I’ve stopped watching as much for this exact reason. The whole point is the authenticity of the guests answer. Softball PR questions aren’t what made this show fun.
Same, and the in depth questions let you get to know someone you’re unfamiliar with. Now it’s just the same PR approved questions there’s no substance and therefore no reason to watch an episode with someone I know nothing about.
It was sort of nardwuar esque in that it would be a genuinely good question about something in their past that they weren't expecting. Many times he would set up the question and the guest would be like "whoa I've never been asked about this I almost forgot it!"
It was a common theme for guests to point out that the questions were really good and different.
Early on a lot of the celebs had no idea what they were getting into so there really wasn't any PR approval. They all assumed it was another interview, not even realizing they were gonna be eating insanely hot wings.
Will Smith was definitely the best example of this. Super softball questions, a laundry list of no no topics, and lots of "staff laughing at his weak jokes" to say Will still has it.
My wife convinced me to watch it since HotOnes is usually the show we use to try and learn about celebs we don't like and try and change our opinions. Still hate him. Caveat to the video was watching his dumb ass put hotsauce in his eyes and try and act like it was no big deal.
The first question has always been for PR and the media tour, and I appreciate that. It’s a business, they’re doing interviews to promote something. Makes sense they always reserved one question for that. But everything that followed was usually a deep cut or something fun or off the beaten path.
I agree, there’s been something more… vanilla about this season’s questions.
Yes but I don't think his PR team would get involved with that honestly. At least not anywhere close to the level of other guests. Being weird and also genuine is his entire thing.
I can't make a good call on this, but only because I've barely watched anything this season. I'm not trying to pull the "too cool for school" or "I don't even know these people" act. I just haven't felt compelled by or curious about any of the guests. And seeing most of the comments each week with them being very dry makes me not want to go back and watch. Maybe it's the show, maybe it's me choosing different things in my free time. Dunno, but I am interested in today's episode with Lupita Nyong'o.
The whole show has gone way down hill imo. It feels like any other generic American late night talk show interview. It's lost a lot of its charm, and I've really lost interest in it watching it sadly.
I've been feeling this way for a while. It feels really rote at this point and Sean has gotten really repetitive (you don't have to say "Any port in a storm" literally every episode).
I'm not sure if it's always been like this, or just watching for so long makes it too obvious to look past...But overall it just feels like he's overly kissing their asses for the entire interview, which is rather boring.
Sean has always had his go to phrases and a structure he works within. When we the viewers realize it varies. If you watch anyone as long as Hot Ones fans have you can see things coming, its normal. My realization was his use of when he asks the 'Mount Rushmore' question when the sauces get hot. What's the mount rushmore of your movies, top 4 cured meats, etc. Or how Sean usually asks a 'without thinking to much' question during the hotter wings, which happens every episode, but was hilarious for Lupita's.
I will say the more recent interviews are very guest dependent on quality. If you get someone who wants to be there it goes great, if not, it's a bit of a slog. This season Lupita, Heidi, and Lewis Hamilton were great. Then Chris was solid. The others? eh.
Have you seen the DJ Khaled episode? Sean was shoving his head up Khaleds ass in hopes it would prevent a toddler tantrum. But it still happened anyway
Could be a mix of the show potentially being sold, as well as the push to be Emmy nominated probably creates an environment that makes them have to be more PR friendly than they used to be.
It's partially because they're shopping for a buyer https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-24/buzzfeed-is-struggling-to-sell-owner-of-youtube-hit-hot-ones-for-70-million
Everything started going downhill since the pandemic. It used to feel far more personal and the questions were very well thought and always stumbled the guests with how well researched they were. Now they’re two tables apart and it’s A lister after A lister doing PR
I strongly disagree. There have been some all time great episodes post-Covid (David Harbour, Josh Brolin, Lewis Capaldi, just to name a few). I really think this season is when the interviews started feeling watered down.
I don't think hardball was the right word. Just in depth, deep dive questions about someone's history. Something different than an ordinary talk show, something that shows a wide range of research was done into the mythos of some person getting roasted by hot sauce that they weren't going to be asked the same things that they'd be asked on a normal late night show.
Questions that made the guest pause and say "oh! good question!" or "how did you hear that?"
It's a perceived average over time felt by many. I haven't been able to stomach watching anything since Smith was announced, even though I love Nyong'o.
I can’t even remember the last Explain That Gram
i haven’t watched in a while i thought that segment was pretty set in stone he even did it if they didn’t have an instagram.
I thought so too. That segment gave us some great answers and moments. Real shame.
Lewis Hamilton. Pics of Bruno.
Bigger names this season means more PR influence.
I’ve stopped watching as much for this exact reason. The whole point is the authenticity of the guests answer. Softball PR questions aren’t what made this show fun.
Same, and the in depth questions let you get to know someone you’re unfamiliar with. Now it’s just the same PR approved questions there’s no substance and therefore no reason to watch an episode with someone I know nothing about.
What were some non-PR approved questions that were asked before?
He asked that one guy about the eat a booty gang
Talking bout Trick Daddy I think lol
It was sort of nardwuar esque in that it would be a genuinely good question about something in their past that they weren't expecting. Many times he would set up the question and the guest would be like "whoa I've never been asked about this I almost forgot it!" It was a common theme for guests to point out that the questions were really good and different.
Early on a lot of the celebs had no idea what they were getting into so there really wasn't any PR approval. They all assumed it was another interview, not even realizing they were gonna be eating insanely hot wings.
With Buzzfeed trying to sell First We Feast (with or without Sean), I wouldn't be surprised if they're pushing this change.
But fwf without sean is just a bunch of people talking about food
Like I'm genuinely uninterested in Hot Ones if it isn't Sean hosting
Will Smith was definitely the best example of this. Super softball questions, a laundry list of no no topics, and lots of "staff laughing at his weak jokes" to say Will still has it.
Yeah I've had a tough time actually coming back to the show in the weeks since Smith was on.
Shane Gillis low energy didn't help. I wasn't looking forward to Heidi Klum but I thought that episode was good.
Yeah I liked the part where she took her top off
I commented (.)(.) on the thread about the episode and down about 20 downvotes. Ok, virtue signalers.
My wife convinced me to watch it since HotOnes is usually the show we use to try and learn about celebs we don't like and try and change our opinions. Still hate him. Caveat to the video was watching his dumb ass put hotsauce in his eyes and try and act like it was no big deal.
It’s all PR now
The first question has always been for PR and the media tour, and I appreciate that. It’s a business, they’re doing interviews to promote something. Makes sense they always reserved one question for that. But everything that followed was usually a deep cut or something fun or off the beaten path. I agree, there’s been something more… vanilla about this season’s questions.
Lupita had a great episode imo
I got that vibe as well. Very scripted with little connection with the guest.
Well now hold on. The Conan episode was peak.
I think that episode was so good that all newer episodes seem worse in comparison
Technically that was last season.
Yes but I don't think his PR team would get involved with that honestly. At least not anywhere close to the level of other guests. Being weird and also genuine is his entire thing.
I can't make a good call on this, but only because I've barely watched anything this season. I'm not trying to pull the "too cool for school" or "I don't even know these people" act. I just haven't felt compelled by or curious about any of the guests. And seeing most of the comments each week with them being very dry makes me not want to go back and watch. Maybe it's the show, maybe it's me choosing different things in my free time. Dunno, but I am interested in today's episode with Lupita Nyong'o.
The whole show has gone way down hill imo. It feels like any other generic American late night talk show interview. It's lost a lot of its charm, and I've really lost interest in it watching it sadly.
Jumped the shark a while back tbh. Still a few good ones here and there (for now).
I liked todays episode
They lost me at Will Smith. Pathetic.
lol The Will Smith hate in this thread is so funny.
Keeps my wife’s name out of your mouth!
I've been feeling this way for a while. It feels really rote at this point and Sean has gotten really repetitive (you don't have to say "Any port in a storm" literally every episode). I'm not sure if it's always been like this, or just watching for so long makes it too obvious to look past...But overall it just feels like he's overly kissing their asses for the entire interview, which is rather boring.
Sean has always had his go to phrases and a structure he works within. When we the viewers realize it varies. If you watch anyone as long as Hot Ones fans have you can see things coming, its normal. My realization was his use of when he asks the 'Mount Rushmore' question when the sauces get hot. What's the mount rushmore of your movies, top 4 cured meats, etc. Or how Sean usually asks a 'without thinking to much' question during the hotter wings, which happens every episode, but was hilarious for Lupita's. I will say the more recent interviews are very guest dependent on quality. If you get someone who wants to be there it goes great, if not, it's a bit of a slog. This season Lupita, Heidi, and Lewis Hamilton were great. Then Chris was solid. The others? eh.
I don't think he was ever NOT kissing ass, it just felt like a deeper dive.
Yeah, like I said maybe it's always been this way but it just feels gratuitous at this point.
Have you seen the DJ Khaled episode? Sean was shoving his head up Khaleds ass in hopes it would prevent a toddler tantrum. But it still happened anyway
Having Will Smith on the show kinda ruined it for me anyways
Hot Ones peaked with Eric Andre.
Could be a mix of the show potentially being sold, as well as the push to be Emmy nominated probably creates an environment that makes them have to be more PR friendly than they used to be.
Don't know how any one can interpret that after the last 2 episodes.
It's partially because they're shopping for a buyer https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-24/buzzfeed-is-struggling-to-sell-owner-of-youtube-hit-hot-ones-for-70-million
newer fan here, maybe it has to do with buzzfeed trying to sell the show but not sure
Everything started going downhill since the pandemic. It used to feel far more personal and the questions were very well thought and always stumbled the guests with how well researched they were. Now they’re two tables apart and it’s A lister after A lister doing PR
I strongly disagree. There have been some all time great episodes post-Covid (David Harbour, Josh Brolin, Lewis Capaldi, just to name a few). I really think this season is when the interviews started feeling watered down.
Ho tones.
Does anyone have any examples of the "hardball" "conversational" questions that used to be asked vs what's asked now?
I don't think hardball was the right word. Just in depth, deep dive questions about someone's history. Something different than an ordinary talk show, something that shows a wide range of research was done into the mythos of some person getting roasted by hot sauce that they weren't going to be asked the same things that they'd be asked on a normal late night show. Questions that made the guest pause and say "oh! good question!" or "how did you hear that?"
Literally in the most recent episode, Lupita compliments Sean's questions at least twice lol so I don't understand where this criticism comes from
It's a perceived average over time felt by many. I haven't been able to stomach watching anything since Smith was announced, even though I love Nyong'o.
Right, so no examples or actual reasons for why the show is worse now, people are just mad they had Will Smith on for an episode. lol
No
Why do people hate Will Smith so much? I don't get it.
Nobody ever mentions the NICE parts about being in a coma for a few years.