Netflix Expands ‘Hot Ones’ Franchise with New Show

Netflix has entered into a partnership to expand the popular ‘Hot Ones’ series, an initiative to attract more viewers to its platform. The original ‘Hot Ones’ show, featured on YouTube, is known for its engaging format of celebrity interviews paired with increasingly spicy chicken wings.

The new Netflix series, titled ‘Hot Ones: Extra Heat,’ is scheduled to air following major sporting events and significant series or film premieres on the platform. The premiere episode will launch on July 13, right after the Netflix broadcast of the Major League Baseball All-Star Home Run Derby.

This strategic move exemplifies Netflix’s ongoing competition with YouTube. According to Nielsen, YouTube is currently the leading streaming service on U.S. television, with Netflix trailing in popularity. To bolster its appeal, Netflix has been collaborating with creators who initially gained recognition on YouTube, such as Ms. Rachel, known for children’s content, and science educator Mark Rober.

Sean Evans, the host of ‘Hot Ones,’ noted that ‘Hot Ones: Extra Heat’ will retain many elements familiar to existing fans of the YouTube series. He also confirmed that new episodes of the original series would continue to release weekly on YouTube. In ‘Extra Heat,’ Evans will host celebrities who take on the challenge of eating progressively hotter wings. Each episode is set to run for about half an hour.

However, ‘Hot Ones: Extra Heat’ will benefit from a substantially larger budget, promising more grandiose production elements. Unlike its predecessor, typically filmed in a studio setting, the new iteration will explore various locations, with the premiere episode taking place in a college baseball stadium.