Sean Evans, along with the First We Feast team, recently celebrated 10 years of the insanely popular Hot Ones web series. Sean and the Scoville squad did not bring out the so-called “Wings of Death” but orchestrated a fun event for longtime fans and newcomers alike to sample some of the iconic sauces and don free bald caps. The celebration event made for an entertaining evening at Garibaldi Plaza in Washington Square Park.
Sean hosts the show in which celebrity guests sit across from him chewing on hot chicken wings drizzled in hot sauces ranging from mild to scorching while conducting a career-spanning interview. Sean Evans has been lauded by viewers and guests alike for his impeccable research and creating a refreshing format for celebrities to drop any facades or guards and present their real selves that fans and the public do not usually see.
The Origins of Hot Ones
The series Hot Ones was originally under Complex Media in collaboration with First We Feast, a foodie based blog platform around 2014. They soon migrated from the blog format to create a YouTube channel that showcased a revolving door of celebrity guests. In its early days, the guests, usually prominent artists or celebrity chefs, would be discussing their relationships with food or their favorite meals. Around the same time, Sean Evans worked as a copywriter for Complex and occasionally would be sent out to interview celebrities at local events like 2 Chainz.
His interviews were favored highly at the company so they offered him a full-time job and the University of Illinois alum made the move to New York City. A chance meeting with First We Feast editor-in-chief Chris Schonberger led to the two bonding over the idea of interviewing celebrities with progressively spicy chicken wings. The idea soon led to them making pop culture history. Since 2015, the series has attracted virtually every A-list actor, actress, or any public figure to prove their worth and push through to the other side.
In 2021, a group of Complex Networks brands would be bought by Buzzfeed including First We Feast to form a new digital media company. Award-winning stars including Lupita Nyong’o, Matt Damon, NSYNC, and a slew of others have sat across from Sean Evans over the years. According to the Hollywood Reporter, First We Feast would go on to buy their own independence late last year after a sea of investors came pouring in.
Attending the Sean Evans Lookalike Contest
When word got out prior that the event was canceled, fans were understandably disappointed. The contest was soon after rescheduled to last Friday. The weather was a light drizzle which, while not ideal, had myself and multiple in attendance convinced that the event would still go underway. As a frequent Hot Ones viewer, the event was a nice quaint gathering for fans to bond over favorite memories from the show.
A sea of bald cap and bomber jacket rocking men (and one woman) taking part in sharing their favorite memories resemblance with the lauded interview had myself and the crowd cracking up. As mentioned, many of the sauces featured in the now 14-season series were available to sample and they all had pretty mild taste. My decision to bow out of the remaining few felt necessary to give other intriguing attendees a chance and also to ensure a safe trip home. Many fans on the make-shift stage in Garibaldi Plaza pulled off impeccable Sean-isms from iconic gestures to his famous catch phrases but it felt like something was missing.
Sidetalk Pull Up and Sean Appreciates the Support
With the exception of a shocking appearance by Trent Simonian of Sidetalk fame and a recurring older gentleman who broke out into a dance during one of the Sean Evans lookalike’s spiel, there were no surprise celebrity appearances until the legendary wingman graced Washington Square Park with his presence.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who came out today. For you guys [the lookalikes] I feel like I’m looking at a mirror. As I go through my everyday life, I feel Iike I see 8-10 people who look a little bit like me,” Sean Evans stated. “So it’s nice that they’re all gathered here today to celebrate this. We’ll all know where we were when history was made today.”
Bill Drexler, the camera operator for Hot Ones, emceed the event and also echoed Sean’s appreciation. “We appreciate it braving this weather. Thanks for watching Hot Ones and celebrating 10 years with all of us. We wouldn’t be here without this gentleman right here.” The audience erupted into cheers and were used as the barometer on which contestants succeeded or failed in pulling off Evans as good as him while their social media team took pictures.
Eventually, the crowd all settled on Jeff who received a Hot Ones goodie bag which must contain all the sauces used on the show and some merch. Fans were also interviewed on their thoughts on the show and got a chance to get a hot sauce at random to take home. Part of me wanted the Last Dab so to see what the big deal is but I got a bottle of lemon garlic habanero which must be just as satisfying.
