Sean Evans, co-creator and host of internet talk show “Hot Ones,” will divulge how he’s Heating Up the Zeitgeist on the Main Stage of the 2024 NAB Show.
Evans will share insights into First We Feast‘s IP and creative choices, his interview philosophy, and more at 11 a.m. (PT) on Tuesday, April 16 during a conversation with NAB VP of Content Design & Development Josh Miely. The session is open to all attendees; you can register to attend for free with code AMP05.
Here, he answers questions from NAB Amplify’s Emily M. Reigart about how “Hot Ones” fits into the lineup of modern talk shows and what it takes to make everything sizzle on camera.
Eater calls “Hot Ones” “a talk show for the 21st century” and also references its origins in your “stunt journalism” phase. How do you think about the show’s place in the Western canon?
I think “Hot Ones” is the internet’s version of the classic late night talk show that I grew up watching. We have a unique format with spicy wings, but the DNA of the show is rooted in broadcast tradition. “Hot Ones” straddles the line between the familiar and the novel; it’s both mainstream and esoteric at the same time.
I think Ricky Gervais described it best when he called “Hot Ones” “a mix between ‘Charlie Rose’ and ‘Jackass.'”
I think of “Hot Ones” as a shooting star in the constellation of pop culture.
While you clearly don’t mind making your guests physically uncomfortable, you have said in the past that the secret to a good interview is finding what guests want to talk about. Do you think that approach is similar to how Howard Stern and David Letterman would conduct these interviews? I’ve heard they were part of the inspiration for the show.
The people who are remembered for truly mastering the art of the celebrity interview are those who understand that the audience needs to see a great show. That’s show business. Every talk show host of note understands that, so in that way we all have the same North Star.
I’m of the opinion that an interview is dependent on the generosity of your guest, but I wouldn’t say that’s necessarily true of the living legends you mention in your question. We all have unique styles, but the direction we’re pulling in is all the same.
Tell me about the kit and crew required to make the show. How many cameras, mics, etc?
We use five cameras (Sony FS7s, I believe), which includes a wide shot, and a pair of cameras on me and the guest. For sound, we wire and use boom mics on both sides of the table. There’s a lighting grid as well, but otherwise, just two trays of wings and, of course, the hot sauce lineups.
How many people are involved in making an episode?
On a shoot day, there’s usually about nine to 10 people on set between the camera/sound crew, Dom and Victoria producing, and myself. But, it takes a village, from booking the show, editing it, selling it, etc. The brand has gotten so big; there are many more hands involved now than when we started.
“Hot Ones” is now one of six shows First We Feast makes. What qualities make a show a good fit for the brand?
First We Feast is a brand at the intersection of food and pop culture. The best way I like to describe our ethos is “dumb stuff for smart people,” and then there has to be some sort of food angle. Naturally.
And if you could switch to a different FWF show, which would you choose?
Back in the day, we had a host named Mikey Chen who did a whole show about ice cream. After eating all these hot wings over the years, I think an ice cream show would be a nice pivot for me.
You’ve now made 23 seasons of “Hot Ones,” eating more than 3,000 chicken/vegan chicken wings in the process. How has the show evolved since 2015, and how have you changed as a host/interviewer?
We definitely take the interview a lot more seriously now than when we first started, but otherwise the show has mostly stayed the same. From the format to the set, and even the bald guy hosting it, we’re nothing if not consistent. The fundamentals of making the show have gone mostly unchanged for the nine years we’ve been churning out episodes.
