Zuri Hall is a staple on the red carpet, but her latest move is scoring major points in the digital space. The “Access Hollywood” and “American Ninja Warrior” co-host has officially launched “Zuri Hall’s Not About Sports,” a new YouTube talk show that is quickly becoming a trending topic for its unique “human interest” spin on the world’s biggest athletes.
While the title suggests a stadium setting, Hall is making it clear that she is leaving the playbook behind. Instead of stats and scores, she is diving deep into the private lives of sports icons, motherhood, and the “off the field” drama that fans are dying to see.
The Oprah Bread Incident
As the news of her show goes viral, Hall is looking back at the moments that “earned her stripes” in the industry. One story currently making the rounds involves none other than the Queen of Media herself, Oprah Winfrey.
Hall recalled being “super green” and incredibly nervous when her producers asked her to give Oprah a loaf of bread on the red carpet – a cheeky nod to Winfrey’s famous “I love bread” Weight Watchers campaign.
“I was nervous that Oprah was going to be like, ‘Never again with you,'” Hall admitted. However, the gamble paid off. “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 wants to be talking to at that very moment.”
Battling DiCaprio and Food Poisoning
If giving Oprah carbs wasn’t stressful enough, Hall also opened up about her most “challenging” interview to date: Leonardo DiCaprio at the premiere of “The Revenant.”
While a bizarre, viral rumor about a bear was circulating at the time, Hall was fighting a battle of her own behind the scenes. “I had food poisoning that day. I had been throwing up literally all morning and all night before,” she revealed.
Despite her boss offering to pull her from the assignment, Hall refused to miss her shot. “I asked the question, and I got the bite, and the headline got picked up globally. So thank you, Leonardo DiCaprio!”
A New Era: ‘Not About Sports’
Now, Hall is focusing her energy on her production company, Good News First Studios. Her new show has already lined up heavy hitters like Loreal Sarkisian, wife of the Texas Longhorns head coach, who will open up about her high-risk pregnancy and life as a “powerhouse” coach’s wife.
Other guests include Super Bowl champ Malcolm Jenkins and NFL veteran Akbar Gbajabiamila. But Hall has her sights set even higher. Her “dream guests” include the notoriously private Michael Jordan and Tom Brady, who she says is at a “really interesting point” in his life.
The ‘Heated Rivalry’ Factor
Hall also teased a potential crossover that has book-tok and sports fans buzzing. She expressed her love for the massive sports romance series “Heated Rivalry,” mentioning she would love to have characters like Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams “lock in on an episode.”
“The show is so sexy and so fun, and we’re all loving it right now,” Hall gushed. “We’ll have to workshop how exactly it fits. Maybe we’ll bring them on with an actual hockey player.”
As Zuri Hall continues to bridge the gap between Hollywood glamour and the sports world, fans are eagerly waiting to see which legend will be the next to sit across from her. One thing is for sure: if there is a viral story to be told, Zuri will find it.
Who would you want to see Zuri interview next? Let us know in the comments!
