Emily Nussbaum
Appearances
The New Yorker Radio Hour
Alan Cumming on “The Traitors” and His Brush with Reality Television
So straight out of Scotland, but eternally beloved in New York, welcome Alan Cumming. Thank you.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
Alan Cumming on “The Traitors” and His Brush with Reality Television
So for anybody who hasn't seen it, Traitors is a reality show that stars reality stars. Mostly, yeah.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
Alan Cumming on “The Traitors” and His Brush with Reality Television
So who is this guy who owns this castle? Like, did you think at all about him as a character? Does he have a backstory? Does he...
The New Yorker Radio Hour
Alan Cumming on “The Traitors” and His Brush with Reality Television
So what was your perspective on reality television before you made the show?
The New Yorker Radio Hour
Alan Cumming on “The Traitors” and His Brush with Reality Television
Did you disapprove of it?
The New Yorker Radio Hour
Alan Cumming on “The Traitors” and His Brush with Reality Television
You actually appeared on a very different kind of reality show that you talk about in your memoir called Who Do You Think You Are? That was the name of it, right? Where it was a genealogy show. Who Do You Think You Are, yeah. That traced the life of your grandfather. And in that, you were the subject. You were on the other side of the camera.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
Alan Cumming on “The Traitors” and His Brush with Reality Television
And I'm wondering, looking back on that experience, how you feel about it, whether you feel good about it, whether you feel ambivalent or you feel regrets, and whether you learned anything from it.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
Alan Cumming on “The Traitors” and His Brush with Reality Television
You were raised in a very abusive household in a rural Scottish estate where your father was the caretaker. And then you escaped and you trained to become an actor and you achieved success relatively quickly in your career. And I wanted to ask a little bit about what that first dose of attention was like for you.
The New Yorker Radio Hour
Alan Cumming on “The Traitors” and His Brush with Reality Television
Is there advice that you would give to somebody who, I mean, I'm sure you've met people on the cusp of fame when they get famous early. Do you offer them any guidance?