Is Between Two Ferns real? The show’s format discussed

Between Two Ferns

Between Two Ferns is a talk show in which actor Zach Galifianakis asks celebrities awkward, discomforting, and controversial questions while seated between two ferns. Zach doesn’t hold back: he asked Brie Larson whether she was the reason her parents divorced and insisted that the only reason Bradley Cooper succeeded was due to his looks. 

That’s just the tip of the iceberg – many celebrities, including former President Barack Obama, have faced Zach’s snarky and hilarious questions. The reactions vary: some sit in silence, seemingly struck dumb by Zach’s inquiries; others respond in kind, making comments that make the interviewer uncomfortable. 

Between Two Ferns is real, as the interviewees rarely view Zach’s questions beforehand. 

Between Two Ferns isn’t scripted. Most interviewees have no idea what questions they’ll face. Co-creator Scott Aukerman wrote on Quota that Between Two Ferns doesn’t work like traditional talk shows, which pre-interview the guest. 

“We’ve never scripted a conversation,” Aukerman wrote. “So it’s actually more real than most talk shows, which are staged. The people who are on it are always surprised by what is being asked. So, in that sense, it’s very real.”

Aukerman told Vulture that comedy writers write the questions, but Zach still improvises during the interview. “Zach’s really great in the moment, so he’s constantly riffing during it and tagging jokes and adding really funny things,” Aukerman stated. 

Aukerman explained that some celebrities may receive insight into Zach’s questions before the interview, but the showrunners prefer that the guests improvise. He continued: “When we do these we prefer to do them with a lot of improvisation, where the interviewee doesn’t know what the questions are beforehand.”

Zach Galifianakis is the perfect interviewer for the show, as he enjoys the inappropriateness created by his queries. “Being able to say anything to anyone at any time regardless of if you are interviewing him or not is fun to do, and inappropriateness is really fun to me,” he said