Micheal Yo

Michael Yo is the host of a call-in talk show called: Yo on E!, a three-hour entertainment talk show heard nationally on XM and Sirius Satellite Radio. Driven by the E! Network. Yo on E! sets the standard for entertainment talk, providing listeners with celebrity interviews, the latest in pop culture and breaking, and up-to-the-minute entertainment news. In this interview, Michael Yo shares with us some of his style secrets, what’s a day like hosting Yo on E!, his special connection to Miami, and his dream for hosting his own late night talk show.

 

How was your day so far, who did you interview?
It was crazy. We had bunch of people stop by the studio, like Ryan Seacrest. Hanson also stopped by today. They are coming up with a new tour. We talked about which group they would like to see make a comeback, they mentioned Queen. I also interviewed Michael Lohan, Lindsay Lohan’s dad, the other day. I interviewed him for E! News and the Daily Ten. It is interesting, Michael Lohan is famous for being such a bad guy in the media, I think he does talk a little much, but he is also really nice. He definitely loves the attention, and this is why he is doing the interviews. We scored the first one on camera. He is not mean. He admits in the past he’s done some bad, but now he is good. He is trying to do better. Last couple weeks ago we broke the story with Brooke Hogan, and Madonna called me when she was coming up with her new album. And I also speak to Benji and Joel Madden.

What do you love most about being a host?
I do so many different things. I got like 18 jobs right now. I have a local Miami afternoon show on Y100 that I do from LA. It is syndicated back to Miami. I’m also the music director of the radio station. I program the music for the station from LA. I started in Miami, and it brought me all the way here to LA to the Yo on E! show. I then became a pop culture junkie. Chelsea Handler from the show Chelsea Lately on E! Networks gave me my first break on TV. I really appreciate how Chelsea been on my show on the radio, and she told me I will do well on her show. Chelsea gave the chance and the opportunity, and it’s taking off since then. Being on the Chelsea Lately show puts me in the category of “he can hold his own on TV.” And E! News and the Daily 10 also put me on TV interviewing. I’ve already been here in LA a year and 3 months and it’s gone really well. Everyone on E! are great, like Joel McHale for The Soup.

How would you describe your interviewing style?
I do about 6 interviews a day. My interviewing style is like I’m talking to you, casual. A lot of time when some people interview on TV they look more stagnant. I keep the radio vibe. I don’t like to watch myself on TV because I don’t want to say: ‘I should look this way or that way”. I also want to be genuine to my radio form. The radio interviews are fun and upbeat. When a guest comes in, I try to be fair. I’m going to ask tough questions but I’m going to be fair. I never attack, that’s not my thing. I like to have my guests laugh and think they are going to be asked tough questions but it’s going to be fair and they are going to have fun while they’re here. I want to know what they like to do on their day off, and what’s something that nobody else knows about them. Every time I interview somebody, it is the best accomplishment if you get something out of them they have never said before. I feel if you treat your guests right they will give you the information you want. They will come back to you in the future because you reported right.

What is your own personal style?
I’m going through a change where moving from Miami the style is totally different than LA. In Miami is more you go out with jeans, here people wear suites, jeans or jacket. It is a lot more laid back here. I’ve been in LA for a year so I cleaned up my closet finally. I’m in Hugo Boss shirts, button down. I love ties now. My style in Miami was very basic like jeans, in LA it is a bit more stylish, more colors. Right now in the summer I’m into bright colors: yellows, greens, and purples.

Where is your favorite place to shop?
I love Hugo Boss, Club Monaco, J. Lindeberg.

Do you dress yourself or rely on a personal stylist?
The good thing about E! there are stylists all over the place. We just ask: “Hey do I look ok”? We are lucky at that.

What inspires your style?
Jonas Brothers, I love their style now. And the classic styles from the Ocean 13 movie, and really from all the ‘Ocean’ film series. George Clooney and Brad Pitt, their style is impeccable. I’m into the GQ and Details magazines. More so now that I moved to LA, the last three months, I’m into style. You can go to Barney’s or Macy’s , anywhere you go you can find something you can mix and match. If it is a nice fitted suite, I always find a way to make it not so stuffy. For example: I can wear jeans with a nice jacket with tennis shoes like Converse. I love Converse. When I go to a nice event I want to look clean, I wear Hugo Boss shoes. I can go either way, but mostly I like the laid back look. Classic but yet laid back.

Have you ever had a fashion disaster?
When I first moved to LA, you go through a transition, people get styled over here. It is kind of normal when you move to a new city. I would show up to events all dressed up and everybody is laid back. This is the only fashion disaster incident for me because I never go way outside of the box. It took me about six months to get into the LA style.

What is your signature cologne?
Dolce and Gabbana the original. I’ve been wearing this cologne since high school. For some reason it works on my skin, and I get lots of compliments, so I’m not changing it. Once you find something you love, and people love it on you-it works.

What would be your ultimate stylish car?
I love the new Austin Martin in the new James Bond movie. Way too much money, but that would be my ultimate car. I will get it in midnight blue. It is also in GQ this month (June 2008) with Robert Downey Jr. on the cover.

Which celebrities do you find most stylish?
David Beckham, of course. And he’s got a lot a pressure to look good because of his wife, Victoria Beckham. George Clooney is always classic. It’s older guys, I look up to them for fashion because they always seem to be put together. For example, you will never see Michael Jordan not put together.

The city I love the most…
Miami. South Beach. Love it. I like the fact that you can walk down on Ocean Avenue nearly four blocks and not hear English once. It always like a mini vacation. I love Miami’s energy. I was actually born in Houston Texas, but I lived in Miami, went to college and never went back. I got a job in Miami for the last eight years and E! Networks moved me to LA about a year and 3 months ago. I miss Miami so much, I consider Miami as my home.

What one or two things some people may not know about you?
My favorite movie is Gladiator. I used to snore but now I don’t anymore, and I have no idea why. I can eat sushi every night and be happy. My perfect night is inside watching a movie and having a great dinner, in the house. I’m not into running around the Hollywood scene going from club to club. And, I’m working on my body to look like Brad Pitt in the 1998 movie: Fight Club. I’m working on it, I haven’t started yet.

What’s next for Michael Yo?
My dream job is to do a late night talk show like Carson Daily. And like Ryan Seacrest produce TV programs. I’m on the radio right now, I’m on E! News and the Daily Ten I do some reporting for them. I’m also on CNN as a culture expert. The TV stuff is coming along but my ultimate goal is to have my late night talk show. Every day I’m getting closer, I can count my blessings, and one day it will happen.

Style Interviews would like to thank Micheal so much for sharing with us some of his style secrets. You can find out more about Micheal and his radio show Yo on E! at www.eonline.com/on/radio/yoone/