapidly to on-demand services. Indeed, if anyone thought the entertainment business' bloodletting was over after last year's series of layoffs, Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. Discovery disabused them of that notion in recent days. Disney slashed several hundred employees on June 2. An actual number was not disclosed, but the cuts are significant, coming after Bob Iger embarked on a plan to reduce staff by 8,000 two years ago following his return as chief executive. The latest layoffs hit film and television marketing teams, television publicity, casting and development as well as corporate financial operations. The cuts happen to land as the company is celebrating huge box office results from 'Lilo & Stitch.' The new downsizing comes amid Disney's efforts to pare down its production pipeline after binge-spending during the streaming wars. The reduction corresponds to Disney's efforts to focus on quality over quantity while also cutting costs. A couple days after Disney's layoffs, Warner Bros. Discovery cut staff from its cable television channels business. Those Warner Bros. Discovery reductions were smaller in scale (eliminating fewer than 100 roles), but the message to the industry couldn't be clearer. Comcast's NBCUniversal has also undergone layoffs. The question is: What comes next? Many expect the cast-off Warner and NBCUniversal networks to merge at some point, with Paramount channels perhaps joining them one day. Listen: Turnstile's new album 'Never Enough' is out. Also, The Beths have a new tune. Sabrina Carpenter's latest has already been declared the 'song of the summer.'