New Wallstrip Host Promises Controversy, Dirty Humor

Is the success of Wallstrip due to the show’s concept or the charisma of its founding host Lindsay Campbell? This week the CBS-owned silly financial news show announced Campbell was moving onto a mysterious but apparently less chart-intensive pursuit called Moblogic.tv. She’s being replaced by Julie Alexandria, another New York City-based brunette actress with a sense of humor. So should we keep watching?

We spoke with Alexandria this week and she made her case. Apparently the show is going to get spicier and dirtier — generally a recipe for success on the Internet, though generally not something you’d expect from the network that’s been running 60 Minutes for nearly 40 years. An edited transcript follows.

juliealexandria.jpg

NewTeeVee: How did you get the gig at Wallstrip?

Julie Alexandria: Basically my agent came to me and said you have an audition for the new host of Wallstrip. I had just come off of doing a bunch of different news niche shows on the web. I used to host Time Out New York On Demand and after that I was doing stuff on Heavy.com. I also do lots of other stuff, there’s a lot of comedy in my background. I had never heard about [Wallstrip] before, but I loved it.

NewTeeVee: How long ago was that?

Alexandria: I was filling in for Lindsay, and did three shows for them as a trial run. That was about a month ago.

NewTeeVee: Lindsay Campbell has up till now been the face and the spirit of the show; are you nervous about stepping into her role?

Alexandria: First and foremost I am incredibly grateful to Lindsay because she was really the pioneer and this and she had so much to do with the show’s success. I’m not coming in trying to be the next Lindsay; I’m coming in and taking what she’s done and I’m going to make it my own, really adding my personality into it, letting the viewers know who I am. We’re not changing the format, we’re adding to it.

NewTeeVee: What aspects of the show do you expect to change under your watch?

Alexandria: I come from a comedy background, and sometimes it’s PC, sometimes it’s not. I’m in for adding some dirty humor. I don’t want it to become the next Perez Hilton, but I do look forward to bringing my own little spice to it.

NewTeeVee: So should we expect you to be riding pigs for the show any time soon?

Alexandria: No pigs for me! I don’t do treif. We’re doing our man on the streets, doing our studio stuff, but definitely look for some more controversial stuff. I’m not afraid to go there.

NewTeeVee: So Lindsay’s a prude, is that’s what you’re saying?

Alexandria: Oh no no no. But if there’s a line, I just might cross it.

NewTeeVee: What’s the appeal of online video for you?

Alexandria: It’s really exciting to be in the forefront of this growing new media. I like the accessibility and the immediacy. it’s always changing, and we’re able to keep up with that because we shoot new shows every day. I really do believe that it’s the future of entertainment, having to perform in a guerilla environment and not relying on the multi-million set behind me and the seven makeup artists and the wardrobe provided by Cavalli.

loading

Comments have been disabled for this post