Fan culture is deeply engrained into the social media culture that is thriving now more than ever. Part of this fan culture includes celebrity interviews that aim to lessen the gap between A-list celebrities and anonymous content consumers. The genre of late-night television, which has become overly familiar, has dominated the celebrity interview format for decades. In recent years, YouTube internet shows have changed that familiar format, reshaping what a celebrity interview can be. Here are several of the most dynamic and refreshing interview styles that are taking the place of Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel’s couch interviews.
LAST MEALS
The Mythical Kitchen YouTube channel hosts a celebrity interview show called Last Meals. At the top of every episode, chef and host Josh Scherer says, “Every person has exactly two things in common. We all gotta eat, and we’re all gonna die.” The Mythical Kitchen chefs prepare the featured celebrity’s ideal “last meal” (a collection of their favorite dishes) and serve each dish accompanied by a new set of questions. This interview show is a unique way to learn more about your favorite celebrity through their favorite foods and associated memories.
Last Meals asks its guests to think deeply about their own mortality, and answer questions that are reflective of the life they have lived and look ahead to the things they have not yet experienced. The interview questions are unique and personalized to the celebrity, and the restaurant-booth setting offers a comfortable viewing experience.
ROYAL COURT
Brittany Broski’s Royal Court is the most refreshing interview format in recent years. In this show, “pop-culture royalty compete for a spot on [her] trusted council.” They must answer a series of questions to “pass” the “trial” set before them. At the end of the interview, the celebrity is dubbed with a personalized title based on their passions and personality. The set is unconventionally decorated with era-accurate props that add to the allure of the royal theme.
The interview questions are thoughtful and truly engaging. The questions do not confine the celebrity to one project; they vary widely from personal to professional queries. Royal Court is setting the precedent for thoughtful celebrity interactions in interviews with the avoidance of generalized questions. With the continued release of this show and its increasing popularity, I expect to see further consideration in other journalistic interviews with celebrities.
FEEDING STARVING CELEBRITIES
Quenlin Blackwell’s internet show called Feeding Starving Celebrities is one of my favorite formats of the celebrity interview genre. On her show, celebrities have the opportunity to fully prepare their favorite foods and answer questions while cooking. The multitasking element of this show makes the interview dynamic and refreshing in the oversaturated genre of celebrity interviews.
Blackwell’s comedy and intentionality in questions make for an engaging interview with a familiar celebrity. She has truly mastered the art of conversation as she is able to switch topics seamlessly to remain entertaining. The show’s format is special because the meals vary in each episode based on the meal preferences of the celebrity. This allows viewers to learn more about their favorite celebrities through their cooking and eating habits.
WIRED AUTOCOMPLETE INTERVIEW
The WIRED Autocomplete Interview has celebrities answer some of the most Googled questions about themselves. The interview involves the celebrity and several cardboard sheets which contain the questions, meaning there is no human interviewer. This format allows the celebrities to have more autonomy when answering personal, revealing questions that people want answers to. They may choose to give a brief answer or skip the question entirely based on their level of comfort. In the standard interview setup, the interviewee may feel pressured to answer a question based on the authority of a journalist or interviewer.
The WIRED interview format works particularly well because of the types of questions being answered. WIRED pulls data from Google to determine what kinds of questions people are asking about any given celebrity. Instead of asking familiar and overused interview questions, the ones pulled from Google are often unique and address a popular moment or project involving that celebrity.
CHICKEN SHOP DATE
Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Chicken Shop Date is a refreshing, short-form interview show. She takes celebrities on “dates” to a London chicken shop where they share a fast-food meal over casual, and sometimes flirty, conversation. The episodes are no longer than 10 minutes, and many of the clips perform well on social media based on Dimoldenberg’s awkwardness and comedic commentary. The short length of the episodes increases viewer retention and allows them to consume more interview content featuring other celebrities.
The questions asked on Chicken Shop Date are often separate from the project the celebrity is promoting, leading to an organic-sounding interview. This is the best way for a celebrity’s personhood to shine over their professional and performative image.
youtube’s takeover
Internet interviewers have proved that the celebrity interview genre deserves revision. By changing the setting, style of conversation, and length of content, the genre is being reshaped to engage with viewers and celebrate the celebrity’s personality alongside their career projects. Celebrity interviews can feature thoughtful conversations while maintaining the entertainment aspect that all viewers appreciate. As celebrity project promotion continues, I hope the genre of celebrity interviews will continue to put an emphasis on creativity and dynamism to uphold the celebrity engagement aspect of fan culture.