The Richy Show: What is it?

Is it a Youtube show? Is it a slideshow? Nein. It’s The Richy Show, an audio interview with various celebrities that plays video with acting reels, screen shots, photos and videos woven throughout an otherwise black screen. At times the show is presented as a multimedia portfolio, and at other times, more of a variety compilation piece. It’s a one-man show created entirely by Richard Emmanuilidis and published exclusively on his website. Friends call him Richard but on the show he’s Richy, a slightly more crazy alter ego role. 

"Now a lot of people say what about exposure? I don’t care. I really don't care. It’s my work it’s my body of work. I own it and if you want to see it then you’re going to have to find it."

In a time where television networks pick up YouTube series and podcasts made in garages turn people into celebrities, why would one choose to avoid both platforms and formats? It might be a struggle, but Richy does what he wants and doesn't give a fuck about anything else.  

“I like to have my work on my own page where you have to come find it. Now a lot of people say what about exposure? I don’t care. I really don't care. It’s my work it’s my body of work. I own it and if you want to see it then you’re going to have to find it.”  

An audio interview with an author I’d probably be less inclined to listen to than if it had Stephen King's cat meows becomes a richly packed variety segment woven with commentary, archival video, slice-of-life fragments, and other interesting tidbits that keep me entertained. You’ve got to hand it to the guy: Emmanuilidis has the film and editing skills to make the format solidly entertaining. He takes advantage of length: Videos range around 10 minutes.

The season one episode, Midlife Angst, begins with an iris shot in black and white and an extreme closeup of Richy. He talks to the camera: “Listen I’m gonna explain to you what a midlife crisis is… You’re becoming more intelligent than you’ve ever been. But you’ve gotta still put food on your family. Like George Bush said.” Cue said George Bush video, then back to Richy: “You gotta work to make the money. But you still want to be creative.” 

The scene works as an introduction to an interview with David Pederson, author of Angst, a story about a guy going through a midlife crisis. I’ve never heard of the man or the book, but the precisely cut segues and upbeat techno music hypes me up and I’m ready to see what’s next. The interview itself plays as audio and pictures of Peterson, his book events and illustrations from the book flash across the screen like a slideshow.

They get to a point where Pederson talks about his family, children and how they like to eat but Emmanuilidis cuts him off and we're back to the shot of the iris close up: “So basically I pick up my son every day from school and I turn into his therapist for 30 mins and there isn’t a day when I don’t pick him and he’s not negative.”

The screen cuts to black and we listen to dialogue between Richie and his son:

Richy: "Can you ever get in the car and have anything positive to say?"
Son: "No."
Richy: "Why?"
Son: "Because school is never positive."
Richy: "School’s not positive?"
Son: "No."
Richy: "What’s wrong with it?"
Son: "Everybody’s stupid."
Richy: "Everybody’s stupid?"
Son: "At our school, most people are stupid."
Richy: "Why?"
Son: "Because they overreact."
Richy: "Aren’t you overreacting right now?"
Son: "No – that’s the key"
Richy: "What’s the key?"
Son: "I don’t know."

The audio and video goes back to the interview, and similar tidbits and segments make their way in and out. 

The thing about The Richy Show is not necessarily his guests: up-and-coming musicians, writers, actors, and celebrities he happens to interview from his house in Redington Shores. Instead, it’s Richy himself, the real star of the show. Most interview talk shows are usually interesting because of the featured guests. Sure, the guests on The Richy Show happen to be celebrities, but you can count on Richy to make them even more interesting. Why? 

Emmanuilidis’ typical trip to the store can last anywhere from 10 minutes to three hours. He regales me with a story about a time when he went to a grocery store in the Clearwater/Largo area and saw a man with a 9/11 hat on. Emmanuilidis, who hails from Brooklyn, walks over, makes a joke about the tomatoes the man is holding (the man hadn’t actually been holding anything except a basket of nine-grain bread). Soon enough, they embark on a deep talk about the man experiencing 9/11 firsthand. His wife, who later joins the conversation, reveals herself to be Jimmy Fallon’s aunt and shares cute stories only an aunt would know. 

Emmanuilidis’ conversations get so deep, Adele is practically rolling in them.

“There’s really nothing that’s planned. I’m a conversationalist… I’m fascinated by everything. It’s a little bit of a problem for my wife. My wife sends me to the market and I come back four hours later," he says. But the man just can’t help himself. 

“Humans fascinate me. The psychology of people. Why they do the things they do," he explains.  

And when it comes to interviewing, Richy excels like a spreadsheet. He’s drawn towards up-and-coming artists, speaking with them and weighing in on their struggles eloquently. In an interview with Missy Crider, who tries to explain her experience as both a singer and an actress, Richy puts it simply: “Singing is being in the moment. Acting is pulling from memories.” In an interview with actress Emily Shephard, his encouraging advice: “Whatever you want to do, the world is your fucking oyster.” On actress and Orlando-born model Eve Mauro’s chain-smoking habits: “I’m going to tell you exactly what I like about you: You don’t give a shit.” Why is this man so goddamn interesting to listen to?

“You can tell I’m not bullshitting, I’m naturally interested in people. That could be why I’m perceived as being such a good interviewer: I actually give a shit. I really do care. I’m really interested.”

Richy has an ability to put people at ease to a point where they can expose themselves and the interviews become real. The guy has a talent for making people really interesting.

“You know what? Maybe you just told me what my secret is. I make them interesting. I never thought about that. See, that’s interesting.”

Different guests premiere in his talk show-podcast-video-variety segment-interview series exclusively on TheRichyShow.com every Friday. Whatever the format may take or whoever the guest celebrity may be, you can be sure that Richy will keep it damn interesting.

Ying Lo writes about television for Creative Loafing. She has a blog or you can find her flunking social media @yinglo. Let her tell you how best to binge watch every Monday.

This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 2, 2016.