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. He also dives into his rigorous research process, explaining how he crafts the show’s now-iconic deep-dive questions. Plus, he reflects on the moment he first realized Hot Ones was becoming something special.
With a decade under his belt and countless celebrity guests still on his wish list, Evans remains as passionate as ever about turning up the heat. Watch my full interview with him above!
The post Sean Evans Looks Back On 10-Years Of ‘Hot Ones’ – SXSW appeared first on Deadline.
