Netflix is expanding its library of live television with the YouTube talk show Hot Ones, hosted by Sean Evans. The long-running series features Evans interviewing the world’s biggest celebrities, often Hollywood actors, as they eat chicken wings with increasingly hot sauces. Recent guest highlights include Jennifer Lawrence and Pedro Pascal. Hilarious moments are often turned into popular memes, forever etched into the pop culture lexicon, but the Hot Ones is also known for its shockingly nuanced interview questions and subsequent answers. Netflix wants to record a live version of the hit online series, according to a new report.
Variety reports that Netflix is in talks with Buzzfeed to produce live show episodes of Hot Ones, with Sean Evans returning to host. The new format will be exclusively produced for Netflix, unavailable elsewhere. In addition to YouTube, most episodes of the interview series are available on Hulu and Peacock. Netflix is attempting to take advantage of Hot Ones’ popularity by bringing exclusivity to the program, what no other streamer has done thus far. It’s unclear if previous episodes of Hot Ones will become available on Netflix, but if the deal goes through, it would not be shocking if the streaming service acquires them too.
Netflix Is Hopping On the Live Show Trend
Netflix (among other streamers) has been leaning on live television as of late, to varying degrees of success. The platform recently aired the live comedy special Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats, a dated and supremely unfunny affair. Love is Blind, their flagship realty TV dating series, had a botched reunion special that had to throw out its live portion due to technical issues on the streaming platform. Meanwhile, John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A. found its audience, though it is hard to tell if it played a part in growing Netflix’s subscriber base. On the other side of the streaming pond, Peacock recently picked up a live comedy show by Colin Jost and Michael Che.
Netflix’s other live programming includes wrestling and select NFL games. On Christmas day, as a part of a brand new three-year deal, Netflix will stream two key NFL matchups, Chiefs vs. Steelers and Ravens vs. Texans. It’s unclear if the platform is ready to host such major streaming events, but it’s safe to say they will do everything possible to avoid what happened with Love is Blind. Jake Paul is set to fight boxing legend Mike Tyson on November 15, 2024, if it is not delayed again due to the latter’s health. The frontiers are expanding for Netflix, even though for many familiar with watching cable for decades, it will feel like a full-circle moment.
As the streaming wars evolve, one cannot help but feel like digital platforms are simply on their way to becoming glorified cable channels. The prices for streaming subscriptions continue to dramatically inflate, despite the available content increasing incrementally. Netflix is betting on live television as a means to take an even larger piece of the audience attention pie, but time will tell if the extensive efforts will pay off.
Hot Ones
can be streamed on YouTube, Hulu, and Peacock. No release date is set for the Netflix live show.