A quick word ... with Jay Reeve

Jay Reeve. Photo / Supplied

He's the MTV host who's been in New York interviewing every one from Ne-Yo and The Pussycat Dolls, to Shakira and, er, Helen Clark, for his show, Almost Famous: Jay in NYC.

As well as hanging with Helen at the United Nations building, and bailing up stars for a chat, the 30-minute special also documents the MTV Music Video Awards and Reeve's attempts to get into some of the more exclusive celebrity parties.

How did you wangle a trip to New York City and what did you get up to? The main reason we got the money to get over there was the MTV Music Video Awards, which has to be the biggest music awards, and musical production on the planet. I can't recall ever seeing a better talent line-up, in terms of performers, presenters, and people who attended. And while I was there I had a few challenges to complete that my lovely co-host Amber Peebles had set me.

So what were some of the challenges?
They were things that had happened to her previously at the awards, because she's been to the past three. So for example, last year she was asked by Russell Brand, the host, if they should have sex. So obviously I had to take one for the team and convince Russell Brand, who was hosting once again, to ask me if we should have sex. Which proved pretty easily done. Just by having a pulse, I managed to fall into the category that would work for him. That was one we managed to tick off pretty quickly. And another challenge was catching up with a few Kiwis who were killing it over there.

How was Helen Clark by the way?
She was awesome. Out of everyone I met she made me the most nervous. She came in on a Saturday, opened up the whole UN office, and had a catch-up with us. She's great talent, old Helen. She speaks really well and it's awesome when you interview someone who takes the interview and makes it theirs. She dictated the tone, the pace and where it was going - and I kind of liked the challenge of being twisted around by someone like that. And we caught up with Tyson Kennedy from Steriogram who is now based over there and works at Cutler, one of the flashest salons in New York. He cuts Cameron Diaz's hair, and the girls from Gossip Girl. He's a celebrity stylist.

Who was the coolest to interview?
Helen was definitely up there. But in terms of musicians, I really enjoyed my time with Cobra Starship [the New York dance punk pop band who tour here next year]. They were crazy. And on the red carpet The Hills girls, and The City girls were really lovely. People on the carpet are just really forthcoming when they see that you are from New Zealand - because they just love the place.

Do you drop the "I'm Jay from New Zealand" line, and does it work?
Totally. The New Zealand flag is the only thing of worth at the moment. Our currency is worth bugger-all, the All Blacks aren't winning, they only know us from Flight of the Conchords and Lord of the Rings. But the whole New Zealand call opens up doors for you and gets people talking. To make our show any good you have to relate it to a New Zealand audience, so I have to try to get something out of them that will make everybody back home go, "ah man, that's wicked. I really like that dude for saying that". And generally, when a band comes to New Zealand something weird or memorable will happen to them. Cobra Starship, for example [here in 2008], were in a car accident and appeared on the Middlemore TV show. And you've got to be a bit rude and hassle but that's what you're there to do. And Kiwis are generally born with a cheeky smile, which usually pays off too.

Is it a lottery who you get to talk to or do you do a bit of plotting to ensure you get the people you want?
There is a bit of skulduggery involved. We have Kiwi Awards that we give to people. And then what happens is they tend to play with the award all the way down the red carpet, and I wouldn't say we ruin everyone else's interview, but every other media outlet has this celebrity playing with a little Kiwi on a plaque.

Almost Famous: Jay in NYC screens Monday, 9.30pm, MTV (Sky Channel 14)