Hot Ones host Sean Evans gave up his usual spot at the interview table to take the spicy seat for one night only at a special FYC event at Hollywood’s Avalon on Tuesday.
Matt Belloni, a partner at Puck and host of The Ringer’s popular podcast The Town, assumed position to grill Evans about his life and career as they chowed down on a condensed menu of five chicken wings (rather than the typical 10). But in the end, it was Belloni who was sweating, hiccupping and gasping for air. “Holy shit,” Belloni exclaimed after eating a wing coated with Da Bomb hot sauce. “This is not enjoyable.”
The crowd, filled with TV Academy voters, seemed to love it as they were treated to a more personal side of Evans. For nearly an hour, Belloni quizzed Evans about his viral success, favorite and least favorite celebrity interviews, how he really feels about talent publicists and what he puts in his to-go box at Whole Foods. Oh, and whether or not he would agree to host President Donald Trump on Hot Ones. “I want to do a debate,” Evans said. “I want the official presidential debate to be a Hot Ones.”
Belloni praised Evans his interview skills and format: “I said this when you were on The Town, if [it was just] eating wings, the show would not be the success that it is. You are very good at what you do and you use the format to get what you want out of the interview, which is great.”
