Drew Barrymore, the actress and host of The Drew Barrymore Show, is planning to keep a bit more distance with her guests in the next season. She's known for her friendly, touchy-feely vibe, often holding hands or giving hugs. But after getting flak for this in past seasons, especially during talks with big names like Vice President Kamala Harris and Oprah Winfrey, she realized it was time to switch things up a bit.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight on August 24, 2024, she mentioned that keeping a bit of distance isn't her strongest point. Even though she loves being close to people, Barrymore said she'll do her best to change things up and make her guests feel more at ease in the future.
She said:
“Do you know how hard the pandemic was for me? I was alone in a studio by myself! I like to be around people!”
As The Drew Barrymore Show gets ready for its sixth season, Barrymore is trying to strike a balance between her fun-loving, warm personality and what her audience and guests are looking for. She mentioned that even though she'll be keeping some space, her main goal of sharing joy is still the same.
Drew Barrymore’s interview style as seen in The Drew Barrymore Show
Barrymore's approach to interviewing has shaped The Drew Barrymore Show, but it hasn't sat well with everyone. In a December 2023 episode with Oprah Winfrey, some viewers noticed Barrymore touching her a lot, and it led to some comments online about whether Oprah looked a bit uncomfortable.
Barrymore held Winfrey's hand under her chin, rubbed her arm, and even put her hand on Winfrey's leg. Some people thought it was sweet, but others weren't so into it, leading to a bunch of memes on social media about Barrymore getting a bit too touchy.
In April 2024, Drew Barrymore interviewed Vice President Kamala Harris, and once again, her casual style made things a bit awkward. During their chat, Drew held Harris’s hands and even called her “Momala,” which is the nickname her stepkids use for her.
Even though the audience had mixed feelings about the exchange, Barrymore stood by her approach, saying, “I’m sorry to those people” who aren’t into it. She gets that not everyone is comfortable with physical closeness, which shows she respects personal boundaries while still trying to spread some joy and positivity to her fans.
Drew Barrymore explains her interview style choice
In her talk with Entertainment Tonight, Barrymore mentioned that the pandemic was tough for her because she craves connection with others.
She told the outlet:
“I love people. I love every human being on the planet. It’s the coolest thing in the world to be a conversationalist at work.”
The actress-turned-host is now trying to change things up a bit, keeping in mind that some of her past interviews might have physically been a bit too much for some guests.
“We’re always gonna be big on joy and laughter and feeling good,” Barrymore said.
She’s great at chatting with guests and building genuine connections, which has become a signature of The Drew Barrymore Show. She loves the bonds she creates with them, both during the interviews and outside of them.
The Drew Barrymore Show will return on September 9, 2024, airing across CBS networks.
