Alan Cumming on “The Traitors” and His Brush with Reality Television
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What did Emily Nussbaum say about Alan Cumming?
Here's Alan Cumming at the New Yorker Festival, speaking with staff writer Emily Nussbaum.
So straight out of Scotland, but eternally beloved in New York, welcome Alan Cumming. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
So for anybody who hasn't seen it, Traitors is a reality show that stars reality stars. Mostly, yeah.
There's a lot of people from the reality universe as well as some random famous people. It's sort of, you know, celebrities and they all go to a castle and it's supposed to be my castle. It's not. And I pretend it is. And we do this, you know, they play this game that's basically the parlor game mafia.
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...
I mean, I think of him absolutely as a character. You know, I think of him as this sort of combination of a dandy Scottish laird slash sort of James Bond villain slash sort of eccentric old-fashioned nut and who has this big castle and... Or like that film Clue or something, you know. It's got all those combinations of these very... theatrical camp in the true sense of camp, the sort of the wit and the sort of sardonic kind of camp. And he's sort of imposing and scary, but not mean. And I sort of try not to engage with the contestants because of that, like in filming. I mean, it's getting harder because they see me outside and I say things like this afterwards.
How did Alan Cumming describe his character in The Traitors?
But when we're at the time, I think I want them to be a little scared of me because I have to sort of shout at them quite a lot to tell them to be quiet and things. It gets out of control sometimes. Like in this new season, I actually thought I was going to have to break up a fight. And I don't do that very often. No, but I mean, I thought that in one of the round tables, it got so brutal. that, you know, people get so passionate about it and it was scary. And I have to kind of, you know, be really firm with them and I have to, they have, so I think being chatty and sort of talking between takes doesn't, you know, it's sort of, it's like being and staying in character in a way. Well, good morning, my ever decreasing circle of friends.
Last night, MJ, Kate, Trishel, and Parvati were hung out to dry, but it was Bergie who suffered the final devastating blow, brutally dispatched by the traitors.
Players, despite the loss of Bergie, we must let bygones be bygones. Bye. Gone.
Oh, my God. Oh, Lord. Savage.
Soon, players, you must turn your attention to today's mission. You'll be taking a little trip to my, well, let's call it a holiday home. I have a guest who's currently staying there who'll help you settle in. And after all, who doesn't enjoy a little country escape?
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What did Emily Nussbaum say about Alan Cumming?
1:41–3:27
2
How did Alan Cumming describe his character in The Traitors?
3:27–6:13
3
What was Alan Cumming's initial perspective on reality television?
6:13–8:25
4
How does The Traitors differ from other reality shows?
8:25–10:57
5
What impact has hosting The Traitors had on Alan Cumming's career?
10:57–18:02