Veteran entertainment journalist Zuri Hall will be leaving the show.
In other words, it’s a playing field.
Hall launched Zuri Hall’s Not About Sports, a YouTube talk show featuring sports stars and celebrities. But instead of focusing on the game, Hall interviews guests about what’s happening off the field. “What interests me most about this work is the human interest perspective,” she says. “We’re casting a wide net for who our guests could be and seeing what resonates most with our viewers. People like Loreal Sarkisian, the wife of the Texas Longhorns head coach, are coming soon.”
“We’re talking about marriage and motherhood,” Hall added. “She’s opening up like never before about that journey, giving birth three months early, her high-risk pregnancy, what it’s like to support a powerful coach at the highest level, and the stress that comes with it, all while maintaining her own identity.”
The “Not About Sports” lineup also includes Malcolm Jenkins, who rose to fame with the Philadelphia Eagles and won two Super Bowls, and Akbar Gbajabiamila, who spent eight years in the NFL and became an Emmy-nominated television host and commentator.
Hall is best known for her work on celebrity magazine shows such as “E! News” and “Access Hollywood.” Currently, he is the lead host of “Live From E!”. In addition to hosting red carpet specials, he also co-hosts NBC’s primetime competition series “American Ninja Warrior.” She produces “Not About Sports” under her production company, Good News First Studios.
Who would be your dream guest?
It’s hard to choose, but it’s Michael Jordan. Because he’s famous for his private life and he’s the GOAT. And he doesn’t do interviews very often, much less the style of interviews that I do. I want him to come and tell his story in a different way, especially since I don’t talk about anything basketball-related. I would be happy if I could show fans a different side of Michael Jordan. And Tom Brady, because I think he’s at a really interesting time in his life right now. I had a lot of questions. I got a lot of questions about what life is like for him right now, what he hopes life will be like in the near future, and maybe more context for some of the decisions he’s made. I have to get Jordan Chiles too. She is very fun and very cheerful.
We focus on guests from the sports world, but are you considering trying out someone like Bradley Cooper to talk about his beloved Philadelphia Eagles?
I’m glad you brought it up. Think about it. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but Hollywood is definitely in my wheelhouse. I’ve been talking to stars for the better part of 12 years. I am trusted in this field. The relationship with them is great. I love talking to the stars. I want Bradley Cooper to talk about sports, but this isn’t a show about sports. You need to understand that.
You can’t talk about sports without talking about hockey and the heated rivalry.
This show is so sexy and so fun that we all love it now. This is the biggest sports romance series currently available. If we can get Connor Story and Hudson Williams to anchor an episode, we’ll definitely do it. You’ll need to workshop how exactly it fits. Maybe you’ll play against real hockey players.
What was the first red carpet you covered?
I remember the first thing that made me so nervous that I felt nauseous was Oprah. I was in the game for a little bit, but I was still very green, so the producers wanted me to feed her bread (after Winfrey said she still ate bread every day while on Weight Watchers). I was worried that Oprah would say, “I’ll never do anything with you again.” But in that moment, you realize why Oprah is who she is. She has the unique ability to make anyone feel like she’s the person they want to talk to at that exact moment.
Who was the most difficult person to interview for you?
The most difficult time was early in my career, when I was still trying to strengthen my muscles in how to solve some of the toughest questions. Interviewing Leonardo DiCaprio at the premiere of The Revenant was a challenge. There was a ridiculous rumor, which feels really ridiculous when I say it out loud, but there was a scene with him and a bear. (The bizarre claim that the bear sexually assaulted DiCaprio’s character went viral at the time). I also had food poisoning that day, so it was a nice little moment of honor. I was literally throwing up from morning until night. When my boss tried to take me out of work, I thought, “No way, it’s DiCaprio.” I asked the question and it clicked, making headlines all over the world. Thank you, Leonardo DiCaprio – I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing you over the years. (For the record, Variety’s Mark Malkin was at E! Online at the time and wrote an article about Hall’s interview with DiCaprio).
This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
