Eating hot wings is a pretty standard food challenge in the states. Many local wings places were doing it long before this YouTube show. (Like "if you can eat this plate of ghost pepper wings you get them for free and your picture on the wall") I don't know much about the brand but they definitely were always planning on doing food related things based on the name "first we feast" and this idea makes sense. The interviews are otherwise normal and like I said have this guy who's a good interviewer. If you're curious, find a celebrity you like and watch that episode. Or you can just forget the whole thing because I assure you there are much weirder premises for interview shows.

If it makes you feel better they also didn't think it would do so well/work when they started.

Hot Ones has turned from a semi-prank show cracking jokes in a semi-populated corner of the internet to a heavy hitter on the talk-show circuit.

https://www.eater.com/23045066/hot-ones-celebrity-seasons-show

Maybe seeing dj kahlid not be able to handle cholula then clowned on for his inhiblity to actually give an answer to any question?

It's a few different things combined:

• Competent host: Sean Evans seems like a perfectly normal guy with above average charisma that isn't as manufactured as Fake Laugh Fallon or Waitstaff Abuser Cordon. The team also seems to do their research in terms of guests and tend to ask questions they didn't already just answer in another interview

• Novel premise: Instead of the host asking raunchy or off cuff questions, the host asks mundane albeit obscure questions regarding the celebrity in question loses composure due to increasing spice. A part of the spectacle is seeing someone famous lose composure in a way that isn't in a public mental breakdown or substance induced rampage.

• Generally wholesome: Or at the very least not mean spirited. Despite some dramatic sound effects added after the fact, the show is actually extremely benign and doesn't antagonize anyone. Fairly accommodating, if the interviewee is vegan they'll have vegan wings, if they don't eat processed food they get like fried cauliflower.

I get the appeal and have seen like 4 or 5 episodes.

because its a way to manufacture relatability for celebrity-commodities

why is the interview more entertaining if the participants are suffering?

Maybe it's fun to see rich people deliberately hurt themselves