AthensBuzz
I
magine all of your favorite talk show hosts: Ellen, Oprah, Tyra… what do they all have in common? Yes, they’re all thriving in their careers, but they’re also all over the age of 38. UGA’s own Wendell Scott, host of The Wendell Show, has achieved something that no one else in his age group can boast: creating the first daytime talk show in national collegiate history. Delving deep into everything from volunteer opportunities and food to sexuality and the paranormal, Scott’s talent and ability to connect to different stories, people and situations will undoubtedly lead him to wild success after graduation. Athens Magazine: Describe a typical day in your life. Wendell Scott: There isn’t actually a typical day, but I usually wake up an hour before classes to do yoga, then it’s off to the races. I have classes all day, followed by meetings that can run up until about nine or ten at night. Once I get home and complete my homework and readings, I like to sit back and - honestly - listen to music from Disney Parks. It sort of puts me in a moment of Zen. AM: If you had to sum yourself up in one word, what would it be? WS: Communicator. There’s a quote from Oprah that I keep in mind: “I am not a journalist. I am a communicator.” And I keep that quote with me every time I encounter a new individual. The life of a person is a complex and beautiful thing - and I want to understand it. AM: What about Athens inspires you? WS: The promise of creative growth. Whether it be in music, eccentric culinary creations or even football, creativity is alive and well in this college town. We are blessed with a space to disseminate our joy for our passions among people who enjoy or even carry those same passions as well. And with Athens being such a close-knit town, it’s not hard to find someone with those same wants as you. AM: What have you learned in Athens that you couldn’t learn anywhere else? WS: The power of the pigskin. I have never really been a fan of football, but after coming to Athens for the first time in 2008, I knew I would at least know how to call a few plays by the time I graduated! I learned that it’s not just about football, but the tradition that is kept with it.
44
I learned the importance of tradition. From the young to the old, everyone is truly inspired and believes in the University of Georgia. AM: What is it like to achieve so much at such a young age? WS: I feel blessed, honestly. God gave me this talent, and I am so thankful for it. And it’s exhilarating to know that you have created history. It might not be documented in the Constitution, but it is history. There is a quote from Walt Disney that says, “If you can imagine it, you can do it.” I imagined this concept of a college daytime talk show, along with the help of my mother, and I said to myself, “Let’s do this.” Yes, I did do it for me. But I also created this production to show that anyone can do anything as long as they set their minds to it. We are the next generation of leaders; we must find ways to position ourselves in the world. AM: What are your favorite kinds of topics to cover on the show? WS: I would say anything that involves food or adventure. My friend Arthur King, host of Cookin’ for College, has come on the show and we have made some delicious things! For example, grilled cheeseburgers and fluff - all of it was so good! I am also an avid adventurer, if you will. I crave anything that is fun, exciting, and different. Most of my favorite topics don’t even happen on set. Three topics that I loved doing were a paranormal investigation, skydiving adventure, and interviewing Netherworld monsters. My questions were all questions I sincerely wanted to know. Everything is just so fresh, and I love that. AM: What do you hope to do after you graduate? WS: Well, currently I am a seasonal performer at Walt Disney World, so I will be going back down to work for the company. Aside from the talk show industry, working with the Walt Disney Company has also been a longtime passion of mine. I am currently aiming for a position in Theme Park Operations Management, and can only hope for the best. In the long run, I would like to host my own talk show. It will be a bittersweet moment when I say goodbye to the show later this season because it is my “baby”, if you will. I would like to somehow integrate my passions for the talk show industry and Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts in the long run as well.
Wendell Scott
ATHENS MAGAZINE
Photo by Richard Hamm