Veteran entertainment journalist Zuri Hall is leaving the sector.
The playing field, that’s.
Hall has launched “Zuri Hall’s Not About Sports,” a YouTube talk show centered around sports stars and personalities. But as a substitute of specializing in the games, Hall is interviewing her guests about what goes on off the sector. “The human interest angle is what’s exciting me essentially the most about it,” she says. “We’re casting a large net with who our guests might be and seeing what viewers resonate with most. We’ve got people like Loreal Sarkisian, the wife of the pinnacle coach of the Texas Longhorns, coming on pretty soon.”
“We’re talking about marriage and motherhood,” Hall added. “She’s opening up like she never has before, about that journey, about giving birth three months early, about her high-risk pregnancy, about what it’s wish to support a powerhouse coach at the very best level, and the stresses that include that, while maintaining her own identity.”
The lineup for “Not About Sports” also includes two-time Super Bowl champion Malcolm Jenkins of Philadelphia Eagles fame and Akbar Gbajabiamila, an 8-year NFL veteran turned Emmy-nominated TV host and commentator.
Hall is best known for her work on celebrity magazine shows like “E! News” and “Access Hollywood.” She is currently the lead host of the “Live From E!” red carpet specials in addition to co-host of NBC’s primetime competition series, “American Ninja Warrior.” She is producing “Not About Sports” under her Good News First Studios production company.
Who’re a few of your dream guests?
It’s hard to select, but Michael Jordan, because he’s notoriously private and he’s the GOAT, and since he doesn’t do interviews fairly often, let alone ones within the style that I’m doing. I’d love for him to return on and tell his story otherwise, particularly because I won’t be talking anything basketball-related. I’d like to have the option to provide fans a special side of Michael Jordan. Also, Tom Brady, because I believe he’s in a extremely interesting point of his life straight away. I got a number of questions. I got a number of questions on what life looks like for him now, what he hopes life will appear like for him within the near future, and in addition perhaps more context around among the decisions that he’s made. I also should get Jordan Chiles. She’s just so fun, so bubbly.
You’re specializing in guests from the world of sports, but are you furthermore mght considering of trying for people like Bradley Cooper, who could discuss his beloved Philadelphia Eagles?
I really like that you just brought that up. I take into consideration that. I don’t need to get too ahead of myself, but Hollywood is certainly my wheelhouse. I’ve been talking to the celebs for the higher a part of 12 years. I’m trusted on this space. My rapport with them is great. I really like talking to the celebs. I’d like to get Bradley Cooper talking about sports, but it is a show not about sports. We’d should figure that out.
We will’t discuss sports without talking about hockey and “Heated Rivalry.”
The show is so sexy and so fun, and we’re all loving it straight away. It’s the largest sports romance series that’s out straight away. If I could get Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams to lock in on an episode, hands down, we’re making it occur. We’ll should workshop how exactly it suits. Possibly we’ll bring them on with an actual hockey player.
What was the primary red carpet that you just covered?
I remember the primary one which I used to be nervous about, like I used to be nauseous, was Oprah. I’d been in the sport slightly bit, but I used to be still super green, and my producers wanted me to give her a loaf of bread [after Winfrey said she was eating bread every day, even while on Weight Watchers]. I used to be nervous that Oprah was going to be like, “Never again with you.” But in those moments, you see why Oprah is who she is. She has this unique ability to make everyone feel like they’re exactly who she desires to be talking to at that very moment.
Who was your most difficult interview?
Probably the most difficult ones were earlier on in my profession after I was still attempting to strengthen the muscle of methods to navigate a few of those trickier questions. I’ll say it was type of difficult interviewing Leonardo DiCaprio on the premiere of “The Revenant.” There have been those ridiculous rumors — saying it out loud just feels so ridiculous – but there was a scene with him and a bear. [A bizarre claim that a bear sexually assaulted DiCaprio’s character had gone viral at the time]. That was a pleasant little moment of earning my stripes because I also had food poisoning that day. I had been throwing up literally all morning and all night before. My boss was going to take me off the project, and I used to be like, “Hell no, it’s DiCaprio.” I asked the query, and I got the bite, and the headline got picked up globally. So thanks, Leonardo DiCaprio – it’s been a pleasure interviewing you all these years. [For the record, Variety’s Marc Malkin was with E! Online at the time and wrote the story about Hall’s DiCaprio interview.]
This Q&A was edited for length and clarity.