Do you enjoy spicy food? Do you like watching your favorite celebrity answer interesting questions? Well, I may have your new favorite show.
The show is a YouTube series called "Hot Ones," and it features many of today's biggest celebrities being interviewed while eating increasingly hot chicken wings. I'm sure I've lost some of you after that description, but it really is a genius idea for interviews.
In just about every interview, the first few wings go down without too much trouble. However, at some point the heat becomes too much for the interviewee and it just makes the questions even more difficult to answer. You might think that process would detract from the actual interview, but it gives the interview a more casual feel. Instead of just sitting in a chair and being drilled with questions, the interview turns into a friendly back and forth between the host and the guest. "Hot Ones" interviews help serve as a reminder that celebrities are regular people too, and they are just as susceptible to hot food as you.
A big reason for the show's success is the great job that the host, Sean Evans, does. He manages to get the most out of each interview and seems to connect with every guest he has on the show. Even more impressive is his ability to tackle these hot sauces on a weekly basis and keep the interviews on track when the heat takes things off rails.
What may be an even bigger testament to the show and Evans is how most of the guests claim to hate hot food, but they do the interview regardless. The reward for surviving all 10 wings is a mere 30-second plug for the guest to inform viewers of their professional endeavors. While this may seem like a minuscule prize, I think that's the point. This "prize" only adds to the show's appeal; this show is not just another promotional tool, it's meant to be fun.
Here is my personal favorite interview so far. A new "Hot Ones" interview goes live each Thursday, and can be found on First We Feast, Complex, or YouTube.
