What was once simply a YouTube-exclusive series about interviewing celebrities while eating hot wings is now moving to Netflix and becoming a full-fledged show called Hot Ones: Extra Heat. This odd interview format has gained wild popularity since its inception in 2015, and the publishing YouTube channel, First We Feast, now has 15.5 million subscribers.
Some of the biggest trending celebrities have appeared on the show, from Pedro Pascal to Tom Holland. The show also has various smaller spinoffs. Hot Ones Wing Pong and Hot Ones Versus make celebrities face off against one another, enduring the spice.
Watching famous people struggle to eat spicy food has become popular enough for Netflix to want a piece of the pie. Netflix revealed that the first guests will be the stars of an upcoming Netflix show, The Hawk. Will Ferrell, Fortune Feimster, and Jimmy Tatro will appear in the premiere.
Hot Ones will continue to exist on YouTube, alongside its spinoffs. Netflix will use Extra Heat as a way of promoting its shows. It will take place in “settings inspired by major moments on Netflix.” Sean Evans will host the series of 30-minute specials.
Several clips from the original show have gone internet-famous, which definitely contributed to its popularity. A clip of Jennifer Lawrence starting to cry as she eats a wing was used to create a viral audio on TikTok. Her sobbing “what do you mean?!” even became its own meme format. Take a look at this clip posted by First We Feast.
While I have to wonder how anybody came up with the premise, First We Feast must be doing something right. This deal with Netflix will expand the Hot Ones franchise while allowing them to continue posting their own YouTube content.
The first episode of Hot Ones: Extra Heat will premiere on Netflix on July 13.