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Travis Kelce plays a seductive and arrogant nurse on the FX series “Grotesquerie,” had a cameo on “Happy Gilmore 2” and hosts a new game show. If Hollywood is calling, he will attend the meeting – with one caveat. Football comes first.
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“I still love going to work and chasing and chasing championships,” the Kansas City Chiefs tight end said on Zoom. “This is what I always dreamed of doing. But during the off-season, I like to play.
He wants to see where he feels most comfortable, adding, “I think you’ll see me continue to find my way.”
On October 16, Kelce debuts as host of “Are You Smarter than a Celebrity?” on Prime Video. Adult contestants answer elementary-level questions while celebrities like comedians Ron Funches and Nikki Glaser, “Vanderpump Rules” cast member Lala Kent or former football player Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson help with the answer. The final question is from grade 6 and is worth $100,000.
Growing up, Kelce regularly watched game shows with his older brother, Jason, a former center for the Philadelphia Eagles. They were big fans of Nickelodeon’s “Double Dare” and “Legends of the Hidden Temple,” as well as classics like “Family Feud” and “Price is Right.” “When it came time for “Jeopardy!” he says their father, Ed, “stole the remote and took control of the room.”
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In an interview, Kelce talked more about the show, his first love of football – but sorry, Swifties, he didn't discuss his relationship with Taylor Swift. Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
AP: What was the hardest part of hosting a game show?
KELCE: Taking control of the atmosphere was probably the biggest challenge. You have to make sure everyone understands the rules and their position in the game.
AP: You're used to playing high-energy football. There is a lot of waiting on sets and repetitive takes. Was the change of pace a challenge?
KELCE: It's a completely different world, 100%. I had to choose when I had caffeine. Normally, I just drink it in the morning and keep going, but I had to space it out throughout the day to have the same energy all day.
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AP: Have you watched any of the episodes? If so, what did you think?
KELCE: I'm definitely going to watch it, but I'm actually afraid of finding myself in situations like this, but I'm going to call in and criticize myself. I am my own worst critic. I can only see the harm I do in anything, even on the football field.
AP: Which subject on the program would you have the most difficulty with?
KELCE: There is a category of astronomy. I didn't know anything about it and I still don't. Plus, I didn't even know this was taught in elementary school.
AP: You co-host a popular podcast with your brother. Has this success given you more confidence as a personality, so to speak?
KELCE: I've always been genuinely myself. I think I inherited that from my parents and my upbringing. Just be confident in who you are, knowing that you live by good ethics, good morals, common sense and things like that. I also had a lot of fun hosting “SNL” a few years ago and I think that catapulted me to where I am.
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AP: Who is the celebrity you would like to see on “Are You Smarter than a Celebrity?”
KELCE: My brother Jason would absolutely kill this show. Without a doubt, if there's one person I would recommend for this, it's definitely Jason. He would have fun and come up with some creative answers, even if he didn't know the real answer.
AP: Football question. Have you ever wanted to play a position other than tight end?
KELCE: I'm a quarterback at heart. I can't shoot anymore, but I loved having the ball in my hands on every play. Over the course of my career, I have found this tight end to be a better fit for my athleticism and mentality. I'm not a guy who likes to follow a lot of rules or have a lot of parameters and you need that to be a quarterback.
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