Not long ago, journalist, host and professional hot wings enthusiast Sean Evans received a text message from television writer Alan Yang. Does he want to appear in a new comedy series with Maya Rudolph in a parody of his weird celebrity talk show Hot Ones? He immediately replied “Oh my gosh, yes,” and Evans found himself on the Paramount set, trying to keep a straight face, while Rudolph, playing the scorned ex-wife of a tech billionaire, was on set Cursing, Bill strutted around and yelled. An insult to him. “I remember saying something to her, and she said, ‘Oh, well, Sean, did you go to the damn school?’ I was so angry with myself because I laughed,” Evan said at lunch Thursday afternoon Si told me. “I was worried I was going to destroy the tape, but then it showed up in the episode.”
Evans may not be a household name like Jimmy Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel, but Hot Ones is the closest thing to a late-night talk show on the internet. What started as a sentimental web series with a crazy premise has grown into one of the most popular celebrity talk shows – not to mention on YouTube, where new episodes regularly rack up millions of views. Over the course of 19 seasons, everyone from Oscar winner Viola Davis to former professional wrestler Steve Austin to musician Billie Eilish Individuals have stopped in to sample the spicy wings while promoting a new venture. It’s even inspired Shake Shack’s own line of frozen chicken and multiple menu items. “There’s not a lot like it, especially what’s happening online,” said one prominent publicist who booked several clients for the show (and asked how to get invited for more). “A lot of people have tried it, and they’re the ones who have had the breakthrough.”
Like many of the people I called about Hot Guys, the publicist attributed the show’s success to the way Evans conducts thoughtful, in-depth interviews with guests rather than hot wings. The 36-year-ld former sportswriter spent days researching his subjects and finding the right moment for each question – or, more accurately, the right flanker. He can cover a lot in an interview with Ten Wings, drawing on a musician’s early career or delving into an actor’s approach to warming up. “I saw an opportunity because most interview shows don’t do that level of research,” Evans said. “They conflate their proximity to celebrity with actual celebrity and don’t do the real work. It sounds almost sad, but by taking it seriously and working very, very hard, we stand out from the crowd.”
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