Inside Alan Carr's Memoir: Mariah Moments Revealed

In his 2016 autobiography, Alanatomy, Alan Carr delves into his journey as a talk show host, reminiscing about his time on “Friday Night Project” and “Chatty Man”. Among the captivating anecdotes, Carr opens up about his encounters with Mariah Carey behind the scenes, adding a delightful touch to his narrative. As readers, we found ourselves drawn into Carr’s reflections and couldn’t resist sharing the intriguing insights he offered about his interactions with the iconic diva.

Champagne Spills and Phone Calls: Mariah’s Memorable “Chatty Man” Episode

In a memorable 2009 episode of “Chatty Man” hosted by Alan Carr, Mariah Carey’s appearance stood out for its sheer hilarity. Carr’s playful banter and quirky antics prompted Carey to let loose, resulting in champagne spills, a mischievous phone call, and even a demonstration of Carey’s unexpected waitressing talents. The interview captured the essence of Carey’s comedic side, revealing a lighter and more relatable aspect of the iconic diva’s personality. The lively interaction between Carr and Carey made for a truly entertaining segment, leaving audiences with laughter and a newfound appreciation for Carey’s sense of humor.

In the midst of promoting her album “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel,” Mariah Carey appeared on the scene, radiating ease and humor. During the interview, she delved into intimate details about her relationship with Nick Cannon, providing glimpses into their dynamic and shared moments. With candor and charm, Carey recounted the genesis of her hit song “Obsessed,” offering insights into its inspiration.

Mariah Carey had already made a memorable appearance on Alan Carr’s Friday Night Project in 2008. During the show, she engaged in a news hosting sketch, and a brand new video about Mariah Carey’s ostentatious demands, displaying her humorous side and charming the audience with her infectious energy.

Inside Scoop: Off-Camera Mariah Antics Unveiled

While admired for their charming and entertaining public personas, many beloved icons have been reported to display off-camera behaviors that can be unsettling. From rude interactions to outrageous demands, numerous individuals have shared accounts of their experiences with celebrities, revealing a different side of these public figures. As such, we’re always prepared with popcorn in hand when somebody is willing to divulge off-camera Mariah antics.

In his book, Alan Carr reflects on the production challenges of “The Friday Night Project,” a significant undertaking each week. The show encompassed various segments, including hidden camera skits, quizzes, musical performances, sketches, and outings. With such diverse content, meticulous planning and production were imperative.

Carr reminisces about spending extensive time with the guest host of the week, engaging in casual conversations while waiting for filming. These off-camera moments provided invaluable insights into the guest host’s personality, often revealing more than what was captured on the televised chat show or other on-camera segments.

Throughout the day at the studios, Alan Carr and his team accompanied Mariah Carey, who was at the peak of her fame. It was a significant time for Carey, as she had just learned that her song “Touch My Body” had become her eighteenth chart-topper in America, surpassing Elvis Presley’s record. Despite her reputation as a diva, Carr found Carey to be very pleasant and likable. Interestingly, he observed that many of the demands and requests did not originate from Carey herself but rather from her entourage or hangers-on, who seemed to loiter in the corridors, creating a bustling and somewhat chaotic atmosphere.

During one of the shows, Carr recalls hosting a guest star, whose identity he chooses to keep confidential out of respect. However, the star arrived with a substantial entourage in tow. Before appearing on stage, she sought validation from her entourage, asking, “How do I look, guys?” Their responses were enthusiastic, with claps and words of encouragement. However, Carr noticed a stark contrast in their behavior when she retreated to her dressing room. They began pulling faces, snickering, and engaging in hushed conversations, criticizing her appearance and demeanor. This observation left Carr feeling disheartened, as it highlighted the presence of “frenemies” — individuals who masquerade as friends but harbor ulterior motives. He empathized with the star’s situation, recognizing the detrimental effects of constantly being surrounded by such individuals, particularly when away from home and footing the bill for their company.

Carr reflects on the potential psychological impact of constantly being surrounded by an entourage that may not have one’s best interests at heart. In contrast to some experiences, Carr emphasizes that he never witnessed any negative dynamics within Mariah Carey’s entourage. Given his genuine liking for Mariah, he admits that noticing backbiting behavior would have been bothersome. Instead, he observed that her entourage focused on ordering treats for Mariah, such as doughnuts, pizza, and candy bars or specialty tea all the way from China. Playfully and mischievously, Carr teased Mariah about her indulgences, asking about how she enjoyed the doughnuts and specialty teabags from Harrods. “What doughnuts?” Mariah replied. “What specialty tea from China?“. Well, that answered Carr’s question on who was making these requests.

Amidst the chaos of producing the show, Carr recalls a hilarious incident involving Mariah Carey’s request for an ostrich feather to cool herself down during a spoof video shoot. The props team faced an absurd challenge: sourcing an ostrich feather late at night on Regent Street. That never happened – a fan would have to do. Despite the absurdity of the situation, Carr humorously reflects on Mariah’s physique at the time, describing it as “smoking,” emphasizing her stunning figure during that period.

As the cameras were being set up, Justin kindly offered Mariah a taste of his Scotch egg, to which she amusingly declined, citing her personal trainer’s wrath if she indulged. Reflecting on the moment, Carr humorously muses that Mariah might have secretly longed for that Scotch egg. On set, she exuded a playful vibe, often parodying her diva persona, endearing herself to the crew. Carr fondly recalls the delightful surprise when Mariah, while perusing her wardrobe, quipped the iconic line from “Mommie Dearest,” declaring, “Wire hangers, Christina, wire hangers,” with a cheeky grin, leaving Carr utterly tickled given his fondness for the film.

Carr recalls that Mariah made one request however: to be filmed exclusively from her left side, as she believed it to be her best angle. She jokingly suggested rotating The Friday Night Project” set 180 degrees to honor her request, prompting laughter from the crew. Carr, amused by Mariah’s whimsy, recalls the moment with his signature “what are you like” expression, while Mariah remained deadpan. Despite the jest, the set remained unchanged (for obvious reasons), leaving Carr pondering whether Mariah’s request was genuine or simply part of her charm. Nevertheless, Carr acknowledges Mariah’s timeless beauty, affirming that she looked stunning from any angle, unlike himself, who jokes about lacking a good side.

The camaraderie between Mariah and the crew was evident during the recording, prompting her to extend a sweet invitation for everyone to join her at Cipriani to celebrate. Such invitations were a rarity for Carr, who found himself swept away to the restaurant after the show without encountering the typical snooty doorman or the dreaded “Alan who?” scenario. Among the throng of fans gathered outside, Carr was ushered in with ease, feeling as nimble as a rat up a drainpipe. Champagne flowed freely as Carr engaged in lively conversation with Mariah, her charm and humor captivating him. However, as the champagne continued to flow, Carr’s initial awe transformed into an uncharacteristic bout of overconfidence.

“As they sat round the table, someone tapped their glass with a teaspoon, calling, “Speech, speech!’ Mariah stood up and said what an amazing day it had been, and how truly blessed she was to have had eighteen number ones. “But there is one person who I owe it all to. . ” she went on. Everyone looked to Benny, her then manager, who stood there with a smile. And that’s when Carr stood up and went, ‘Oh, don’t, it was nothing,’ There was a pause — not just a pause, but an awful pause, a pause filled with white noise. One of the entourage’s mouths fell open, more pause, fear, more pause, more fear and then Mariah laughed. “You’te crazy!’ she said, and then everyone laughed. ‘Of course I’m talking about my manager, Benny.’ Everyone cheered and ait-kissed” as Carr states he went to the toilet to rinse his pants under a cold tap.

The book was a fun read and we highly recommend this joyous recall of events. He additionally states many people interview him asking him the most difficult celebrity to work with, expecting to write down the name Mariah Carey. But Alan recalls how lovely and down-to-earth she’s always been during their encounters, leaving us to wonder where all this media drag comes from. But we love a first-hand tell-tale like this one… someone who actually met the “diva” in person.