From Presidential Candidate to Reality TV Contestant

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This week on the Andrew Yang Podcast, and it's ridiculous to say that being on reality TV show on Fox reminded me of the presidential campaign, but it genuinely did. And there were times when that stuff brought like a certain part of me out that was like, okay, like, it's— let's freaking do it. But the whole thing was much more of a challenge and exertion than I'd realized it was going to be going in. And it is July, and so my long-awaited reality TV debut on Nation's Dumbest is just 2 days away, Wednesday, July 15th. And, uh, this episode I'm just going to spill some tea, the tea that can be spilled, about my time on Fox's new reality TV sensation Nation's Dumbest.

I'm gonna do my best, guys. This is Zach. I'm gonna do my best to ask all the questions people wanna know.

What the hell? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

One, how'd you, what, dude? You're on, like, why are you doing reality TV show? What was the sort of thought here? How'd this happen?

Oh my God, how did it happen? So I think you might have actually gotten the message at first and then from my agent and then passed it along to me.

I did get, I mean, I know the answers, but you know.

All right, no, okay. So we had a message from my agent saying, hey guys, I got a weird offer for you, um, but how would you like to appear in a reality TV show on Fox called Nation's Dumbest? And I was given a couple of names of people that were going to be on the show. It was Ice-T, JoJo Siwa, and a pro athlete of some kind.

Yeah.

And others. And Jon Heder, who played Napoleon Dynamite. Those are the names I was given. Um, and so I heard this and I was like And so I thought to myself, like, why do you want me? You know, I'm not a celebrity in a conventional sense. Like, I'm the only reality TV show I've been on was the presidential debates. I mean, that was the joke.

But I'm chh.

And so I have a call with the producers with that question, why me? And they, maybe they found something they could use to, you know, convince me. But they said, we're looking for a political figure that people don't hate.

—and that bar is—

And so I was like, oh wow, I was kind of flattered. That's tough, I guess. Yeah, but they said that they wanted someone that people actually regard as smart, which is nice. And so I was flattered, and the producer had a delightful British accent. I think it's like the BBC production company, and they'd done Masked Singer and So You Think You Can Dance and some other shows that I'd actually seen. And they said, look, this is wholesome family entertainment. It's going to be like, um, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Yeah, type stuff.

What's the premise of the show? Like, what, what is the Nation's Dumbest?

So the premise of the show is that this is the only reality TV show you're trying to get voted off of because every week there is a competition to see who is the least dumb based upon their ability to answer various trivia questions. And so if you are the last person, then you get a prize trophy saying you're the nation's dumbest. You're trying to avoid being the nation's dumbest.

So you want to get off early? Yes.

And this, I will say, Yang Yang, was one reason I said yes, was because I thought I could be home pretty quick if I, you know, go in and just perform well and bang stuff out.

So you're You're not allowed to spoil it, I'm assuming, right? So— Yeah, yeah, no spoilers. Hypothetically, he might still be the nation's dumbest.

I might still be on set right now. I might have that trophy waiting in my freaking living room.

All right, so wait, let's talk about some logistics of the show. And then I want to talk about the real meat, which is probably like the human element, the experience of it, et cetera, et cetera. So mechanically, what are you doing on the show? It's like brain teasers and activities. Like what, what do they got you cranking on?

It is group challenges, occasionally one-on-one challenges, including some sets. There's some physical activities involved. There is, uh, an individual logic puzzle slash brain teaser, uh, that you can use to get a star, which enables you to get a question wrong later. And then it culminates in group trivia off where they ask questions and then you answer, and if you answer it wrong, then you lose a point. And then as people get to zero points, they— or zero stars, they are removed. And so if you're the last person standing, you get to go home.

You get stars like Mario Party. This is—

yeah, like stars like Mario Party.

Great game. It's—

but, you know, they did a very elaborate job with the sets, and it's hosted by a comedian named Jack Whitehall. And he's delightful, also British, and has jokes getting piped into his headset that are generally mocking us as we flounder or answer something wrong or just generally do something. But I think people will enjoy watching it. It's a fun and funny show. They made it entertaining. And some of the other people that are on it, in addition to the folks I named, Carmen Electra, Hilario Baldwin, a singer named Chase Hudson— Huddy is his quick stage name— Anthony Michael Hall, who played the nerd in Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles, L. King, who's a country star, and Dr. Drew, who's a reality TV staple but also a real-life therapist, along with Ice-T and Matt Leinart and Jon Hader. You did text me like, I'm going—

you don't believe I'm going to dinner with Matt Leinart, Steve-O, and Hilaria Baldwin. And I was like, what is your life, man? Okay. What? So what's a favorite experience? I guess start there. Like, what's it like? Reality TV shows, you know, they try to make it seem like real life. There's obviously stuff going on in the background. Yeah. What do you love?

My favorite experience was getting to know the other contestants. And so I had a number of reasons to go on. Check it out. Check it out. I mean, one was make new friends and have an experience that you wouldn't have had. Sure.

And I'd rather have you do this than Love Island, or— oh, thank you, it's good.

Um, but there were a couple of other things I do want to be frank about, which is they did pay me. Yeah. And the fee was more than I would get for like most, you know, speaking events or like something. So I was like, okay, I can use that money to like, uh, give to charity, to do something positive and productive. Like, I see myself as someone who can hopefully do something good with the money. And it was gonna be seen by millions of people. I mean, Masked Singer's the number one show on Fox. And I thought to myself, I occasionally do cable news appearances that are gonna get seen by realistically like 40 or 50,000 people. So then if you tell me I'm gonna get seen by 4 or 5 million people. Yeah, different audience. And genuinely trying to do something positive in the world, then saying no felt like copping out or ducking something. And I had friends who did tell me, you do not want to be on the show. You don't want to have your name on a billboard next to the word dumbest. Like, you're a serious figure on the rise because you called AI, and this is going to make you unserious. You know, like that. I did have— sure— friends telling me these things. And that friend's name was Zach Graham.

No, I'm kidding. I don't know.

I was sort of lukewarm on this. Wait, wait, what did you say?

I was lukewarm on this. I was like, I remember forwarding you the email. I was like, honestly, could be awful. Could be hilarious. If you want to do it, maybe you should do it. If you don't want to do it, you're not getting pressure from me. That's sort of where my thought was.

So right now, as we're having this conversation and it has not aired and I've not seen it, so I may regret this. No, no, no, no. I mean, I haven't seen it. You haven't seen it? No one's seen it. Right now I feel like I made the right decision to go on. I mean, you can check back with me. In a week or two, and maybe I'll feel something different. Hello, listeners. You like money, I like money. Let's help everyone save some money. So I started Noble Mobile, the first cell phone plan that pays you to use it less. A data dividend. That's right, it's for real. Go to noblemobile.com/yang and find out how you can get bonus cash just for signing up, get months for free, the whole shebang. It's awesome. Go to noblemobile.com/yang to find out more. It's summertime, which means you're gonna lie on your bed all day long. I'm kidding. That's not really a thing that people do. But if you were to do it, you'd wanna do it on a Helix Sleep mattress. I use, Ultra Dawn Firm mattress because I need a lot of support. I like my mattresses kind of a little bit like a board sort of thing. Not to say that the Ultra Dawn Firm mattress is like a board, but you know what I mean. And it's been a game changer for me, my health, my ability to just wake up and actually attack the day. Tested and reviewed by experts like Forbes and Wired. Who gets to test mattresses? That is a good job. Maybe that one will not be done by robots. Go to helixsleep.com/yang for 20% off sitewide, 25% off Luxe mattresses, 30% off Elite mattresses. That's helixsleep.com/yang. Make sure you enter our show name after checkout so they know we sent you. helixsleep.com/yang.

Well, they do have writers on these things, so like they can make you, you know, they make anybody look— editors, that's what I'm saying. Like, they— but the editors are working with writers to make— take— you say one thing responding to something maybe benign, but if you clip it the right way, it's a mean response, you know?

Okay, so the best things about this experience: the relationships. I became genuinely friends with some people I liked and admired from afar. We're on a group text together to this day. That's cool. I'm sure when the show was airing, it'll be like, "It's gonna be crazy." Oh, it's gonna be popping, for sure. It did stretch me in a particular way that I did not anticipate. The whole thing was much more of like a journey. They put me up in a fancy hotel. Like, I got the star treatment in a particular way for like a couple of days. I was like, "Oh, I was hanging out," you know, like, "Oh, like, yes, I do deserve the, like, the—" the massage or whatever the heck. So, so that those were the good things. The bad things, uh, imagine just being like, you're away from home and like, I was, you know, honest too. It's like, I can't be away for that long. I mean, I have a company to run, a family and like a life and everything. And my going there too, um, was like, you're not sure. And you know, you were here in New York and it's like, when is Yang going to be back? Don't know. Don't know.

And you don't have access to him at the moment. You know, you're on TV because I was on set.

For like, let's call it just 12 hours a day, even though like it was often longer than that. But a lot of that time I, you know, had my phone taken away, which by the way, was a delight in terms of actually— Good for Noble, man. Yeah, like, you know, it was good, but I had to take it away because I was on set and shooting and doing a competition or like doing something for a lot of those hours. Yeah. And so not knowing when you're going to go home, that's not great. Being on camera in a way that's kind of competitive. It did remind me of running for president, and it's ridiculous to say that being on reality TV show on Fox reminded me of the presidential campaign, but it genuinely did. And there were times when that stuff, um, brought like a certain part of me out that was like, okay, like, it's— let's freaking do it. And I'm not saying that this is negative necessarily, but the whole thing was much more of a challenge and exertion than I'd realized it was going to be going in.

I remember preparing for presidential debates. You're like, we did practice rounds and then we finally did practice runs with the Klieg lights. And you were like, I knew there was no one in the audience, but as soon as the lights came on, I got nervous. I felt like it was game time. It's like adrenaline or whatever it is. And you did in your second debate say, You know, these things are reality TV shows. That's why we elected a reality star.

They really are a reality TV show. Holy crap. It was like that, man. Right down to the podiums. We had like podiums.

Oh, you— oh, you— you had a little PTSD, a little like flashbacks of like— Yeah, totally. Oh, man.

They order you backstage to like walk out to the podium. Just like—

Dude, you did it. I didn't know this. It's like you live in the debate. Oh, it's tough, dude. Sorry. I would have hated that.

There were a lot of aspects of this that were like a challenge. And I will say, I don't know if I can say this and like, you know, they probably just edited it out. Um, but there was like a, you know, at least one celebrity who, um, you know, like it was just too strenuous for—

Oh, they crashed out. Yeah, yeah, I hope they kept it.

I'm just kidding. I mean, they might have kept it, they might have edited it out, I don't know. But like, so there's like— it was a challenge. Like, like, I have, in my own opinion, you know, like, high stamina for this stuff. Yeah. And there were, and there were periods where I was like, yo, like, we've been doing this for, yeah, a lot of hours.

And if you're— I mean, I, you know, I don't know who you're talking about, but you know, if you're Matt Liar, like, look, you've been in the arena, but you haven't done this type of thing, right? If you're Carmen Electra, you've gotten your photo taken a million times, maybe done some press.

That's not the same. It dragged us all out of our comfort zones in a particular way, and that surprised me. You know, I mean, I shouldn't have been surprised, but one person who's like been on half a dozen reality shows and has already been on, um, like I think they have their own reality TV show actually of this crew, they took me aside at one point and were like, hey, is this the first reality TV show you've been on? And I said technically yes, And then they were like, holy shit. Like, you are, you were like the bravest person. They felt like you were comfortable up there in a way, or just that I would put myself in that situation. Yeah.

They were like, oh, they were like, why are you doing this sort of thing?

It was a little bit like you have more. I mean, she used the word courage. She was like, you are like incredibly courageous to be here to go do this shit. And I was like, well, that's, like kind of flattering to hear, but then part of me was also like, so I should be scared? Like this stuff, you know what I mean? Like there was that aspect.

Um, well it is, you know what it is, man? Like it is tough and I'm not knocking your agents at all. Like, but like they're gonna get the offer and if they don't think it's gonna be, you know, they may recommend it, may not. And these things can, they can make your career take off. For some people they can ruin a career, right? You probably had enough like press time that if you go up there and they make fun of you, it's like shrug, like whatever. But you know what I mean? Some people can have, you see 'em on Love Island or some of these shows like, you know, they say something stupid or whatever. It's like, it's like flop in a presidential debate. You know what I mean? It's like, it's sort of, yeah, there's downside risks to this stuff. And I don't know if the, the agents don't, they don't, they don't have to care. They're not wired to care, you know?

Well, it, it's like my friend who's advising me not to do this. I mean, again, right now as I'm sitting here, I'm glad I did it. That's true.

It could be, we should, we'll do a, we'll do a debrief if it like, is a train wreck.

No, even if it was a train wreck, by the way, I thought to myself, it's like, look, none of the people in the political media establishment nonsense bullshit are gonna watch it. If they do, it's probably good for the show. Yeah, but, but what I imagine is that some everyday American— what I can imagine them doing is like being like, Yang, I saw you in that thing, you know, like, like, so the, the entire politics, media, cable news establishment, um, and to some extent social media. Like, there's like a universe that inhabits, and then I feel like reality TV shows are like this other universe. And there was some part of me that really enjoyed like kind of like this crossover. And by the way, some of the folks in the cast too were like, like, yeah, what the fuck you doing here? Yeah, you know, like that entertained me. Um, but it also made me think, it's like, what am I really risking here? It's like, you know, if like reality TV show audience, you know, if it doesn't go well, it's like, agreed.

And you're not gonna, you know, you're still gonna be you, you know, you're gonna like, you know, do something, say something extremely offensive, you know what I mean? You're still gonna like, you're, you're enough of a PR experienced, you know, press experienced to like, I'm assuming we didn't watch it, but avoid the mega flops. Maybe they made you up.

We may eat his whole thing. I gave this crazy rant. No, I, I It's— man, I'm actually eager to hear what you think. Yeah. Oh, we're pumped. I mean, I guess— I guess we're going to have some watch parties.

We're going to do fun. Oh my God, you're right.

Like, I mean, you guys are going to see it, then it's going to be great. I will relive the whole thing.

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Would you, uh, do another reality TV show?

Dude, a number of the people on the cast actually said to me, it's like, because a lot of them have been in a lot of reality TV shows, yeah, that list. And what they said to me is that after you've been on one, then you kind of joined the circuit, and then the producers are like, oh, you had that guy before, he might be great for this.

Yeah.

And, and then I was like, what other reality TV show could I possibly be on that makes any sense? Um, because I couldn't think of any. I mean, I actually, I take that back. There was a point years ago that I got asked to be on The Masked Singer. Um, but I'm not much of a singer. So I mean, I'm fine. Like I was in, you can get a chorus, sure. Um, but it's not like I'm exceptional. Um, and so I know now I gave it away and I'm going to end up being The Masked Singer, but like there could be some, I have no idea what quote unquote opportunities would flow from being on a reality TV show, but I guess we're going to find out. I guess we're going to find out.

We are going to find out, man. You know, I was never a big reality TV guy. This will be one of the first I've seen, but I will say I've had a friend that convinced me to watch Vanderpump Rules, and I will say that show is awesome. Like, it's one of the first, you know, it's one of the like the trashy like reality TV shows, but that they did it well.

They had a good— we should confer a little bit on this. I watched the first couple seasons of Survivor. Okay, me too. I watched— this is— I'm older than you on this one. I loved The Real World on MTV like 15 years ago.

I wasn't a huge fan, but I did— I didn't mind. I watched a little Jersey Shore.

Jim Tamarondre. Yeah, I, I did watch So You Think You Can Dance.

Those are fun. American Idol, I did a lot. I was a big Clay Aiken fan. I thought he was really good. I loved when he lost.

Um, I guess just it's right there, that's the same thing. It's like Simon Cowell and X Factor. Like, I do watch some of those.

I used to love, uh, I think they brought it back, the show called The Mole.

Oh yeah, I know what you mean.

Like one of those, like, uh, it's like Traders in some sense, or actually very much like that. I'm more of like reality adjacent as opposed to like there's shows where it's just like rich people going out to dinner, like the Real Housewives stuff. But I get why people love it. They love it, dude.

So I have no idea what's going to flow from this, but—

Yeah, you get a little Noble plug in there a little bit or no?

I, you know, I talked about the company like I was, you know, there's value. They wouldn't have allowed— they were— there were— they removed all branding. No more plugs. Yeah. Yeah. They removed all branding though. You know what was fun is that Math. I wore a math pin because like math is like just math. Used to brand with that a lot. Yeah. And so like that, that was my jam. Cool. I was Mr. Math. I really did enjoy it though. I hope you all enjoy it if you do check it out. I think it's gonna be good for us. I think it's gonna be good for everything I'm working on. We'll see if I'm right. We'll see, man. We'll see. But it's, it's going to be the biggest TV audience I've gotten since the debates.

Look, man, maybe, you know, maybe this goes the other way too. Like, maybe you're a natural reality TV star and you get a huge show off this, you know.

A huge show, yeah, maybe, who knows.

Yeah, like, uh, the podcast becomes a, you know, Monday night, you know, hit reality TV show in the future. Yes, maybe.

So Andrew Yang, Nation's Dumbest, this week on Fox.

Bring back The Apprentice, dude. Also I know we don't like Trump, but he was great in that show. He was.

That's one reason he's president. Yeah. That's one reason why I also sometimes pound the table for Mark Cuban to run for president because he's familiar to the American people.

Look, man, like what's his name in LA, Spencer Pratt? I don't know. He didn't win, but like reality TV stars get the press, you know, they get the drama, they get the, they understand the ethos of it, you know? How about you, bro?

Reality TV show? I don't know.

I think I could do one of the fun ones. I can never do like a Love Island. I see these people on there. They're like, they're like grinding, talking about like intimate sex activities in like in front of the whole nation. Like, that's crazy to me. Your parents are watching that, right? Like, that's nuts. And I don't love the ones where it's like clearly everybody just wants the bag at the end of it to be an influencer. And so they're just like drinking the show's Kool-Aid.

You would be a great reality TV star. I think—

I don't know. I think both of us— this is my concern with you as reality TV star. You're too somewhat sane for it. Like, are you going to like take the bait the way they want you to? I have no idea. I don't think I'd take the bait. I'd be like, I'm just here because you guys paid me.

So when you guys watch the show, you guys should know I had one rule for myself. Hmm. Just have a good energy and spirit about you at all times. That was a good—

probably a good idea.

Like, you know, adversity, like problems, challenges, like good spirit, good vibes, good energy. And then the rest will just fall wherever it falls.

We're going to see, man.

We're going to see. So we just—

what if we sound so stupid because the whole thing was completely sideways from what we thought it would be?

I mean, shoot, man, I don't know.

I don't know.

I mean, you know, you could make us like—

as well, preface, we haven't seen this shit.

We have no idea. No one's seen it. Yeah, I mean, sorry, the editor saw it, um, but I'm gonna be seeing it for the first time alongside all of you. Yeah, um, so Nation's Dumbest, uh, on Fox. I think it's 9 PM Eastern, uh, and you know what, like, I'll be watching it right alongside you all.

Get your popcorn ready. Love you guys, have a good one.

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