Skip to main content

The best Hot Ones episodes: These celebs are our favorites to watch

There have been so many great Hot Ones guests, and we have the best ones ranked

Sean Evans and Shaq in Hot Ones Interview 2021
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s hard to argue there’s a better celebrity interview show in existence right now that can beat the Hot Ones. Host Sean Evans interviews celebrities over a tray of increasingly spicy chicken wings, but the concept is only part of the fun. Evans is a deft interviewer with immense skill. The questions he poses to guests are often much more personal, wacky, or even humanistic than the typical fare on a late-night talk show or another interview series. The combination of hot sauce insanity and personalized questions make it unlike any other online show.

With 20 seasons so far, Hot Ones has become something of a YouTube sensation. Like Between Two Ferns or some of the best episodes of Seinfeld, the show derives its comic gold from seemingly nothing at all. There’s spontaneity, surprisingly interesting small talk, and an occasional revelation or two, all set to the requisite watering eyes and nose-blowing that come with eating hot wings. Guests routinely forget the questions that are posited, thrown off completely by the intensity of the hot sauces.

With such a foolproof foundation, there really are no bad Hot Ones episodes. But because it’s so dependent on guests, certain shows stand high above the crowd. Here are the best Hot Ones episodes so far.

Hot Ones Justin Timberlake
Image used with permission by copyright holder

10. Justin Timberlake

Most people find JT quite likable and this episode fully solidifies that. Timberlake is candid and charming and even rates his own albums after a few bites of some spicier chicken. Watching him try to hold it together toward the end is what Hot Ones is all about.

Justin Timberlake Cries a River While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones
Hot Ones Will Ferrell
Image used with permission by copyright holder

9. Will Ferrell

It’s tough not to throw Will Ferrell in any list involving laughter. While this episode starts out a bit cagey, it really opens up a few wings in. Ultimately, Ferrell is his freewheeling self and clearly can’t cope with some of the spicier wings, sipping milk often. “I’m glad I’ve already had all three of my children,” Ferrell says before patting some XXX sauce on a wing. “Because this will render you impotent.”

Will Ferrell Deeply Regrets Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones
Hot Ones Shaq
Image used with permission by copyright holder

8. Shaq

In fairness, Shaquille O’Neal would probably be funny even if he was just sitting in front of a camera reading Chaucer. Regardless, this episode from season eight is fantastic, fit with Shaq packing his own gallon of milk onto the set. The former basketball star’s face while devouring the chicken is priceless, and the guy is clearly a well-trained ham, built for the camera. Sadly, the big fella can’t get through all 10 wings, which places him on the show’s hall of shame list.

Shaq Tries to Not Make a Face While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones

7. Millie Bobby Brown

There aren’t many young TV stars with more electricity surrounding them than Millie Bobby Brown. The biggest name from Netflix’s sci-fi hit Stranger ThingsBrown has been in the spotlight since she was a preteen. Now heading into adulthood, the actress was able to let her hair down a little while needing a heaping glass of milkshake to make it through the spicy hot wings. a shoutout goes to her co-star Noah Schnapp, who makes a random appearance at the beginning of the interview, adding even more levity to the video!

Millie Bobby Brown Needs a Milkshake While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones
Trevor Noah Hot Ones
Image used with permission by copyright holder

6. Trevor Noah

It’s nice to see Trevor Noah in the hot seat, as the former The Daily Show host is usually the one doing the interviewing. Noah drops some serious knowledge — and opinions — trash-talking beef jerky, championing political satire, and encounters with Chrissy Teigen. There’s even a great anecdote about being stuck on a rollercoaster. Oh, and he admits that his favorite kind of spicy food is the kind that dances across his tongue like Fred Astaire.

Trevor Noah Rides a Pain Rollercoaster While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones

5. Bryan Cranston

If you’ve watched any good TV in the last three decades, it’s more than likely Bryan Cranston has gotten your attention. The living legend who has played antiheroes and goofy dads alike is also one of the most interesting people in Hollywood. Sean Evans gets Cranston to open up about his passion for acting, which still burns into his late 60s along with his nostalgia for Los Angeles Dodgers baseball. Cranston goes through the gauntlet with relative ease, but we wouldn’t expect any less from Heisenberg. Say his name!

Bryan Cranston Fully Commits While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones
Neil deGrasse Tyson Hot Ones
Image used with permission by copyright holder

4. Neil deGrasse Tyson

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is a tremendous Hot Ones guest. As you’d expect, there’s plenty of space talk, set to funny quips about the various sauces. Tyson is as convivial as they come, chatting about fine wine and dropping some glorious science en route. Never would you expect the guy to say something like, “I took two bites, bitch!”

Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains the Universe While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones
Pete Davidson Hot Ones
Image used with permission by copyright holder

3. Pete Davidson

Comedian Pete Davidson admits right from the get-go that he’s not cut out for spicy food. The wings deliver one blow after another, between riffs about Keanu Reeves, paparazzi, weed, and baseball. By the end, Davidson is clearly struggling, in knee-slapping fashion.

Pete Davidson Drips With Sweat While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones
Wanda Sykes Hot Ones
Image used with permission by copyright holder

2. Wanda Sykes

Comedian Wanda Sykes has a brilliant strategy for getting through the wings, cooling herself with a small fan. You learn a lot about the guest’s background, including her former stint as a government employee. The wings tend to sneak up on Sykes, and the way she deals is so relatable (you can practically taste it as she soldiers through) and so watchable.

Wanda Sykes Confesses Everything While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones

1. Gordon Ramsay

Over four years after its initial airing, the interview with Gordon Ramsay remains a gem of Hot Ones. The feisty celebrity chef talks about his children wanting him to go on the series, and Evans was thrilled to add him to the lineup of guests. Ramsay’s signature swearing and ability to retort on a whim are intact here, and the video remains the most viewed interview in the series’ history.

Gordon Ramsay Savagely Critiques Spicy Wings | Hot Ones

Editors' Recommendations

Shawn Laib
Shawn Laib is a freelance writer with publications such as Den of Geek, Quote.com, Edge Media Network, diaTribe, SUPERJUMP…
The best movies on Hulu to watch in September
Hulu is the place to watch movies across a wide array of genres
Movie on a person's phone

There's a lot of competition out there in the streaming world, and it can be hard to shuffle through the services to find the best movies to stream right now. Though there are plenty of great movies on Netflix and Amazon still has the platform beat in terms of overall quality, many of the movies on Hulu can't be streamed anywhere else. The best movies on Hulu can be gritty, family-friendly, and even sci-fi oriented. So if you're looking to expand your binge-watching horizons, we've found the best movies to watch on Hulu right now.

White Men Can't Jump (2023)

Read more
16 amazing shows you need to watch on Max
From new originals to the best shows in HBO history, these are great shows to stream on Max
Watchmen

HBO Max was one of the most popular streaming services in the world due to both the volume and the quality of the shows and movies on the platform. You've probably noticed when you log into HBO Max that the platform has been replaced by Max. What does this mean? WarnerMedia and Discovery have merged all of their content into one convenient location. You can still enjoy all of the shows like Succession and The Sopranos that were available on HBO Max, and this new streaming service also includes the kinds of reality shows that were available on Discovery+. Essentially, the libraries of the two services have been merged.
Whatever kind of show you're looking for, you're likely to find it on Max. From iconic dramas to some of the funniest comedies ever created, every show on this list is a must-watch, whether it's 30 years old or just came out this year. Here are the best Max shows.

The Wire (2002)

Read more
The best shows to watch on Peacock right now
Lots of NBC hits are on Peacock now — here are the best shows to watch
Steve Carell in The Office.

 

There are definitely too many streaming services. Thanks to the revolution that Netflix ushered in, every broadcast network and parent company decided that they had to get in on the streaming wars. Peacock TV is NBC Universal's streaming service, and although it may not seem like the most attractive option, there are actually a number of great Peacock movies and shows available on the service that are hard to find anywhere else.
Some of those popular shows are Peacock streaming originals, although there are plenty that initially aired on NBC or elsewhere, and have wound their way to Peacock thanks in part to the complicated nature of TV rights. Regardless of where the best Peacock shows came from originally, though, all of the ones on this list are well worth checking out. Looking for more streaming options? We also have your guide to the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, and the best shows on Paramount Plus.

Read more