Michael Keaton Parodies 'Hot Ones' With An Old Friend

By Andrew Sanford | Celebrity | August 27, 2024 |

Hot Ones has become the show to do if you have something to promote. In the next evolution of the celebrity circuit, stars are expected to eat increasingly spicy wings while being asked several well-thought-out and researched questions by host Sean Evans. The actors and actresses sweat, cry, and on one extreme occasion, rub hot sauce on their nipples. The show wracks up views, often goes viral, and has even changed the way the Emmys work. But not everybody is interested in burning their insides for clicks.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice releases in theaters this week. It will see Michael Keaton return as the beloved character. Warner Brothers Discovery is putting their entire machine behind the release. There are billboards in Times Square, teaser trailers for full-length trailers, and numerous costumed promoters. The cast is everywhere, giving in-depth interviews about their careers. Still, none of them are doing so while munching on chicken wings.

I won’t presume why that’s the case. It is very possible that an interview could not be scheduled. Keaton or Evans could have been busy when the opportunity arose. My guess is that the 72-year-old Keaton simply did not want to subject himself to liquid fire made of concentrated peppers. If that’s the case, I do not blame him in the slightest. If that isn’t the case, at the very least, the marketing team at WBD knew that they should do something Hot Ones related. Their choice is pretty fantastic.

Instead of traipsing to Brooklyn, Keaton sat down in a Hot Ones-like studio of his own (which, to be fair, could have been in Brooklyn). The setup is the same, but instead of sitting across from Evans, Keaton sat down with the Ghost with the Most. Yes, Michael Keaton did Hot Ones, here called Not Ones, with his ole pal Beetlejuice. The result is a hilarious (albeit short) parody of the popular interview show.

The video is silly and over-the-top. Keaton hasn’t lost a step as Beetlejuice. He is gross and crass and cracking-wise. There’s a fun, tired energy (if that makes any sense). But the real star here, for me, is Keaton himself. He seems confused by Beetlejuice, trying to keep the interview going. He asks him a complex question, ala Evans. It’s very funny!

Everything about the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice press tour has made me happy. Whether I will enjoy the movie remains to be seen. But, at this point, they would have to fumble the bag pretty badly for that to happen. Good thing Warner Brothers Discovery isn’t known for screwing up these days! Nope! Just a wildly successful, efficiently run— wait… Wait, I’m hearing that none of that is true.