- 3 days ago
Jonathan Van Ness, Lizzo, Nicole Byer, Padma Lakshmi, and Will Arnett joined The Hollywood Reporter to talk about their respective projects.
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00:00Trolls don't stop nothing over here.
00:01So I'm out there just
00:04laughing these hoes up and making my money.
00:06People were tweeting me, they were like, Nicole,
00:08you did so well on SNL.
00:09And I was like, I get it.
00:10I get it.
00:11Two fat black women cannot exist at the same time.
00:14You're the first person I'm calling Lizzo,
00:17and you better pick up.
00:30Welcome to the Hollywood Reporter Roundtables.
00:46I'm Mikey O'Connell, and this is the Reality Roundtable.
00:49And we are going to jump right into it.
00:51When was the last time that you desperately wanted to not be on camera and had to anyways?
00:57And right now is not an acceptable answer.
01:01Mine was like a really long time ago.
01:03It was like in August of 2019.
01:05It was like a long time.
01:07So that's pretty cute.
01:10That's it.
01:10We don't get to know what it was.
01:12Yeah, what happened?
01:13It's like trash.
01:14I talked about it in my book.
01:15My cat fell out of a window and he died.
01:17And it was like the worst day of my life.
01:19And I'm HIV positive.
01:20And I watched my dad die in the living room.
01:21Like I've been through some shit.
01:23And that was definitely the worst thing that's ever happened to me.
01:25So yeah, then I had to go film like the like end thing on Queer Eye where we like find
01:29someone like, you know, like how they turn out.
01:31And I was like, I just was really bereft.
01:35But other than that, honey, it's usually I'm really excited to be there.
01:39I love being on camera all the time.
01:41I think I look good most of the time.
01:44But I will say while filming, watch out for the big girls.
01:47There was a moment.
01:48Um, it's on camera.
01:50I had just dropped rumors and there was a lot of noise on the internet.
01:56I saw some stuff about me.
01:58And I remember I came to set and I was in glam and I had my wig cap on and like half my makeup
02:04done and I just kind of like broke down in the bathroom on set.
02:07And then I went on Instagram live and I, you know, talked about, you know, racism and fat phobia.
02:14And why does that have to be directed towards me all the time when I just want to be a musician, man?
02:20And I was weeping, like literally weeping.
02:22It's like, it doesn't matter how much positive energy you put into the world,
02:27you're still going to have people who have something,
02:33something mean to say about you.
02:36I'm working this hard, my tolerance gets lower and it gets to me.
02:42And they're like, okay, let's finish your glam so you can go in and do this reality show.
02:48And instead of kind of going in and being like, I hate this, I'm faking it.
02:52I decided to just be open with the girls and tell them like, yeah, I'm going through it right now.
02:58And I'm just so grateful for you.
03:00And, um, and you see it actually on the show.
03:02So no, I didn't want to go on camera, but, um, turning it into something useful and purposeful,
03:08I think is the point.
03:09I mean, on top chef, it's not that hard because our show,
03:14we feel like the stars are really the chefs.
03:16So there's a lot of times when it's just that the hours are grueling,
03:21but right now I'm filming taste the nation.
03:23And, you know, we had the production set the way we did.
03:27So I could do it and get out in time for top chef.
03:30And my grandmother died.
03:32I went to India for like three days.
03:34I went to India for 72 hours in February, came back and started filming here.
03:40And we were with Cambodian refugees.
03:42These women telling me how, you know, they literally watched their child die in their
03:47arms of starvation as they were trying to flee the Kamaru.
03:50And I was at the temple with them.
03:52And all of a sudden I heard the monks chant and I started crying my eyes out.
03:56We had started production five days after I got back from cremating my grandma and throwing
04:03her ashes in the Indian ocean.
04:04It was surreal.
04:06And at that moment, I just thought, God, I really wish the cameras weren't here.
04:10And I rarely say that because it's so much about capturing the moment of some human going
04:17through something.
04:18It's really, really intense sometimes.
04:22Yeah, it is about capturing the moment, but it's like, we need some moments for ourselves
04:26too, you know?
04:27I don't have anything as dramatic.
04:29Uh, I host a cake show where it's fun.
04:32So like if something devastating has happened in my life, I get to like put on makeup,
04:37get on camera and like make people laugh.
04:40And then that in turn makes me feel better.
04:42So like, I feel really lucky that it like getting ready to get on camera then helps me
04:48with my personal life.
04:50But Nicole, as someone who's been a contestant on your show, may I just say,
04:53it really is like the most fun place.
04:55But what happens if like, what happens if you like pull a kneecap, honey, doing your gorgeous
05:01athletic pole dancing, honey, you never know.
05:04You might, that might happen.
05:04You have to like stand up and do lines and stuff.
05:08But I just want to slow clap for the pole dance.
05:10It's one of my favorite things on Instagram.
05:12You're beautiful.
05:13No, so it's so good.
05:14If you guys don't follow Nicole Byer, it's like, I mean, come for the pole dancing,
05:18stay for everything else.
05:19It's level.
05:20And I had to say, I'm sorry, Nicole, I just, I did.
05:22I mean, pull a kneecap.
05:24I like fell off a motorcycle before I did Lego Masters with Will and like, I could barely walk.
05:31But again, it was like, I got to make people laugh.
05:34So then my leg didn't matter.
05:36Yeah.
05:37Yeah.
05:37Yeah.
05:37You were a trooper.
05:38You were a trooper that day.
05:39And you came out in a Lego built car, which was, I gotta say, a lot of people wouldn't have
05:45done that.
05:46And you did it.
05:47You showed up.
05:48I mean, I know the term hero gets thrown around a lot, but that was a case of a real life hero.
05:55I would say for me, the only time I don't want to be on camera, I mean, there's nothing
05:59less funny than 7am.
06:01That's the, I mean, that's the worst.
06:04And when you've got an early call, I mean, you do it, but that's like, you're just not
06:10firing and you've got to, you know, feign interest.
06:15Is that too real?
06:17No, not at all.
06:19This is about reality competition.
06:21Is that too real where you, the pretend part and everybody thinks, I think you all know
06:25what I'm talking about and maybe you won't admit it, but I admit it, which is like, oh
06:29my God, tell me more.
06:30And you don't want to hear more.
06:33It's like, for me, you would hate me so much on set.
06:35Cause like that happens to me like after 8pm, but like 7am, I am like, I'm here.
06:42I'm so happy.
06:42It's the morning, but it's like nighttime.
06:44I'm like, oh my God, my cats, like what's going on at home.
06:46I just curious about what's going on at home just cause it's so fun to be there sometimes.
06:52Who are some of your hosting role models?
06:54You all didn't start out hosting.
06:57You, you did other things before you, you got into this.
07:00Ryan Seacrest.
07:01Yeah.
07:02Yeah.
07:05He's the hardest working man.
07:05He's the hardest working man showbiz.
07:06Nobody does it better than Ryan Seacrest.
07:08Period.
07:10I would say RuPaul.
07:11RuPaul is like.
07:12RuPaul is pretty good.
07:13Statuesque nature to the way they host.
07:17And I love that.
07:19When I was little, I watched my mom and I would watch the Carol Burnett show.
07:25And when she came out at the beginning and just talked to the audience, and I just thought
07:31there was something so lovable about that.
07:33I mean, yes, she was talented.
07:35Yes.
07:35She was obviously incredibly funny and whatever.
07:39And she had this great cast of players with her.
07:42But, you know, it wasn't that.
07:44That moment was just about, hey, we're all here to have a good time.
07:48And I'm going to show you some amazing people.
07:50And I think that got somewhere in the filing cabinet very deep.
07:54And I never thought about it at all until you just asked this question.
07:58But if there was a hosting, you know, kind of idol or mentor from afar, I would say I took
08:06a lot of lessons from that as an early child.
08:09I didn't know we were allowed to cross genres.
08:11Okay.
08:11Bob Barker.
08:15Really good.
08:15I guess if I really had to think about it, growing up, I watched a lot of Maury and Jenny Jones.
08:21And they both had a really good way of, like, getting the fun or, like, interesting things
08:28out of the people on the show.
08:29Who?
08:30So I swear to them.
08:31Maury and Jenny Jones.
08:32You remember Jenny Jones?
08:35Maury Povich?
08:36Yes, you are not the father.
08:39Is that who you're saying?
08:41Uh-huh.
08:41Maury Povich.
08:42Yes.
08:42Okay.
08:42Bob Barker.
08:46You're like, you're really bringing up Maury right now?
08:48Yes.
08:48I love Maury.
08:49No, I'm not saying that.
08:51I just don't know who Jenny Jones is.
08:53Listen, I spent a lot of the 90s in Europe, so.
08:55Oh, my God.
08:57I spent them on my couch watching Jenny Jones.
08:58Ditto.
08:58Ditto.
08:59Ditto.
08:59It's a child.
09:00So, yes, you're cool.
09:01It's a classic.
09:02So good.
09:03Lizza, what about you?
09:04Uh, me, uh, I feel like I was a mixture of, uh, RuPaul Charles and Tyra Banks come together.
09:15Um, yeah, like, I'm gonna echo Nicole.
09:19RuPaul really mastered the art of hosting.
09:23Um, just being genuine and off the cuff and hilarious and, and, and motherly, you know,
09:32and also gets to the business, um, and also never turns left or right.
09:37I had an auntie who I was very blessed that had, like, every single episode of the Sunny and
09:45Cher show taped.
09:46Ooh.
09:46So as a small child, I got to, like, that's how I became obsessed with Cher.
09:50And so I feel like I've always wanted to be, like, clock the center part.
09:54I've always just really, it's Cher for me.
09:57I thought about Cher, but I've never seen an episode.
10:00Oh my God, I have.
10:02I have.
10:03I saw them and I used to come home from playing in time to watch them because we lived in a
10:08big building in Queens.
10:09And yeah, I mean, Cher was definitely a beauty icon.
10:14We can do Sunny and Cher at JVM.
10:17But can we both be Cher?
10:18Yeah, that's the problem.
10:19Yeah, we don't have to be both Cher.
10:21We'll just be Cher and Cher.
10:23Cher was beautiful, but also has the confidence too.
10:26And the comedy.
10:27And funny.
10:28Yes.
10:28Yeah.
10:29Reality TV has gotten much kinder and seemingly less exploitative in recent years.
10:36But I'm sure there are some people here who are guilty of watching some of the trashier fare,
10:43either now or back in the day.
10:45Any, like, reality guilty pleasures?
10:48Love and hip hop.
10:49Basketball wives.
10:51Let's go.
10:52Oh, I wouldn't say that it's trashy because for me, that was black reality TV show.
11:00Um, and I think in black culture, like, it's just, that was what we had.
11:06It was very exciting.
11:07Um, and they're celebrities.
11:09Like, so I love basketball wives and love hip hop.
11:12It was that for me.
11:13I don't feel guilty about taking any pleasure in anything.
11:18But, um, I, I, I watch stuff like Hoarders.
11:25You should feel a little guilty about it.
11:28Hoarders?
11:29Hoarders?
11:29Well, it's Dr. Bill Popper.
11:32I, I, it really, it freaks me out.
11:35You know, because of our long hours on Top Chef, like, every season for a while,
11:38I would adopt a show.
11:40And I found out about the Kardashians like 10 years after.
11:42They, I mean, I knew about them, but I never actually sat down and watched the show or
11:46Hoarders or, you know, all these like forensic files.
11:51That's, that's my jam.
11:53But I like to think Top Chef had something to do with making sure, like from the start,
11:58we were never trashy.
11:59We've been around for a long time, you know, like people grew up with us.
12:03We've been around for 16 years and we were never trashy.
12:07And I think that's one of the reasons that Top Chef has lasted, you know, like, you know,
12:13there was like very early on, we just decided we weren't going to berate people because they
12:17were trying to really do a good job.
12:19And I think it's, it's, you know, one of the things that have done well for us to just early
12:24on believe in humanity, you know?
12:27Do you guys know about the show Alone?
12:30No.
12:30What's that?
12:31It is so off-brand for me, but it's like so addicting.
12:35They take these survivalists, there's like 10 to 13 and they like season one, you can skip
12:39because it was all men and like, but after that, it was like very like, you know, everybody,
12:43but it's like some military people, some like off the grid survivalists and they have to go
12:46alone to the middle of nowhere.
12:48And whoever makes it the longest gets a $1 million.
12:50It is so addicting, this one lady got a, I almost said that for her, I'm so sorry,
12:56but she got a fishing hook stuck in her hand and then tried to put mud on it.
13:01Cause she was like, oh, mud draws it out.
13:02It literally almost turned into gangrene.
13:04And she had to like, she had like, she got like disqualified on like, you know,
13:07medical evac, cause there's like medical evacuation studies.
13:10It's really good.
13:11It's really entertaining.
13:12You got a guy who ate the fucking squirrel and cried.
13:14Yeah.
13:15Yeah.
13:15Or this other lady, she killed, she killed this like a, like a beaver or something,
13:19but it like, it's like liver was like, had this disease.
13:21But Padma, you would have hated this.
13:23She cooked it anyway.
13:24She said, F it.
13:24There's no food out here.
13:26She cooked up that spotty liver and she, no, she got really, really sick.
13:32And then what do you win if, so like, is there like a runner up prize?
13:36Are you just like wilderness and hope to win?
13:37They just win like extreme weight loss and like possible long-term injury
13:41because of like what they put their bodies through.
13:43Oh, thank you.
13:45Yeah, not, I would never, could never, but it is entertaining to see.
13:49Will, coming up as an actor, did you imagine that you'd be able to
13:54host a Lego competition and have it be this additive thing to your career?
13:58Or did you, did you get to a place where you're like, no, I could do this.
14:04I was, no, I didn't really think that I could do it.
14:07It's, it's super hard.
14:08It takes a lot of work and, and stamina.
14:10And I, I'm like day one, I was like hats off to people who do this
14:16and have been doing it a long time.
14:18It's, it takes a lot of hard work and concentration and,
14:21and a whole team of people who are doing it really well.
14:23And, um, but it's, uh, but it's also fun.
14:28I think that you guys will maybe agree with me when, when it, when it's fun.
14:33And when you, when the people who are on it are, are having a good time
14:35or they feel a sense of accomplishment or feel good,
14:37that feels good in a really real way.
14:39Um, so that part of it, it was a surprise and, and very gratifying.
14:44And it's also really nice when you do it and you hear people who talk about,
14:49you know, we watch it together as a family or whatever, that feels really good as well.
14:53When you, uh, when you get that sense that it brings people together
14:58and is having a positive impact, that feel that's something that I hadn't really considered.
15:02Nicole, you're also an actor.
15:06I'm wondering, have you found that, uh, hosting nailed it and, and Wipeout has,
15:13has helped you get acting jobs?
15:15Or do you feel like there's a stigma to being a part of like the reality infrastructure?
15:19I don't think there's a stigma anymore.
15:22I feel like, uh, people have stopped pigeonholing people.
15:26So like you can host, you can act, you can, uh, you know, do music.
15:31You could just like kind of do everything.
15:32Um, I will say it is nice. Sometimes casting directors will be like, my kid
15:38fucking loves you. So that's why we don't know if you're like actually right for the part, but like,
15:43we're calling you in anyway. And then I've never gotten a part that way, but I've gotten like a
15:48different part. Cause the casting director read me for one part and they were like,
15:52actually let's put her in this one. So honestly, I love that kids like me.
15:57They're getting me, you know, some jobs. It's nice.
16:01Is nailed it like a low key kids show where this is low key kids love nailed it.
16:07Like genuinely love it.
16:10My daughter, Christian and I watch it and I love that.
16:13And she turned me onto it. So, and we watch Lizzo show too. We love your show.
16:19And I was so happy to see recognize some of those dancers, uh, when you were on SNL.
16:25Yeah. I needed dancers. That's why I started the show.
16:29My favorite part.
16:31Who's that one fierce girl who like, you were like, you're so good. You're bypassing this competition.
16:36And like, now you're like that, like that part gave me, like it fully made me cry. I had like
16:41pinky to like collarbone. Like it was no, like, I mean, like, cause like sometimes when my husband
16:46and I watch TV together, like he makes fun of me. Cause I'll just be like,
16:49I just like could not, it was, I love it.
16:53I was Crystal and yeah, Crystal was on SNL. Crystal's been dancing with me ever since.
16:58People have been fully dehydrated watching the show. Cause you cry at least three times an episode.
17:05That's queer eye too though. I'll be crying. I did Instagram stories. I'm like, like shivering.
17:12Oh, that's so sweet. Thank you so much for saying that.
17:15You've all worked on, uh, shows with a lot of different kinds of participants. Um,
17:21what's a sort of universal quality that you've identified in people that makes them
17:25not just good at being themselves, but good at being themselves on TV?
17:29Hmm. Hmm. That's a good question.
17:32Or bad on TV.
17:33I think people who are trying really hard to be funny, like someone once said to them,
17:40you know what? You could do comedy. And I was like, can you, you live in Dayton, Ohio,
17:44and you've never been on a stage. And then like, uh, they're just like trying really hard and they
17:49kind of a wall up and you can't talk to them cause they're trying to just do bits or whatever at you.
17:55I like people who are really genuine and you can find the comedy and like the silly like choice that
18:02they made as opposed to them coming in with an idea of what the show is going to be. Cause it's like,
18:07it's reality. Like, you don't, you, you could go into life with an idea of what life is, but like,
18:12shit's going to happen and things are going to change. So I like people who roll with the punches.
18:18I think people do smell bullshit a mile away, especially on social media and in reality TV.
18:24And like, you don't need to be the funniest, coolest, most doing it person. You got to be the
18:31most genuine to cut through, I think, and to read through on camera. Um, that's what I, I mean,
18:37I've only done one reality show at this point, but the girls were all the girls that we chose
18:43and the girls who were successful were the ones who were extremely vulnerable and completely opened
18:49up and we're ready for whatever, you know, we were going to throw at them. And their story kind of
18:54shines through when you're open, you and your story shine through when you're close and trying
18:58to play a character, you don't win that way. Lizzo, I'm glad you mentioned that this was your first
19:04show because you do have a deal at Amazon. And I'm wondering what else do you want to do with that?
19:09And what did you learn in this experience that you sort of want to apply to TV down the line?
19:13Well, the one thing that I already knew, but what this show did was a confirmation
19:18is seeing, um, how revolutionary and how touching watch out for the big girls was,
19:24was because you just didn't hear stories from women like this. You don't see women like this
19:30be successful on television in this way. It was so, it happens all the time. Cameras just aren't on,
19:37on them pointed at it. So I learned that I need to continue sharing the stories that I think
19:44deserve to be told and put on platforms and pedestals and amplified and to keep following
19:51my heart. Cause there's so many people's stories. I'm like, this is incredible. And you never see
19:56anything like this. And I think whether it's reality TV or if it goes into music somehow or documentary
20:04somehow, I'm going to continue to just tell the stories that I feel like are under told.
20:08Will, I'm going to go a little left field with this one, but Murderville for your co-stars might
20:18as well be reality TV because like the amount of improv and they don't really know what's going on.
20:24Can you talk to me about sort of like blurring the lines with, with genres and being playful
20:28in television now and the shows that you create? Yeah, there is a sort of, I bet you to a certain
20:33degree having been part of Lego helped me when we were doing Murderville because you,
20:40these guys will tell you, you know, being out there and doing it on the fly, you have an idea
20:46where you want to go, but you know, hosting a reality competition show is improvising and
20:53and then sort of taking that idea and then having a, having a sort of a scripted show to the extent
20:58that we have a story that we want to tell, but then bringing on guests who have no idea what they're
21:04doing, uh, is exciting to me because there's that element of immediacy, you know, having,
21:11you know, Marshawn Lynch is, he's actually a great actor. He'd never done anything like this before,
21:15but the fact that he said yes and had the guts to go like, yeah, I'll try that. And then he comes
21:19out and he's totally open and he does it. You know, Conan knows what he's doing. Obviously,
21:23he's done that kind of stuff before. Kumail, uh, was just unbelievable because he was just so
21:28open. And that was the kind of the, the, that was, that was the thing that every character,
21:32every person who agreed to do it, Sharon Stone, anybody, they were all like, yes. And they were
21:38open. And then we're just in that moment where we're just discovering in and it's really fun.
21:43And it's like a high wire act and, um, it's fucking crazy and who knows what's going to happen.
21:51There's a scene, um, Ken John comes on and Ken's so funny, but again, like he's kind of nervous
21:56and he doesn't know what's happening. And all of a sudden we, we get him changed in a, in a, um,
22:00his costume, his wardrobe. And I'm wearing, we're both wearing these stupid wardrobe pants and matching
22:06yellow shirts. And he's like, what are we doing? I'm like, hold up, here we go. And then they go in
22:10action and we pull the curtain back and he and I run out and we're on the stage of a shark tank like show.
22:17And then I go, this is my, I go, this is our new product. Go ahead, Ken. And then he has to sell.
22:22And there's just a block of ice. And he looks at me like, what? And now he's got to sell this thing.
22:26He has no idea what he's doing. That's reality. You know? So it is a genre blurring concept in that way.
22:35That sounds so fun. Will, why didn't you call me?
22:40You can watch it. It's on Netflix. It's super fun. It just came out.
22:43Watch it, bitch. You ain't going to be on it.
22:46It's crazy. Wait till you see Marshawn is like a comedy savant. He's unbelievable, man.
22:53And we're about, he's so funny. We're going to, we're about to do some more stuff with Marshawn.
22:57I love the guy. He's just like in it, like in the moment. So sick.
23:02Padma, you just finished your 17th season of Top Chef. And I, I'm wondering what would
23:08your advice be to yourself circa 2006? You probably had no idea what she was signing up for.
23:15I, 18th actually. Damn.
23:1818th. Oh.
23:20I could tell you immediately that it was like not the right number. Like I could tell immediately
23:25with yours and I was like, oh honey. Mikey, you got to fire your research or what? Is it you?
23:29Do you have to fire yourself? You went on camera. Mikey, do it right now on camera.
23:34I'm sorry. It doesn't matter. 17, 18.
23:36It does matter. Of course it matters.
23:39That's because you could, your hosting self could vote like in 18, you know what I'm saying?
23:44Like 18 is different than 17.
23:45Nicole is devastated by this. She's devastated.
23:49Mikey.
23:50I mean, I had no idea.
23:51He's so disappointed in Mikey.
23:54Cultural phenomenon. I said yes to Top Chef. I had pitched another show to Bravo and they thought
24:01that was too highbrow, but they wanted to do something in food and they were developing Top Chef
24:06and they asked me if I would come on. And I was publishing a cookbook at the time and I said,
24:10yeah, sure. It'll probably give my cookbook a little boost. You know, I really didn't think
24:16much about it, but anyway, I, you know, I'm very thankful for Top Chef. It's really more than
24:25giving me and my daughter a really nice quality of life, which it has done. You know, it also funds my
24:31writing and the most thing I'm most proud of with Top Chef is that we have changed the way a whole
24:38generation of society thinks about food. We really have, you know, it's a professional chef's
24:46competition. And I love when I'm hailing a cab in New York and little girls come up to me and they say,
24:53oh, I had a sleepover and I have an, you know, quick fire challenge in my sleepover, or we,
24:58I know what an Emma's Boosh is. I didn't know what an Emma's Boosh was until I was in my mid twenties,
25:04you know, and these kids know. And, and I think we really, you know, and Top Chef is in 60 countries.
25:11And so I travel and I get stopped in South Africa, wherever I am, like people from all over the
25:17world. I'm dubbed in some and, you know, in others I'm subtitled, but so it has been, you know, just
25:24the great pleasure of my life to have had some little part in the education of a whole culture
25:32on food. I mean, I think that's what Top Chef's real legacy will be, you know, and it has done so
25:39in an elegant way that's evolved with the times and gotten better and better. We like to go to different
25:45cities to really explore. People don't realize how regional food is and especially food in this
25:51country. And, you know, it's been great also to go and embed myself in these cultures for six weeks
25:59at a time and really get to know. So I had no idea. I thought like I would do Top Chef, it would help my
26:04cookbook and then I would go on my merry way. Like I really didn't know that it would, it would turn into
26:11this thing at all. What does amuse bouche? An amuse bouche is something that amuses your bouche.
26:21So it's a little bite. It's just one bite that the chef gifts you at the beginning of your meal
26:28that tells you everything you need to know about her and her tastes. And it's a little like teaser
26:36to amuse you, to amuse your mouth, your booty. I feel like they did that on British Bake Off.
26:42And I knew I heard that word before, honey. And yes, yes. Obsessed. You heard it here first.
26:48You heard it there first, but then later on I heard it. Yes.
26:52I'm interested in this pitch for a show that was too highbrow for Bravo. Have any of you pitched shows
26:58in any genre that the studio or network was just like, I don't think so. Of course, but no one has ever
27:06said that was too highbrow. They're like, Nicole, I don't know. This is not going to work.
27:11I'm like, I get it. I had it. We were going to do a show. I tried to get Netflix to do a show about
27:16these law partners in Utah who both had like 14 kids. And then one of them leaves the guy for his
27:24best friend and she takes all 14 kids and goes with the other 14 kids. And then he's murdered and
27:29he's got to solve the kid. And then he's left with, it's crazy. But, and they were like, what?
27:39I think that's funny. It's really funny. Ashley and Nicole, you would like it.
27:43You got 28 kids in America? Yeah, you got 28 kids. She's like, I'm leaving you with,
27:47and I'm taking all 14 kids, which by the way, thank you.
27:50Jonathan, I feel like Queer Eye opened up a lot for you about yourself and, and your career.
28:02Can you talk a little bit about how participating in the show sort of clarified things for you?
28:07Yeah. I mean, I think before Queer Eye, it was like Gay of Thrones. That's where I got to meet
28:11Nicole. And so I think doing Gay of Thrones was the first time that I realized that I loved being on
28:16camera and that I had something to say and that there was an ability for me to write and be funny
28:20on cue and realize that there was more to me than just like doing people's hair all day, which like,
28:25I love doing people's hair all day, but there was more. And that was my first kind of clue.
28:30But I think if anything, I think being on Queer Eye has only made things like less clear for me.
28:35Like my life has changed a lot, but I think as you gain this public persona, you, or at least for myself,
28:42I'm so much more aware of like more people and what more people are going through. And I think
28:46whether it's, um, talking openly about my HIV status or surviving abuse or whatever it is that
28:53I've been open about it, like on one hand, I'm really happy for my life and my career and what's
28:57happened. But then I'm also like, how can I get more people into a space of like thriving and healing
29:02and not feeling so stigmatized by these issues? Um, cause then when you do talk about it, you're very
29:08quickly reminded like how much people don't understand and how much they kind of don't want to
29:12understand, which can be kind of daunting. But I think for me, what is really clear is that like,
29:16ultimately my job on this world is to spread compassion by modeling joy and curiosity.
29:21That's really what my like mission statement is in life is. And so what I get to do on Queer Eye
29:26is such a gift and it's the first Queer Eye like changed my life and it brought my family so much
29:31closer. I love the original Fab Five so much. They were, they meant so much to me. So to be in a place now
29:36in my life where I get to do that for other people is beyond my wildest dreams. And I'm just so happy
29:42that I'm here. And you're in Austin right now. And, and Padma, you just filmed the 18th season
29:48of Top Chef in Houston. I mean, there are states like Texas that are enacting legislation that, uh,
29:56I suspect doesn't align with your values. And I'm wondering, looking at these trends in the country
30:03going forward, how does that impact where you want to be working and also the stories that you want to
30:10tell? It was hard, you know, it was hard to film in Texas. I still get a lot of comments on my
30:17Instagram, like, how could you go there and stuff? But there are a lot of people in Texas,
30:20you know, and I have felt different ways about this over time, but I don't think that you can
30:31penalize all the people of the state because of its legislators. And I, you know, we,
30:39the city of Houston is a really diverse place. I've, you know, filmed there, uh, with both shows and
30:46the way that I dealt with it personally is just, there was a huge march going on while we were
30:52filming and I wanted to participate in it on behalf of, you know, the ACLU and Planned Parenthood and
30:59Bravo was very supportive and they actually had, you know, given us the day off and Tom and Gail went
31:07with me and I spoke at the rally. And so, you know, I think there it's hard, it's hard to penalize a
31:15whole state. I feel like instead I'd rather be there and listen to people on the ground,
31:20you know, or make a donation to abortion, you know, funds, network of abortion funds or whatever
31:28the issue is. I think the problem is that we've stopped talking to each other. This is, you know,
31:34I'm speaking personally. And so, you know, even with Taste the Nation, I felt like I wasn't creating the
31:42show for people who thought like me. I was creating the show for people in red states
31:47who were maybe not that familiar with the neighbors that lived even across the street,
31:52you know, because they looked different or had a last name that was different
31:56or their color of their skin was different. And so I think it's better to engage respectfully
32:03than disengage. We are all dependent on each other. I mean, that's one thing COVID taught us. It doesn't
32:08matter how much you isolate yourself. You are part of humankind. So it's, you know, not to get too
32:14lofty or corny about it, but I really do believe that. I believe it's better to keep the dialogue
32:20open as much as possible. I also think that there's like, I get asked about this a lot being
32:26like on a show like Queer Eye, but I think if you look since 2016, like hate crimes have risen every
32:32single year in the United States against queer LGBTQIA plus people. And so I think too often we
32:38have this ask of like, do you think that representation is increasing? Do you think that it's getting
32:43better? And it's like, I guess, but like, who really cares? I mean, representation is important.
32:48And also what's the correlation between representation and legislation? Is it that when representation is
32:55better, we get like more protective legislation? No. And in fact, as we've had more representation,
33:00more restrictive, like anti-women, anti-LGBTQIA plus anti-choice, anti-freedom of speech laws keep
33:07happening. So I think it's okay for us to celebrate representation, but we need to stop conflating
33:13representation with like quality of life and how our work on TV changes people's like day-to-day lives.
33:19Representation is absolutely so important, but I think that we need to do a better job of kind of
33:24explaining like context and where representation doesn't really necessarily make people's
33:30lives better day-to-day. It will if there's more representation in Congress. It will.
33:37But that's the correlation between like representation and legislation that isn't happening.
33:41And that's what I worry about. It is happening. It's happening slowly. It's not happening enough,
33:47but it is, you know, there are a lot of people that are getting elected and more will run hopefully.
33:54It is harder to say that though, is like for two queer people living in like Alabama, for instance,
33:59who's like parents are being felonized, you know, for seeking gender affirming health care,
34:03it gets harder. So like federally, yes, but for queer marginalized people living in states like
34:09Arkansas, like Alabama, like Texas, the change isn't happening fast enough. And so I just think we need
34:16to just be more aware of like the difference between representation and legislation and being really
34:21clearer with folks that like we need more action on legislation and education around what people's
34:27voting habits create in people's lives. Lizzo, you talked about your Instagram live that was caught
34:35on your show. I know you've taken a break from social media before. What are your rules for engagement
34:43right now, knowing that it's like a great outlet and a great opportunity, but sometimes it lets like
34:48awful stuff in?
34:52Coming off of that conversation, because that's a heavy, very real ass topic, by the way, just wanted to
35:01insert that. And because it's like, yeah, this TV show is not going to save the world. And it's
35:14culture changes a little quicker than the infrastructure of the laws in this country.
35:22Um, and when I've changed, you know, 10 big black girls lives on TV, what about all of the hundreds of
35:33thousands, millions of big black girls in America who don't have opportunities, who get talked about,
35:41dogged out, drug through the mud, who don't get the opportunities, who will never be able to live
35:48their dreams. I think about them all the time, because I was one of them. And knowing that my TV
35:55show can't help everyone, it hurts, you know, and it sucks. And I wish it could. Um, and my biggest
36:06thing always is like, what do you say to people who are struggling right now who, you know, see these
36:11laws? It's like, it's hard to say anything to them because their experience is happy. There's nothing
36:18I can do to change their experience. Their lives are happening right now. And a lot of people who are
36:25transitioning time is important, you know? So, um, I feel you JV and like, I wish that we could reflect
36:36Congress. Like I wish Padma, our shows and the people who are making these statements outside
36:43and culture could be making the laws, or at least we're having some sort of impact on the people who
36:49are making the laws. I wish that they could watch, you know, our shows and be inspired and say,
36:56these people need protecting. So, and that's my job. My job is to protect the people, but far too often
37:04we see that it's quite the opposite. So I wanted to just touch on that as well, because it's something
37:10that I've thought about and, and, um, but there is a silver lining. Um, there's a cast member on
37:18Watch Out For The Big Girl's name, Jayla, who is trans woman, and she was able to live authentically as
37:23herself and her experience has inspired people. Um, and I think that as long as people are inspired,
37:30they'll continue to seek their personal freedom. And I think the more free we are,
37:36the more we can fight. Um, it sucks that we have to fight, but this is just where we're at.
37:43And also Liz, I wasn't like trying to like, because our work is so important and like
37:46representation is so important. I wasn't trying to say that it wasn't because our work is, I just,
37:50it's like when people say, you know, to Padma, like, how could you film in Texas? Or to like,
37:55when people, I just wish people like who followed us and like, like consumers of entertainment
38:00understood that like what we do is important and we should be like following this, like the city
38:06council and like the student, like the school boards, like you should be knowing what they wore
38:10last week. And if they went to the meeting, just as much as you know, like what we are. So just
38:14understanding that it's two different things and they do influence each other, but one doesn't
38:17necessarily mean that like the other is going to get better. Right. Meaning that they're different.
38:21And Padma is absolutely right as well. Like, you know, there are people, especially in those
38:28states where the legislation is getting more and more regressive. Um, the people there are needed
38:35more, you know, which is why I went to South by Southwest. They're like, you know, I heard people
38:40were protesting going to South by Southwest. And I'm like, I understand that, but the people there
38:46are experiencing this. They're not happy with it. These, the people who are passing these laws are not the
38:51people in the streets who are experiencing everyday life, you know? So, um, you're absolutely right.
38:57Like they need to hear it. It's nice to be on the ground, you know, connecting with those people in
39:02real time. Cause that's where they need it the most. I mean, that's what we have to do. We have to get
39:07really like active, like, you know, there's an election coming up in Texas. So get the person out
39:15who keeps signing these terrible laws into effect.
39:19Mm-hmm. Amen. Mikey, I had, um, reality show. I had watch out for the big girls. I dropped my
39:28shapewear yeti.
39:29So good.
39:31Thank you. I dropped a single. I announced my album and I did SNL all within two weeks.
39:38Oh my God.
39:38So I had to come back onto social media as much as I wanted to be like to social media.
39:46There were a lots of things that I was excited about and proud of and needed to share. It was
39:51bigger than me at this point. It was about all of the girls who told their stories on watch out
39:56for the big girls. I'm like, I got to get on a tweet about this and post about this, Instagram about it,
40:00TikTok about it, all the people who've been working on yidi. And now all the people whose bodies
40:06are liberated by wearing yidi. Like, I needed to go on and kind of tell the world about what I've
40:12been working on. Social media don't stop nothing over here. Trolls don't stop nothing over here.
40:18So I'm out there just raffling these hoes up and making my money. It make me money, honey.
40:25If you could turn the camera on anyone in pop culture right now, and this goes for all of you,
40:34who would you choose and why? Sorry, I'm going to talk again, because JV had made an incredible
40:39point. Turn it on the politicians. Turn it on them. Like, I say this all the time. Like,
40:46cancel culture is this massive thing that we have turned into this like machine.
40:54Cancel politicians. You know, turn the spotlight on them and the ones who are
40:59passing shitty laws and the ones who are hurting people. Turn the spotlight on them. Cancel them.
41:05Call them out. Put them on reality TV and see how they live their day to day life. You know,
41:09we're not judging them people enough. We judging people over here that don't really have an effect
41:14on our lives. Judge them. I want to see a reality show about what them motherfuckers do on a day to day.
41:20Yeah. I would have loved to see what the conversation was behind Nancy Pelosi wearing
41:26Kenty cloth. You know, like, what was that conversation? That was probably interesting and
41:32entertaining. What was that day like? I would have loved to have seen that. It's like,
41:37do you think that's a good idea? Nancy's like, yes, let's put it on and we'll kneel. Like,
41:41I want to see. I want to talk about dream collaborators. Who's who's incoming call would
41:49make you absolutely lose your mind. I mean, I'll say it. Lizzo, you. I was thinking that too.
41:58People were tweeting me. They were like, Nicole, you did so well on SNL. And I was like, I get it.
42:02I get it. Two fat black women cannot exist at the same time. But honestly, I love your work and would
42:08love to do anything with you. Yes, girl. If you're really thirsty that I like now have you on the
42:14line and I'm like, hey, Lizzo, want to be my friend? If like, if anyone needs like, even if you need
42:19like an assistant hairdresser for like, even any of the backup people, like if you need me to come
42:23like lay on a puddle for you to like walk, I just, if you just want to have me around for any, I just,
42:28I'm here for that, like very major. Just like let me and Jonathan into your life, please.
42:33Yeah. I just was, I was, I did think it. I did. Oh my God. Yeah.
42:37I will that. He doesn't even want me on his show. Murderville.
42:40I do. I do. I was going to say before they jumped in, I was going to say that, uh,
42:45I could listen to you Lizzo talk for an hour. I was captivated. I'm, I'm serious by what you were
42:52saying. I honestly, I loved everything that you said and I could hear more of it. And, and I love
42:58your spirit. You're, I think you're awesome. So I would, I would love for you to come and do
43:03murder. Are you kidding me? You're the person, you're the first person I'm calling Lizzo and
43:08you better pick up. My manager's over there. I'm like, you heard him. Okay.
43:13There's a compliment for you. Will on several occasions while you were answering,
43:17you were really shivering my timbers, like the tonality of your speaking voice. It is just like,
43:22like, ooh, like, well, yes. How do you, like, you were like, just, yeah.
43:27Yeah. You never noticed how deep your voice was. Oh my God.
43:33Nobody pays enough attention to me. I was really deep hiding you. Thank you.
43:38Lizzo, I will cook you anything you want, anytime, anywhere. I won't, but you can talk to me.
43:45We like each other, Mikey, clearly. Very incestuous group here.
43:49Will, you really do have a voice that's sort of like made for hosting.
43:55Oh, I have a face made for radio. Is that what you were going to say?
44:00I get it. It's okay.
44:01No, the face is cute too, honey. I'll give you more compliments.
44:06I'll always take compliments. Somebody said to me recently, like, oh, you only like being around
44:10people who like you. I'm like, yeah, right. Who wants to be around people who don't like them?
44:16What are you talking about? Like, yeah, that just makes sense.
44:18I do need to just get out one more thing. Shout out for Nicole's cutout in the background.
44:22Also, shout out to all of your glam squads. Lizzo, you just look absolutely stunning on this Sunday
44:27morning. So do you, Padma. So do you, Nicole. Will you always look gorgeous to get out of here?
44:31But can I just say our glam teams and I was my own glam team today.
44:34Oh, you look fabulous. I like the fuchsia. That is the color of the season. The waves are on point.
44:40I love the center part. Mikey, I like the blue.
44:44Thank you. Me too. Me too. Me too.
44:49They didn't powder me today though, so I'm a little upset.
44:51Huey skin is in, honey.
44:53I'm glad you guys can't smell my hair because it smells like a lot of fried food right now.
44:57We were up all night.
44:59It's giving that good texture though, so it's fine.
45:01It really is. I've got a lot of dry shampoo.
45:04Wait, what kind of food?
45:05I'm so hungry. Talk about the food more.
45:10A lot of powdered sugar. A lot of crispy, crunchy, cheesy, oozy, gooey stuff.
45:17That's what I want. Where are you right now?
45:20I'm in Dearborn, Michigan. It's Ramadan. There's like 80% of Dearborn, Michigan is all Arab.
45:27And they're from 22 different countries. And I've been learning how to make all these Arab desserts.
45:31And baklava and like this thing called kanafa. And I just, it's been intense.
45:38I'm like on a weird sugar high.
45:40So you're in Michigan, you're eating deep fried sweet stuff. Have you had an elephant ear?
45:46No, not yet. I've just been eating Arab food. What's an elephant ear?
45:50It's like, I, no one else knows what this is. It's like a deep fried,
45:54like dough. And it's like big like this. And it's just covered in like sugar and cinnamon.
45:59It's like a funnel to the alcohol. It sounds delicious.
46:02I'm very hungry now.
46:03Me too. I'm so hungry.
46:05Is it time for brunch yet?
46:07No, it's not only for brunch. It's 935, but I guess I could drink.
46:12Tell me the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you that made it to air.
46:16I'll call myself out. It's fine. When we were shooting that first episode, like pre pandemic,
46:22it was like March of 2020. I just got back from Australia. I was on tour.
46:26And I was like, what are the chances that we're going to like have a closeup of my foot? Like
46:29the beauty expert, none. So I wore this little like open toe heel with just like bunion aplenty,
46:35just like dry foot bunion. Just like my foot was not cute. And then of course, like there were these
46:41like slow motion, get out of the car shots, but I thought they were wide, but really they were close
46:45up on our foot. So the very first shot of Queer Eye season six is just like my crusty dry bunion big
46:53toe. And my heels are just giving you like Hardee's Carl's Jr. biscuit. And I just, and it's only
46:59fleeting, but like when I saw that, I literally like the blood like left my face. And I was like,
47:02I can never, I'm, oh my God, my feet just, but you know, it's fine. I'm a human. I'm also like a
47:05figure skating gymnast who like, you know, we don't have great feet. Right. And as long as this is
47:09looking good, fine. Okay, fine. Okay. That's fine.
47:13Yeah. It's all vanity stuff. Right. Mine is just sweat. Like it was so hot in the middle of August
47:21when we did watch out for the big girls. And I just have so many moments where you just see sweat
47:26under my titties, but they sweat and I don't really wear bras like that. You know what I'm saying?
47:31Free the girls, sweat there, sweat everywhere. I didn't care though. Cause I was like, it's not about
47:36that. Like, let's get gritty. Under titty sweat is not talked about enough. It's, it's,
47:43you don't even realize it's there until you like take a picture or look in the mirror and you're like,
47:46God damn. Yeah. It'll get you. Well, that was supposed to be the focus of my last question,
47:51but instead I will ask you, uh, under titty sweat. Yeah. What's the, what's the most thankless job
47:59you've had in the entertainment industry? I'm going to start with Will. Oh God. What? Start
48:04with somebody else. Uh, I've had so many, honestly, I don't know. I did, I did a couple episodes of the
48:12Sopranos years ago and, um, I didn't really do anything. And I was just like this husband of this
48:22FBI agent. And, um, I went in and I had to read for David chase and it was, they had, they were like,
48:29I get there. It was in Queens. And they say, well, you got one line. So one line I got,
48:34I thought it was just me. I know. He just wants to hear you say a line. So I said, okay, well,
48:38this is gonna be weird. Anyway, I go in and I sit down with George, I'm walking the casting director
48:43and David chase. And it's like, what am I going to do to make this? So I just, she goes, you ready?
48:48I go, yeah. And I just go line as if I'd gone up in my one line and he ended up laughing and I got
48:55the part. So that was, it was thankless, but also I, I felt vindicated that I made him laugh in the
49:01moment. Definitely. Uh, let's see. Thankless. I, one of my first jobs was a Nestle commercial
49:09that I had to fly to Romania to shoot. It was for Israeli Nestle. And in the audition, the casting
49:16director was like, I want you to be as black as possible. And if you're too black, I'll bring
49:20you back. And I was like, Hmm, white lady, what you mean by that? Um, but I ended up getting the part,
49:27went to Romania and they would hoist me up. Cause I was a fairy, so I had to fly around. And
49:34that man was like, we found the biggest man here in Romania. Still not as big as you, but I don't think
49:41you'll fall. And, uh, two days of my life and they would hoist me up and then decide what they
49:50wanted me to do. So then I had vertigo for a little bit because I was just like a pinata,
49:55just like swinging there in this big poofy dress. Um, it still lives on YouTube. Uh, not my finest
50:02work, but you know, she got a $5,000 buyout and she was 25. So I paid my rent for a little bit.
50:08I'm ready for the memoir, Nicole. I'm ready for the memoir. And then that story needs to be in
50:14what economy. I don't really have, I was thankful for every job I got. Honestly,
50:20I was so thankful that I got my foot in the door. Even I did this beer commercial and it was
50:27humiliating and like, I just had to bend down and like bop this guy on the head. And I was there all
50:34day out in the sun for like 12 hours. And I think I, somebody finally brought me like a little
50:39drugstore umbrella that I could stand under and, you know, but I went home and I went home at the
50:45time and I, yes, I was also in my twenties and I was like, I did a commercial today. You know,
50:50I was, I was still excited about it. Lizzo, have you had a thankless job? I feel like you've just been so
50:57ascendant. What can I say? Um, I actually have a lot to say. I, I think, um, so here's the thing.
51:05I wear a lot of hats. Um, I've worn a lot of hats since the beginning, uh, when I was like in rock
51:13bands and touring, I was my own tour manager. I was driving the car. I was, you know, getting the cash
51:20at the end of the day, selling my merch, singing back up for the guy we were opening up for.
51:25I just did a lot. You know, I was my own crafty making chip salads at the gas station. Um, and I
51:33think that that spirit I've carried into, you know, who I am now in my career now. So there's a lot of
51:39things that you see that you didn't know I was a part of. Like I'm a part of the editing process,
51:44especially on watch out for the big girls. Like my edit notes are so insane that I like was with the
51:50editor and being like, and then cut here and then overlap there. And then this should be that.
51:54And then this looks weird. And the pool is a weird color. We had to change that. And the type,
51:58the font right there isn't right. I'm so hands-on with everything that a, I have a lot of respect
52:05for the people who do those jobs. Like really, like, you know, the editors and the people, the
52:10people who do the coloring and the sound mixing. I had so many sound notes and I'm like, they don't get
52:16the thank you. Well, you know that they deserve because I do it with them and I don't use, but
52:23I think the biggest thank you is the success of the show and how good it is. Like when you see it
52:29and you're like, wow, this is great reality TV. That's the thank you. Um, but you don't hear it
52:36enough and those people don't hear it enough. Yeah. It takes a village. There's 10 other people on
52:40the zoom right now and we can't see them. Thank you. People. Thank you. Awesome. Uh, well,
52:48thank you guys for doing this. This has been fantastic. I really appreciate it. Uh,
52:52thank you for watching the Hollywood Reporter Roundtable with these reality stars. I'm doing a selfie.
52:59Everyone smile. Okay. Bye. Bye everybody. Thank you. Call me. I will. I will. Don't worry.
53:09Bye y'all. Bye.
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