In the era of social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak, actor Rainn Wilson is trying to help people stay connected with the launch of his new show Hey, Human. The Instagram Live series features Wilson chatting with celebrities and interviewing selected viewers from the livestream. 

Wilson, also co-founder of media company SoulPancake that produces the show, discussed with Cheddar on Thursday how he is coping with social distancing through the production. 

"The fact that you could select a human being from the viewers and bring them on the show to talk about their experience, I thought what better way to spread joy and connectivity between people," The Office actor said, feeling he had to do something to create community amid stay-at-home orders across the country. 

The host also invited some of his former castmates from The Office television series and other special guests to discuss how they are getting by in their new quarantined realities.

"It's really to see what is working for you. What is bringing you solace, what is bringing you joy, what is keeping you connected, so that you can be entertained and you can laugh while watching the show," he said. 

People stuck at home, including celebrities, have taken advantage of social media as a way to connect with people during this crisis, and Wilson considers it to be "the new form of broadcast."

"It's its own broadcast network," he said. "I just love how it's so informal and it just feels more just connective like you're talking to friends."    

Wilson said Hey, Human is another way he is giving back and uplifting his community. "My philosophy is you do what you can with the life you are given," he said. "I can certainly donate money to causes which I have and continue to do, but the other thing I can do is uplift people, entertain them, make them laugh, and make them feel good."

Share:
More In Culture
On the Scene: Listening to Classical Music in the Green-Wood Cemetery Catacombs
Classical music concerts have been popular since the age of Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart, but you've probably never thought about attending one in a cemetery. Our own Chloe Aiello spoke with Andrew Ousley, founder of Death of Classical, to learn more about a concert series held in the catacombs of the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
Walk and Talk With 'Fresh Face of Fashion' Madhulika Sharma
You may not know her name, but you've probably seen her face. Madhulika Sharma has graced Vogue India and ELLE Magazine and modeled for popular brands such as Reformation and Skims. Cheddar's own Hena Doba spoke with Sharma to discuss her globe-spanning modeling career, her education in fashion history, and working alongside Kim Kardashian.
First Nonbinary Actors Win Tonys in Writerless Awards Show
The intimate, funny-sad musical “Kimberly Akimbo” nudged aside more splashier rivals on Sunday to win the best new musical crown at the Tony Awards on a night when Broadway flexed its muscle in the face of Hollywood writers’ strike and fully embraced trans-rights with history-making winners.
Worshippers Hear a New Preacher: PastorGPT
The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by different avatars on a huge screen above the altar, led the more than 300 people through 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings.
Load More