Q&A with Carson Daly
Wearing an Oreo-inspired black-and-white ensemble, Carson Daly happily hosted the Oreo jingle sing-off in Times Square, New York City. After the fun-loving finalists performed the famous tune, the judges assembled to pick the winner, and a sweet father-daughter duo was rewarded with a ten thousand dollar check. Once the celebration came to a close, I caught up with Carson for a little one-on-one chat. We touched on sweet snacks, pet peeves, and more…
Are you happy that the father-daughter duo won the Oreo award?
Yeah, I was a judge and that was my pick also. We’re really happy with the decision.
So, how do you eat your Oreos?
How do I eat my Oreos? I always used to take one layer of the chocolate off of two cookies and make the doubles-stuffed before they actually had the double-stuffed Oreos. Now I take the double-stuffed Oreos and now I’ve got a jumbo Oreo. I eat them like a “manwich.”
So, how’d you get this hosting gig?
Well Oreos asked me to come out for the Oreo and milk jingle finale in Times Square. It’s a real family event. They put out this contest, and the winning combination is this adorable daughter and father singing blue grass. So it hit the right mark for me with friends and family. And being in Times Square that means home for me. So I was like “yeah absolutely I’ll help you judge it and host it.”
How’d you get your big break?
I worked at a radio station in Los Angeles. And then I got a job at MTV. And I moved to New York City around the time that they were putting up the building in Times Square. I created this show called Total Request Live, and it became a very popular, everyday afternoon show. And I spent everyday for five years in Times Square. Then there’s New Years Eve which I still do now on NBC. I’ve spent more hours in Times Square than I have in my own apartment.
So if TRL never happened, what would you be doing?
Oh, I’d be bartending somewhere probably. Valet parking your car. I would have sold you this recorder at an electronic store.
Did you have any crazy pre-fame jobs like that?
Yeah, all of those. I bartended, valet parked, I was a golf caddy – you know I love to play golf – so I’d carry other people’s clubs around for 50 bucks around. That sort of deal. A lot of odd jobs. Also DJing which was always fun to do.
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
In life? Probably like people who are really full of themselves – like ego maniacs. You see a lot of them in the entertainment business, but to me there’s nothing more annoying than people who are so full of themselves. I hate that.
What music is on your iPod?
Right now an artist named Paolo Nutini – he’s a Scottish artist that just did my late night show. So right now I just loaded in Paolo Nutini. It’s a great record. And a group called The Fine Frenzy which is another great artist from L.A. And like 40 thousand other songs. Those are the two that I just put in my iPod yesterday.
Who are you dying to interview that you haven’t spoken to yet?
I mean there’s like Robert DiNero. I come to New York, and I think of DiNero. I would love to talk to him. Martin Scorcese or Leonardo DiCarprio – I think he’s an amazing actor – he’s never been on the show.
Who’s your idol?
I don’t really have one. I m going to say my parents – both of them. They worked really hard to put me and my sister through college and it’s nice to be able to take care of them now.
What’s your secret indulgence?
My secret indulgence? Guiness maybe.
That’s not so secret!
Yeah, that’s true. Probably really bad pop music. I’m kind of a pop whore. Like there’s time that I’ll just listen to some really cheesy, cheesy pop music really loud and it’s really embarrassing. And I pray that no one is watching, but I just have a soft-spot for it. Guilty pleasure.
Oh yeah? Are we talking dance party style?
No, no dancing.
So, what’s your take on the whole Britney situation? Any advice you’d give her?
I think it’s sad what we’re watching, and I think it’s sad that everybody is following her every five seconds. And I’m kind of tired of it, and I’m sure she is. I think she needs to just go away from the lime light for a little bit. I hope she gets her act together. I hope she’s okay, actually.
Speaking of escaping the lime light, what do you do for fun? Where do you like to travel?
You know, I love to play golf. I love to get away and go back to North Carolina where my mom’s family is from. There’s a great golf course back there. And I love the water. I was in the ocean probably everyday this summer in California. I spend a lot of time in Hermosa Beach, which is another fun thing I do every weekend – I surf and I barbeque. When I’m not playing golf, I like to go to the beach.
Finally, what’s one thing about you that you think people would be surprised to hear?
I’m bionic.
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