In this new age of listening to our favorite celebrities and living vicariously through them, celebrity interview shows and podcasts have taken off. So many journalists are pivoting to the entertainment industry as the trend of rich living becomes more common. The market for podcasts and shows has shifted, and audiences of all ages want to escape from their lives for an hour of their day and watch their favorite celebrities living the lives they aspire to. GenZ and Millennial audiences idolize their favorite television shows and movie actors, wanting to learn everything about their lives and following them religiously. Journalists have recognized the once untapped market, and transformed it into a collection of shows and podcasts that monetize celebrity lives.
Many variants of these shows have since come out, many aiming to achieve the same thing, disguised in different formats. From making their guests eat chicken nuggets, or dressing them in medieval clothing, these shows have gained a form of popularity like no other.
- Chicken Shop Date
My favorite of the bunch, featuring Amelia Demoldenberg. Her show premises around shaping the interview in the form of a date. What started off as a small college project featuring local celebrities has completely transformed into one of the most popular celebrity interview shows featuring many A-list celebrities such as Andrew Garfield, Damson Idris, and Billie Eilish. Her dry and witty sense of humor combined with the setting of a chicken shop style date makes the show a very entertaining and funny watch. Guests are usually thrown off guard by her unique questions, and the show often showcases sides of celebrities that make them seem more human and even relatable.
5/5
- Royal Court
Hosted by Brittany Broski on Youtube, Royal Court places celebrities in a comedic medieval setting where they are “knighted” or judged after a series of rounds. The first round always involves unique and fun questions to get guests to feel comfortable. The second round consists of Brittany Broski bringing specialty meals from each of her guests’ hometowns. And the last round before guests are officially “knighted” is a multitasking round where the guests draw their family crest while answering some more career focused questions. I think that the combination of her setting, and her witty humor allows for guests to show really unfiltered sides of themselves. Her questions really have a way of showcasing their personalities while also showing a more serious aspect of their work.
4/5
- Call Her Daddy
One of the only shows on this list that would be classified as a podcast. Hosted by Alex Cooper, the show that once started off being a relationship-focused podcast has transformed into a powerhouse of celebrity interviews. Her conversational and unfiltered style of interviewing has landed her one of the craziest guest lists out of all these shows. From Michelle Obama to Amy Schumer, her interviews are incredibly popular due to the exclusivity aspect of what feels like very private conversations. Viewers don’t usually see an interviewer not freaking out over her crazy popular guests, but Alex Cooper manages to keep her composure while she delivers a great interview.
3/5
- Hot Ones
Hosted by Sean Evans, Hot Ones has quickly become one of the most iconic celebrity interview formats. The premise of the show seems simple: guests answer increasingly deep career questions while eating progressively spicier wings. However, the show’s popularity isn’t primarily due to Sean Evan’s interview style or questions, but rather because of the physical pain we see the guests face. Featuring many stars like Gordon Ramsay and Zendeya, the physical challenge strips away the often rehearsed responses, which leads to unscripted moments that viewers love.
4/5
