A Look at VH1’s New Social-Themed Web Series ‘Behind the Tweet’ and ‘Huge on the Tube’

By Adam Flomenbaum 

In the past two weeks, VH1 has released two digital series that focus on social media. First, the network launched ‘Behind the Tweet,’ a ‘Behind the Music’-inspired series that takes an in-depth look at the stories behind viral celebrity tweets. Episodes include ‘Hannibal Buress Admits His Fashion Fantasies and’ Key & Peele’s Secret about President Obama and Black America,’ among others. Six additional episodes are still to come.

Last week, in collaboration with What’s Trending, VH1 also launched ‘Huge on the Tube,’ a digital series featuring host Shira Lazar. Lazar speaks with some of the biggest viral video stars about their videos and what went into making them. Some of the stars featured include Jenna MarblesTodrick Hall,Michelle PhanGrace Helbig, and Mamrie Hart. New episodes have been released daily since it debuted last week.

On the day of ‘Huge on the Tube’s’ launch we spoke with Lazar – who is a digital and online content star in her own right – about her experience making the series and why VH1 was the right partner to bring these viral video stories to light.

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Lost Remote: What makes you so interested in bringing the stories of YouTube and video stars to light?

Shira Lazar: Online personalities are the stars of my generation, building an audience and connecting to young fans in a more personal, intimate way than their mainstream counterparts. You have to be a self-starter to build an organic audience on YouTube and I admire the DIY attitude of these people who started with nothing and grew a huge, active, vibrant community around themselves. That’s how I build my audience, too, and I think mainstream media sometimes doesn’t understand how to tell these stories, and explain who these creators are and why they matter to a broader audience.

LR: What’s the most surprising thing you learned while making the show?

Lazar: One of my favorite things about the YouTube world is that, no matter how successful an individual becomes, there’s still a feeling of solidarity with what’s sometimes called “Team Internet.” The people who originally came together to share their lives through streaming video and vlogging.

You take someone like Grace Helbig, who’s beyond busy making videos, writing books, making her own TV show – and yet she still makes herself available to collaborate with What’s Trending or other YouTubers. She’s a huge star now, but her online persona remains humble and unscripted.

I never feel like I’m hearing the same story of her life, even though I’ve interviewed her countless times. It’s that realness that her audience connects with and she’s like even off camera.

LR: I’m sure you’re approached all the time by networks to partner with ‘What’s Trending.’ What makes VH1 such a good fit for this partnership?

Lazar: We’re a show about real-time online trends, and VH1 has always been dedicated to picking apart and dissecting what really matters in pop culture. So right there, it seemed like a natural fit for a show that gives viewers insight into the creators behind these big “viral hits.” I’m beyond excited to bring these stories, and these exciting young personalities, to the attention of the VH1 audience.

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