Netflix has never cracked the talk show format, but perhaps it could borrow an existing hit from YouTube.
According to BloombergThe company is in talks with BuzzFeed to create live episodes of its popular YouTube talk show “Hot Ones.” Netflix and BuzzFeed did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.
The show launched in 2015, and the format — in which host Sean Evans interviews celebrity guests as they struggle to eat increasingly spicy chicken wings — has proven surprisingly durable, with new episodes sometimes drawing tens of millions of viewers on YouTube. (Evans will reportedly host live Netflix episodes, too.)
Like traditional late night talk shows Struggling with declining ratings and shrinking budgets“Hot Ones” has become a regular on the promotional circuit for pop stars and Hollywood actors. BuzzFeed, which acquired “Hot Ones” through its acquisition of Complex, has reportedly announced plans to release “Hot Ones.” I tried and failed to sell the offer. As you face a debt payment deadline at the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Netflix has experimented sporadically with the talk show format, for example with two seasons of a show hosted by Chelsea Handler. Its greatest achievement to date has arguably been John Mulaney Presents: Everybody in L.A. — which was great fun, but seemed designed as a short-lived, chaotic experiment; It is not clear if there will be a second season..
Why turn pre-recorded “Hot Ones” shows into live shows? Well, the promise of seeing celebrities break down without the protection of editing could make these specials stand out from the regular program. Plus, Netflix has been experimenting with live content, from comedy specials to reality TV interviews to WWE “Raw”.