Exclusive Interview with Robbie-James Buckletter, Host Of GROSS-OUT GAUNTLET
The legendary standup comedian Robbie-James Buckletter is known to millions of fans as the originator of “Rules For A Successful Midwestern BBQ,” a comedy routine-cum-cottage industry that has grown to include three books, a popular website, numerous TV appearances, and a hugely successful line of hilarious t-shirts. Now Buckletter is unveiling a new series (airing on the Plop!TV network) called GROSS-OUT GAUNTLET, which he hosts and serves as creator and executive producer. We spoke to Buckletter about the new show, eating lizard paste, “BBQ-groupies,” and why puking is good for America.
LAFFZONE: What is the general concept for GROSS-OUT GAUNTLET?
ROBBIE-JAMES BUCKLETTER: GROSS-OUT GAUNTLET is the world’s first eXtreme gross-out digustathon puke-centric game show. My daughter calls it an “OMGameshow.” You’ve never seen anything like it. Basically, contestants compete on the show for a chance to win $1,000 cash, but first they have to face the GAUNTLET. The gauntlet tests both what they’re willing to do for money and how much the viewer can handle.
LZ: So it will be pretty gross?
RJB: It will be the grossest thing you ever saw. We have a disclaimer at the beginning about how people should keep a bucket next to the couch in case they suddenly have to throw up. My daughter calls it the “WTFBucket.”
LZ: Where do you get the ideas for your gross-out challenges?
RJB: All over. Our staff is comprised of the most insane, twisted people you could possibly imagine. A lot of them have been working in the gross-out business for a while, so they’ve literally seen it all. I asked them to take everything they’ve ever done to gross people out, throw that all away, and then take it up a notch. And then throw all THAT out, and take it up another notch. And so on.
LZ: You say in the press materials that “people will totally not believe their eyes” and that “despite the total insanity of what we show on GROSS-OUT GAUNTLET, it is all 100% real, with no tricky editing or camera tricks.”
RJB: Yeah, because when we first showed it to test audiences — well, let me stop right there. All our test audiences couldn’t stop throwing up. After a while we started having to hold the focus groups in an empty swimming pool because there was so much puking. But afterwards, nearly all of them asked how we made it look like the contestants were doing what they were doing. Because it just seemed completely impossible.
LZ: But it’s all real.
RJB: Totally real. We didn’t fake anything. Everything that you see on your TV screen actually happened.
LZ: How have the contestants reacted to the “gauntlet?”
RJB: Well, mostly they’ve been throwing up all over the place. We have a special doctor on hand to make sure that no one’s health is in danger due to all of the puking. And it’s not just the contestants — the crew is throwing up the whole time as well. One time we had something so crazy that the cameraman had to throw up so bad we had to stop the show. He came back like ten minutes later saying, “Man, I just threw up.” It was nuts. But yeah, the contestants run the gamut from squeamish to fearless, but nobody doesn’t throw up. One guy got so grossed out that he asked if he could sit down for few minutes. He didn’t end up winning, I’ll tell you that!
LZ: Is everything you do to gross people out completely legal?
RJB: Yes, we have a team of lawyers on hand at all times to make sure that everything’s on the up and up. But having said that, we get as close to the line as we possibly can. And half the time the lawyers have to throw up so bad that they’re not paying attention, so we try to sneak stuff in!
LZ: So even the lawyers are throwing up?
RJB: Yeah, it’s hilarious. My daughter calls them the ROFLawyers, because they’re so funny to watch when they get all nauseous. Sometimes you’ll see shots of them or crewmembers getting sick because it’s just as entertaining as the actual contestants.
LZ: What about you? As the host, do you have to hold it together, puke-wise?
RJB: I try to remain professional at all times, but our show is so outrageous… I mean, to be honest, I’ve had to re-evaluate my life a little bit since we started doing GROSS-OUT GAUNTLET. I’ve made a living for a long time making people laugh. Now, suddenly, my job is to gross people out so much that they can’t help but totally lose their minds — and their lunches! It’s been a transition.
LZ: What has the network reaction been?
RJB: They’ve been very supportive. There was some concern about sponsors pulling out of the show, but I think the entertainment value is high enough that both the network and advertisers will overlook the sheer disgustingness of what we’re doing. Some church groups have protested as well, but that’s par for the course. Or as my daughter likes to say: “That’s LOLbiz!”
LZ: So just what happens in the GROSS-OUT GAUNTLET?
RJB: Well our contestants line up in a row beside a large table. They’re wearing specially padded jumpsuits made of latex. On the table we have a blender — which my daughter named “The BRBlender,” because people always have to “be right back” when they see it because of the grossness — and a variety of totally disgusting food products such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, raisins, peanut butter, hot sauce, honey-mustard, chunks of hot dog, cheese whiz, pickle juice, whole milk, sardines, pickled herring, another kind of hot sauce, cranberry juice, baked beans, canned peas, canned green beans, creamed corn, cream, ice cream, cream soda, orange soda, apple sauce, beets, dijon mustard, grape jelly, horseradish sauce, and soy sauce.
LZ: Oh my god. What then?
RJB: Then we put as many of these ingredients as we can fit into the blender, turn on the blender, and voila!
LZ: You’re kidding.
RJB: And then we make the contestants drink it.
LZ: WHAT?
RJB: And whoever can drink the most wins.
LZ: [throws up]
RJB: I told you!
LZ: Thank you for your time, Robbie-James, and good luck with the show!
