The content creator says Zach Galifianakis’ Between Two Ferns inspired the format, after he grew tired of being “just another skit maker.”
Content creator Adebayo Ridwan Abidemi, popularly known as Isbae U, has revealed how he came up with his interview series Curiosity Made Me Ask, saying he wanted to create something different from the skit-making scene he came up in.
Isbae U disclosed this during an interview with media personality Morayo Afolabi-Brown on The Morayo Show, shared on YouTube on Wednesday.
From skits to searching for a niche
He said he experimented with several forms of entertainment, including acting, singing and rapping, before settling on his current format.
“I was just finding myself. I was at that process. Before that, I was singing, before that rapping. I was just finding myself,” he said.
Isbae U said he eventually decided he no longer wanted to be grouped with skit makers and began searching for a concept that would set him apart.
“There was a day I said to someone that I was done being mediocre, being average. I wanted to do something different. I didn’t want to just be considered part of them, part of the skit makers, one of them,” he said.
Where the idea for the show came from
Isbae U said he drew direct inspiration from American comedian Zach Galifianakis’ interview series Between Two Ferns.
“I saw a show that I used to watch a long time ago. It’s called Between Two Ferns by Zach Galifianakis. So when I saw the show, I loved it. I thought, ‘Oh, this is something I can do.’ Even though the guy didn’t even do it as much as I’m doing it now,” he said.
He’s previously been called out on the comparison directly by other Nigerian media figures, including former game show host Frank Edoho, and has generally acknowledged the influence rather than disputed it.
He said the goal of Curiosity Made Me Ask isn’t to ask celebrities conventional questions, but to reveal a different, less-seen side of them.
“The idea of Curiosity Made Me Ask is to show you another part of this celebrity you’ve not seen,” he said.
Nervous energy and high-profile guests
Isbae U has used the format to interview prominent figures including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, veteran actor Peter Edochie and entertainer Charly Boy.
His interview with Obasanjo drew particular attention online, with the former president becoming one of the show’s highest-profile guests to date.
Charly Boy has since revealed he was the one who personally connected Isbae U with Obasanjo for the appearance, saying the moment showed the value of giving young creators genuine opportunities rather than just financial support.
Isbae U said he’s often nervous ahead of interviews with older, more established guests, but that they’ve generally welcomed him and encouraged him to stay true to his style.
“Every time. Especially when it comes to people that are way older than me,” he said, when asked whether nerves ever get to him before such interviews.
He recently returned the goodwill by hosting Afolabi-Brown on his own show in August, before appearing on hers.
What’s next
Isbae U said he intends to keep exploring other forms of content beyond the interview series, revealing he also writes stories for other creators behind the scenes.
“A lot of people thought or think I have stopped creating and just doing Curiosity Made Me Ask. But low-key, there are people I write stories for, people I help with their stories,” he said, adding that he plans to create more content going forward.
With Curiosity Made Me Ask now firmly established as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing YouTube formats, Isbae U appears set to keep testing how far the concept can travel, one unlikely guest at a time.
