Sean Evans Looks Back On 10-Years Of ‘Hot Ones’ – SXSW

deadline.com:

Hot Ones co-creator and host Sean Evans stopped by the Deadline Studio at SXSW 2025 to celebrate a decade of the hit YouTube series that has redefined celebrity interviews—one spicy wing at a time.

Over the years, Evans has grilled some of the biggest stars in the world as they push through an increasingly fiery lineup of hot sauces while answering his meticulously researched questions.

But success didn’t come overnight. “In the beginning, I was eating a whole lot of spicy foods for nothing,” Evans admits. “No one was really watching it.” Fast forward ten years, and Hot Ones is one of the most-watched interview series on YouTube, with no signs of slowing down.

In our conversation, Evans shares the origin story of the series, revealing how the unique format came to be and why chicken wings became the unexpected catalyst for candid, viral moments.