Emmy-nominated host Scott Evans of “Access Hollywood” chatted about his motivations as a media personality and the digital age.
What inspires you each day as a media personality?
I’m constantly inspired by the stories of perseverance and the human spirit the places where someone’s curiosity or tenacity leads them to success. It’s about someone’s pursuit of a dream, somehow inspiring someone else in this kind of ripple effect that it creates.
I am curious about how we get along, get on, and turn some of the hardest things in our lives into energy that fuels us every day.
So, it’s about being able to share those stories with people every day in the work that I do. I am enthusiastic about my work because it’s also the same energy I tap into in my life. I’m drawn to those people in my life.
I’m interested in building, keeping, and nurturing relationships with those kinds of people in my life. I’m good at what I do because it’s also how I live.
What do your plans for the future include?
My dream now is about creating opportunities and paths forward for other storytellers. I want to share this spotlight. We are out here together let’s get after it.
The overall talent deal I have with NBCUniversal has really led me to dig deep into the resource of the people around me. It has allowed me to help lift up and amplify those voices.
What are some of your proudest professional moments thus far?
One of the proudest professional moments I’ve had thus far will sound crazy because it was not really professional but led to something personal. I received an invitation to attend Tyler Perry’s studio opening in Atlanta to celebrate this incredible achievement by this amazing, talented, and driven black man.
As I was going to introduce my mom to Mr. Perry, the first thing he said when he saw me was, “Where’s your mama?” it hit me that we were at this incredible gathering of some of the biggest, brightest stars in our community in the world, but also that happened to be in our community, part of the black community.
Oprah was there, and I had the opportunity to introduce her to my mom. I tapped her on the shoulder, realizing too late that I had interrupted that conversation with Cicely Tyson, Beyonce, and Jay Z. I was mortified. Oprah turned around, and before I could even say, “I am so sorry,” she said, “Scottie!” and I blacked out. When I came to, she was hugging my mom, and they were sharing some story.
I think it was probably an episode of something my mom remembered from when she was pregnant with me and saying how I’d been watching Oprah from before I was born. But that opportunity, that experience to share that with my mom, has been, so far, for me, the biggest and coolest thing that’s happened.
How does it feel to be a media personality in the digital age…Now with streaming and technology being so prevalent?
I am so excited and optimistic about how the landscape is changing and what it means for creators. There are more opportunities, places, and avenues than ever to try, fail, succeed, and collaborate.
The rise of streaming, social media, and those nonlinear broadcast programming avenues create new challenges for sure but have also given creators who would otherwise be left out, to have a space and opportunity that wasn’t there before.
Now, it didn’t ensure that they will be successful by any means but it certainly gave more people more access to showcase their talent. There are more opportunities and ways to own your own content than ever, and that is the real gag, to be able to own your own content.
How do you use technology in your daily routine?
Technology is part of everything we do, and what’s funny is that technology constantly changes what we do. To look back at social media and how much it has affected how we do our jobs.
Where the entertainment journalist was once the go-between for the celeb, the actor, the performer, the singer, or whomever the person of note was to their audience, now that individual can do the majority of that directly and with great success.
So now it is about honing in on what you can offer that is different, that boosts, shines, and shows them in a different light.
Technology has drastically changed the business I work in. I am encouraged by that because it means that we have to get more creative and really have to do something different if we intend to stick around. I’m excited to see where this all leads.
Can you tell us more about the importance of representation within the industry?
I feel like I’m over that question. Aren’t we past the point asking of “does representation matter?” The more impactful question to me is “how else can we invest in meaningful representation?” Where are there still glaring omissions? We know it matters right, let’s evolve this discussion.
What does the word “success” mean to you?
Success to me used to be the dollar amount in the bank, a number of projects on screen, a mortgage and car note that I could afford, and now I’m learning that success really equals freedom.
Freedom to do, say, think, produce, collaborate and live in a way that I feel free to. To not be bound by something in a way that I cannot be all of who I am in my job, relationships, and the commitments that I keep.
It means Finding ways to become freer in every aspect of life. so that it doesn’t matter how much money is in my bank account or how many projects I have on television. It really matters about the kind of work I’m doing and the kind of people I’m collaborating with.
The projects and appearances and things that I’m saying no to as well as I’m saying yes to, so that to me now is what success really is.
What would you like to say to your fans and supporters that have been with you on your journey?
Thank you so much. I’m not sure what I do has fans. I know that some people like what I do, but I don’t know that anyone is following it so much that they’re a fan of me.
It seems a little weird to answer with something like, “Yeah, so shout out to all my fans. My day ones who’ve been riding for me.” Listen, you’ve see me grow. You see me do these things.
You see me like I’m living my dream. So that you one day can live yours. So I guess if those people do exist, I think the thing that I would want to say is your support means that I get to do more of what I believe I’m put on this planet to do. Me and you have ever been touched, or encouraged, or at the very least laughed and your spirit was lifted as a result of that hearty belly chuckle then we’re onto something.
Thank you for sticking around and coming back or accidentally popping in and not leaving until you got what you needed. You know what I mean? I just feel like it is what I’m here to do, and I hope that you can get to experience much, much more. Thank you.
To learn more about media sensation Scott Evans of “Access Hollywood,” follow him on Instagram.
