“Access” host Scott Evans broke out in 2025 with the popularity of his hit podcast “Houseguest.” He then invited Vice President Kamala Harris to spill tea on her anchovy pizza and fries.
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Video Team – USA TODAY Entertainment
On a summery Thursday morning, Scott Evans was in Southern California getting ready for the NAACP Image Awards.
The “Access Hollywood” host, with freshly bleached blonde hair, sat down virtually from her Los Angeles pad to discuss her popular podcast “House Guest” and her two nominations honoring the achievements of Black Americans.
The red carpet reporter, 39, took part in the popular audio series, which was filmed at home. “I want to win,” Evans told USA TODAY on Feb. 26, adding that he likes to think about “how it impacts all the people who have ideas and dreams and things like that.”
Since launching the self-funded show in June 2024, Evans has rotated in VIPs such as Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland, comedian Chelsea Handler, “Saturday Night Live” alum Leslie Jones and Beyoncé’s mother, businesswoman Tina Knowles, to broadcast revealing talks to her “neighbors” fan base.
But his most notable moment came in September, when he met former Vice President Kamala Harris during a taping of “House Guest” and shared a slice of her favorite, a salty anchovy pizza made by Evans.
The interview featured Harris at her most candid at connecting the worlds of pop culture and politics. The former vice president expressed his thoughts about President Donald Trump, criticized his marriage to former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, and kicked off the fall press tour for his best-selling campaign memoir, “107 Days.”
How ‘no backup plan’ led to Hollywood fame
Originally from New Jersey, Evans has come a long way to podcasting stardom. He spent most of his childhood in Indianapolis. According to Feelgood’s 2021 essay, Evans received a full scholarship to Purdue University for undergrad in Indiana, but dropped out to pursue his Hollywood dreams.
Evans recalled his namesake uncle speaking to him as he packed up his car to leave Indiana for Los Angeles.
“He was watching it and he said to me, ‘If that doesn’t work out, what’s your backup plan?’ I said, ‘Hey, hey, there’s no backup plan.'” Evans’ career began at age 19 as the youngest person ever to officiate an NBA game for the Indiana Pacers and a home game for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever.
In 2012, Evans began anchoring the national broadcaster Channel One News. Its alumni include CNN’s Anderson Cooper, FOX’s Brian Kilmeade, and former E! News star Maria Menounos and sisters Lisa and Laura Lin.
“I want to meet someone in a way I’ve never seen before.”
Evans’ big break came in 2015 when her first Access interview featured 1989-era pop superstar Taylor Swift. “The interview was scheduled to last seven minutes,” he recalls. “It ended up being a 22-minute interview.” He officially joined “Access” as an East Coast correspondent, and as he rose to stardom within the network, he hosted the NBC competition “World of Dance” and the entrepreneurial competition “America’s Big Deal.” Evans ultimately signed a talent development deal with parent company NBCUniversal in 2021.
Evans currently co-hosts “Access” with Mario Lopez, Kit Hoover and Zuri Hall. In 2024, he independently launched “House Guest” with production partner Dale Wilkinson and Summer Break Studio.
“I want to experience someone in a way they’ve never experienced before, and the best way to do that is to invite them into your home,” Evans said of the Homebound concept. Episodes are released every other Friday at 8pm ET.
“House Guest” was an instant hit and garnered high-profile appearances, starting with “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo, who was originally invited to appear. The idea was to provide another entry point into celebrity interviews, Evans said. “It was like, ‘Okay, we can continue this rat race, or we can abandon it completely and grow our garden here,'” Evans said.
Other visitors include actor Taye Diggs, R&B songstress Muni Long, actress Meagan Good, multi-hyphenates Andra Day and KiKi Palmer, and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie star Scott Evans (a friend of Evans’s).
Summer Break Studio opens the door to the world of ‘House Guest’
What he considers the most special guest arrived at Evans’ home on September 13, 2025. Harris’ team called her and said they wanted her to be a “houseguest” for her first public interview since leaving office as vice president.
She brought a large bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos, a Harris favorite, for Evans’ famous chip drawer, as well as a scented candle with her own signature scent, which has a hint of jasmine from Los Angeles-based candle company Voyage & Cie. Evans thought it was “cool” that Harris was in tune with the show’s themes.
Wearing a white blazer, matching T-shirt and blue jeans, Harris told Evans that he needed his own signature scent and declared his flavor profile to be “woody.” Evans baked an anchovy pizza in the oven he had bought for the occasion, and the two spilled tea on the fries.
Harris, who opened up to Evans about writing “107 Days,” told the host that it was “probably the most candid I’ve ever been.” She went on to say, “I shared more than I normally would.” She also shared more than usual during her appearance on “Houseguest.”
‘House Guest’ goes on tour in Atlanta, Chicago and New York
Commenting on the viral video of comedian Wanda Sykes showing sympathy for the vice president after the 2024 debate between Trump and Harris, Harris seemed to agree that she wanted to insult Trump in that moment. “You saw it? When she did it?” she asked Evans, to which he replied, “You saw it? When she did it?” Harris pursed her lips and looked straight at the “Houseguest” host.
“Okay, maybe I can fix it!” he announced. This casual video went viral on social media. In other interviews about “107 Days,” Harris was more solid.
Evans walked the red carpet at the NAACP Image Awards on February 26, almost exactly six months after Harris’ episode dropped on September 25 of last year. He lost the award for best host to former CNN star Don Lemon, while Jennifer Hudson won the trophy for best talk show.
But the following week, Evans was back on the red carpet, interviewing celebrities at the Actors Awards (formerly the Screen Actors Guild Awards) alongside breakout Bravo star Paige DeSorbo. NBC canceled “Access” on Friday, March 13, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “House Guest” will embark on a live tour that will bring home setups back to listeners’ hometowns, hitting New York on April 1st, Atlanta on April 12th, and Chicago on May 3rd.
When he was backing up his car years ago, Evans told his uncle Scott that he had no backup plan. And now his neighborhood has spread all over the world.
