"KC Streetcar Takes" wants your hottest opinions
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Behind the scenes. Photo: "KC Streetcar Takes"
A new weekly comedy interview series on the KC Streetcar is built around one question: What's your hot take?
The big picture: A viral New York show proved that public transit plus strong opinions makes for addictive internet content, and KC now has its own version built for Midwest voices.
Driving the news: "KC Streetcar Takes" borrows its basic format from "Subway Takes," in which the host rides the New York City subway and asks riders to defend a single opinion while he pushes back.
- "Streetcar Takes" is filmed entirely on board the streetcar through an official partnership with the KC Streetcar.
How it works: The show focuses on topics designed to spark conversation without becoming overly contentious.
- "Any opinion, as long as it's not political," producer David Henderson with Fountain City Productions says.
- Expect debates about barbecue, hot dogs, and whatever else Kansas Citians usually politely argue about.
💠My thought bubble: I genuinely laughed when Henderson suggested riders could even argue that the sky is purple. Apparently that's fair game.
Zoom in: Henderson tapped longtime local comedian Matt Keck to host, leaning on his improv background and local internet lore.
- Keck went viral in 2010 for a video in which he declared himself a "slithery little sneaky snake," a moment he jokes still follows him around.
- "Next thing I know, I'm sitting on a streetcar interviewing the people of Kansas City," Keck tells Axios.
What they're saying: Keck says his goal is to not steal the moment and to make his guests shine.
- "The reason I'm there is so they can look cool," he says.
- He adds that he wants the show to sound like KC. "This is a Midwest conversation. We're gonna have fun, and we're gonna surprise people."
The latest: The first episode is out now and features Adam Roberts, owner of Screenland Armour Theatre.
- Roberts talks movies and KC and puts an opinion on the table.
What's next: New episodes will run every Friday for about six months.