Next Question With White Lotus Creator Mike White

On this episode of Next Question I interviewed Mike White, the creator of HBO's hit series White Locus. We talked about how the series came to be in the middle of a pandemic, how they found this season's Italian actresses, and where he'd like season 3 to take place. Yes, there will be a season 3!
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[@Brittanggg]

He is so humble. He is truly brilliant I cannot believe he writes, directs and edits these episodes. It’s just incredible.

[@chrisking7855]

He's done pretty well as an actor, too. Gentlemen Broncos, Chuck and Buck, etc

[@leif1075]

What makes you say he is brilliant? What is it about his writing I'm curious?

[@scotty6124]

Being incredibly humble and being incredibly talented usually go hand in hand.

[@shannmaddox1836]

@@leif1075Katie Couric speaks to this, but it’s Mike’s ability to capture human dynamics and interpersonal relations, and especially dialogue, in an almost anthropological way-it’s extremely realistic and palpable. Even when the characters aren’t saying anything at all. The entire dynamic between Harper, Ethan, Cameron and Daphne alone is a case study in phenomenal dialogue screen writing.

[@Johannastairwellstudio]

@@shannmaddox1836 agreed

[@paige4128]

I'm literally watching season 2 for the THIRD time! It's a true acting, writing, directing and cinematography masterclass!!

[@tattarrrrattat]

Ha - I watched season 2 for the first time last night, am officially obsessed

[@user-rn9id6vq3b]

When you can tell me the plot let me know

[@sectionalsofa]

He had me at Enlightened. (Not to mention School of Rock for sheer adorability.) But White Lotus 2 is a TV Masterpiece. The cinematography, the editing, the music, the symbolism, the plot, and of course, Mike White's wonderful characterizations. He's keenly aware of societal, circumstantial and relational influences on his characters and recognizes the complexity in each of us. Just for example, Is Daphne loving or deceitful? Is Tanya off her rocker or on the ball? Yes to all of the above.

[@shortyp1000]

He had me at Chuck and Buck. Mike White's work is brilliant and fun. WL is Clue but at an exclusive resort. lol

[@lilmilontiktok]

The themes of white lotus 2 are incredible as well

[@carriesworld]

Exactly exactly!!

[@chuckecheese5251]

The last two episodes of White Lotus took a pretty severe plot twist and it just seemed like exceptionally poor writing

[@jannichi6431]

Well said. The production is exquisite but writing on Lotus series 2 seemed rushed and superficial. Stil remarkable. Yes, the Chinese heads are like clowns, bit creepy.😝

[@brooke9297]

Watching White Lotus feels like a very, very expensive vacation - beautiful settings and beautiful people, but it also has substance. I can't wait for season 3. I need. I need.

[@benrosn8154]

This guy is literally a genius, so cool one of the best writers ever, totally brilliant genuine genius, such an awesome dude

[@andrewtannage5521]

Brlliance in writing, directing, costume, casting...this show is EVERYTHING and it all starts with Mike! Thank you!!!!!

[@thetotaldepravity]

Season one was good. Season two was some of the best TV I've seen. Great writing, great production, great acting by everyone involved, and the casting was perfect! They fit those roles like a glove. It was also good to see nuanced characters and a script that wasn't driven by ticking boxes of current fashions of political correctness. Those characters were human, all too human, as a German philosopher once said. The characters were so good I want to see them again. I hope White can do this again, create spellbinding TV with unforgettable characters, with some dark humor, satire, and not politically driven - which is the reason so much TV has failed of late.

[@lilmilontiktok]

I just finished watching the finale to season 2. He’s an INCREDIBLE writer and editor.

[@mr29]

Truly a national treasure.

[@kdcndw1]

He directed all 13 episodes this season? Wow. That alone is a achievement. The final episode has some masterclass direction and acting.

[@HH-gv8mx]

I think they were only seven episodes in season two. But they were all brilliant

[@JoaoPedro-lb6mr]

13? you wish. we all wish.

[@thomasbellefeuille5847]

I think he is high emotional potential and highly sensitive. I am one and see things so deeply . He’s an artist , the music , the psychology of the his characters . I’m stunned that a lot of people like it . He literally showing how our society can be miserable , selfish . It’s not about storyline , it’s about human being .

[@vs5133]

He's a Cancerian so yeah, all of that checks out lol

[@rika7625]

I’m grateful for Michael White. I never realized he did a lot of other movies but White Lotus is such a great series. It is so interesting to watch these mysteries especially when they are comedic and suspenseful all wrapped into one and you can’t figure out how the ending will turn out. ❤

[@susankeefer5981]

I could listen to Mike White all day. He sometimes doesn’t finish his sentences, but I know exactly what he’s saying. I have a feeling that season 3 will be at the Four Seasons in Kyoto, Japan, but we’re going to have to wait awhile.

[@sharoncohen318]

He thinks too fast to even finish talking, by the time he's in the middle of the sentence he already wants to relay his next 4 thoughts lol.

[@susankeefer5981]

@@sharoncohen318 Yep. 😊

[@Floresco_s]

It’s been confirmed that season 3 is in Thailand!

[@susankeefer5981]

@@Floresco_s Yay!

[@agentf90]

I love an interviewer who has done their research! What a great conversation between two people genuinely interested in what they’re speaking about

[@JDMimeTHEFIRST]

"Do you know these gays?!"😂

[@leeraewi]

Season 2 was such a clever pivot from Season 1.

[@SnowHarp]

Both seasons of the White Lotus are filmed beautifully and the scripts are intelligent and so interesting. If only more series had all the qualities of the White Lotus. Congratulations and thank you to Mike White and his team for bringing this to our screens. Please keep the train rolling.

[@justinkade0722]

You deserve this success, Mike! You’re brilliant and I love your work.

[@HH-gv8mx]

I hope he wins awards for this!

[@lisas5211]

Watching your material for decades. I friggin love you for giving us this.

[@jamesmaxson2306]

White lotus season 2 = masterpiece

[@katrinalma1]

What an incredible human being! Thank you Mike White for your original, creative, zany work that reveals so much truth!! You are such a gift to this world! Thank you for being YOU!!

[@meropetied]

Chuck and Buck was so brilliant and soooo exquisitely awkward back in 2000. I have been a fan since. And School of Rock especially was inspired. And inspiring. Then he starts making amazing TV. I'm so thrilled White Lotus has been so successful.

[@nevertime1246]

Love it! Yes, it's nice seeing a lot of other Chuck & Buck fans on here

[@condo0073]

White Lotus is true genius. What a lovely guy, such humility. This show is just the best thing I've seen for a while. So original and refreshing and intriguing. I can't wait for further seasons.😁👍

[@matewuocean]

“Uber competitive” is a slight at him for being on survivor 😭 so witty and underrated

[@ciaransammon]

The final episode of season 2 was mind blowing.

[@styrpak1]

Mike is soooo ready. Can't wait to hear what more he has to say. Brilliant writer.

[@deb1442]

Love MIKE WHITE! I bet he'd be fun to vacation with. All his movies are worth viewing more than once.

[@loraglick5745]

I have been a fan of Mike White since “Chuck & Buck” and “The Good Girl” …..so…..well over 20 years. Everything he has done has been brilliant and I am so happy he finally is getting the accolades he so richly deserves!!!!

[@eandl3511]

Season 3 should be located in a snowy wintery resort!

[@michelledry9030]

Love to meet this guy. He seems great and what an artistic talent!

[@deb1442]

All the buzz on social media. Love this series.

[@mikewillis402]

Loved the second season, the character development and the insight into male and female sexuality was brilliant.

[@pollinatorsband]

Sick, I didn't know Mike created White Locus. I've been hearing so much about that recently. I love Mike's work on Freaks & Geeks. *And* I vividly remember watching Chuck & Buck with my Mom and my Aunt on one of our routine VHS rental get-togethers, and...yeah. Damn, cheers for covering Katie!!

[@pollinatorsband]

* you have typo of "locus" not lotus in your description rn...I'll delete this comment later if I can, or u should!! -Tom

[@aileensteele7298]

And the music was sensational.

[@kpro7697]

I am not sure who I like better, Katie or mike. This is an amazing interview. Incredible. Thank you.

[@indianajones3315]

I can’t wait until Season 8.

[@oracleofaltoona]

He is a genius who is so inspired that he channels information from all over the place including obviously his own life and his surroundings. So for him to describe his creative process is probably near to impossible. It's not right brain (or left brain I forget which) so it's hard to describe analytically, logically.

[@terryhaircastle5702]

That's a nicely put take on it ☺

[@Blonde111]

Love this show! Everything is great, the scenery, the storyline, the actors, the writing. Can’t wait till the next season!

[@RussellCusick]

Thank you, Mike White for creating content that is actually worth watching. I watched both seasons and relished every single second of both. Big Hugs, good man.

[@DraconZa]

What a Brilliant interview! loved it!!! ❤️❤️

[@MindSpring704]

AGGGHHHH I knew I remembered his face!! He was in Ft. Mill SC Sun. I was sitting at the bar and kept turning around trying to figure out where I had seen him!!! Glad to have you at Small Bar!

[@inthehouse1960]

I feel better about the show after watching this. I told someone recently it was like a slow burn through the worst ways humans behave toward each other. Not fun. But I'm also a minister's child and loved hearing Mike talk about his process knowing that he's coming from that world. Great interview Katie. You're the best. I hope you're feeling well. You look great - with your uplifting smile and attitude.

[@patrarus6097]

Thanks so much for posting this in-depth interview. Bravo!

[@jegadabadung]

After being amazed by White Lotus, I'm going back to Mike's older works and surprised how good Enlightened is! Tragic it only had 2 seasons

[@cheridijon]

Excellent and interesting interview with the amazing Mike White. I forgot what a great interviewer (and listener) Katie is. Glad I find your channel, Katie!

[@hopelessatusernames]

"anthropologist of human behaviour" -- that's genuine art. Mike is a real artist.

[@heatherbesocial]

I first became a fan of Mike White with "Chuck & Buck" and I'm so glad he's finally getting his flowers! 😍 Can't wait for White Lotus Season 3, filmed in Asia!

[@mattbernabe]

What a finale for season 2. Brilliantly done and such an adrenaline rush. For season 3, I'm already calling for them to cast Olivia Colman Laurie Metcalf Constance Marie Lorraine Bracco Keke Palmer Sophia Loren (If she is down for it) Rita Moreno Catherine Deneuve Isabelle Huppert Olivia Hussey Edward James Olmos Paul Giamatti Keith David Laurence Fishburne Paul Dano Noah Schnapp Sean Bridgers Zhan Mcclaron

[@Empresselizabeth1800]

Laurie metcalf would be perfect in this

[@mattbernabe]

@@Empresselizabeth1800 Agree

[@mondoenterprises6710]

Big fan of Mike White. Have watched a lot of his movies. This is a very good Katie and Mike interview and interview of a writer.

[@vincentwhite19]

Loved Mike White ever since Orange County! Great insights and great interview, merci!

[@arbatron1]

Working so hard to entertain and enthrall us, he needs sleep. He seemed out of it compared to other interviews I've heard. Great Job Mike!!!

[@jannichi6431]

Katie too knows how to get to the Real!

[@roberthart9675]

Good point arbatron. As a huge fan of The White Lotus but a newbie regarding the genius that is Mike White, I was kinda shocked at his rambling, disjointed style in his responses to Katie (these from someone who can write such brilliant, 'perfect' scripts!)

[@jannichi6431]

@@roberthart9675 If he's a poker player, he plays with the keyboard and not card table. So revealing and open about being a minister's son with WHAT? Closeted dad? Very creative, look forward to watching other works. Merry Christmas 🎄

[@leif1075]

How do you know he works so hard and is exhausted?

[@me0375]

Loved his work, and I love his approach to life - really enjoyed this interview

[@tutonelylesnaranjo6311]

Fabulous❤ Mike White on Season 3 of White Lotus. Can’t wait for 4,🎉

[@klm4446]

I live on Kauai. Didn't know he had a place here. Love his work.

[@CaliCarolyn]

Loved every second of this interview!!!

[@deborahfaits6781]

Loved both can't wait for 3

[@lisadiconti]

Wow! He is so fun to listen to...very down to earth.

[@BettyWhite117]

I’m a Mike White fan, one of my favorite movies of all time is “Orange County!”, so funny and on point! Loving White Lotus. Katie, I believe he must have been extremely nervous to be interviewed by you. I should listen again, the number of times he said the word “like”! I was surprised due to the fact he is a great dialogue writer. He had to have been nervous. Definitely sweet! And he is sweet!

[@chrisavetrano]

I love all his stuff. He’s so good. Thanks fir the interview.

[@markbarrett9311]

Mike White = LEGEND

[@faithsonshyne5070]

What a talented guy! Bravo!!

[@elyam2560]

He is too humble. Tru genius

[@nevertime1246]

Love Mike White. Yes, incredibly humble. I first learned about him when I rented Chuck & Buck from Blockbuster almost 2 decades ago

[@lorrie3526]

Since watching this excellent show I've been looking for a white lotus trinket dish like the one in the show!!!!!

[@tashkenty]

He should’ve been nominated for academy award for best actor in chuck and buck

[@kitthroneberry1577]

Excellent interview 👏 👏

[@jeffreybeitz948]

Really enjoyed this series.

[@rosecirigliano5706]

Love this guy

[@linathin7461]

He’s so humble 🥹❤️

[@willisstork4302]

I’m really glad you give thanks to Jane Rogers. I feel like she loved us all

[@ekaterinadesyatova3555]

great conversation, kind of therapeutic to hear these things from such a successful and talented person. especially about not taking your portfolio too seriously, about the inner conflicts and layers of self-image, and trying not to be didactic, but rather creating space for a more nuanced conversation. Also, sexuality is eye-catching, but I really hope he gets to touch on other issues in season 3!

[@letigre5822]

He’s amazing !!!

[@Qtrademark]

Loved Season One but I think Season Two is even better.

[@etamommy]

to me remains to be seen if season two is better. It sure is different.

[@TheBfritsch]

One of the best travel books I’ve read recently is “Four Seasons in Rome”, sooo good

[@dom75870]

Bravo monsieur, quel régal !

[@corra7]

Katie your show is super entertaining ! A real pro!

[@rickECU]

What a great guy. Actors only have nice things to say about him and one of my favorite shows was the one with him and Laura Dern, "Enlightened"

[@LBos17]

Really glad to see him doing well after the teacher impersonation scandal and getting out of a toxic relationship

[@safetyisnice]

School of rock. Took me a second to get this. Embarrassing!

[@lisae516]

Love him❤

[@xaviern5746]

I loved him as part of the goliath tribe in survivor..

[@marianneharms8799]

Gosh I love White Lotus so much! I love seeing these interviews with Mike and the cast, but I just want to call Mike, Ned Schneebly! Anyone else?!!

[@jamescolgan6093]

I watched the digital screener for the SAG awards of season 2 of 'White Lotus', knew nothing about. Wow, such great writing, that ending! I said to myself 'Oh shit!'

[@beaniesonna3052]

I remember him on Survivor! Didn’t know he was a big shot producer!

[@richardnogalez8772]

He is definitely not a boastful person! I like him he seems very Cool👏👏

[@rjcarter2904]

It's an awesome show. He seems to be an awesome guy, too.

[@jannichi6431]

Katie has to be one of top interviewers and researchers of her interviewees. Getting through the 'likes' with the humble and talented Mike White could have of on for hours. 🙏💞

[@johnwright2911]

Season 3!!!! YES!! Bali?

[@101dalmatians]

Great interview on both sides.

[@sorayafarah446]

Wow I love him

[@thatrealambergirl]

He's so humble! So down to earth! How refreshing! Who knew these are the people we want more of in our entertainment!?! Bravi Mike , Bravi! Keep being you! Also, some of these questions seemed so out of touch of the show. Lol It's not that deep. It's simply, rich people are a mess. Period.

[@calination916]

When she said I'm worried about Tonya that is a real tell he spilled it without saying anything.

[@saumyananduru5927]

HBO, please bring back Enlightened!!

[@melissak8419]

White Lotus is like an expanded Vacation movie mixed with Clue, where you get perspectives from all class levels of the characters, there's a murder and we are all guessing who dies, and who did it. Or when Adam Sandler does a vacation movie with his friends, like Blended, Grown Ups, etc. Going on vacation without having to leave your home. That was shocking what happened to Tanya, when they clearly seemed to be marketing the show around her character. That's how you surprise your audience and keep people guessing. They should take one of the characters, or one of the groups, I say Aubrey Plaza and her group and take them to the next season, and maybe they or one of them dies, or doesn't. Keep us surprised. Oh, and did Daphne inspire Ethan or they are implying they did their own thing to get back and the implied affair with Harper and Cameron?

[@vir2ohso]

They banged. Any other questions? Seems like maybe he still had his cherry and the blonde showed him some helpful techniques for the wife or his MO. But very cool that it’s not all spelled out, the grey areas respect the astuteness of the audience. But Ethan finally grabbed Cameron’s love-interest, treating him the way he had been wronged in college, etc. That crazy couple DID help out their marriage though, by the finale.

[@oceansoflorewi]

I was literally like WHO is this guy? When i discovered the masterpiece white lotus. Looking at his work- I haven't crossed paths once with his work (Unlike Ryan Murphy projects which always find me). Then I realized omg thats HANK from 2004 stepford wives LOLLL. Who would have thought 'Hank' would make white lotus. Wow.

[@mitchellcrawford]

Good Job Katie

[@dennischiapello3879]

What a great guy and interview subject Mike White is! I always forget he wrote School of Rock, and gave Richard Linklater sole credit for that shining jewel. I was glad to see him demure from Katie's remark that Tanya is a sympathetic character and rightly point out that Jennifer Coolidge makes her likable. At least, it agrees with my take! Aside from the question of whether Tanya is sympathetic or not, it is obvious she has no unplumbed depths to her character. Such a tiresome narcissist would really drag the show down in a third season.

[@mslenalena1]

Genius 🎉

[@claudiaraffo9340]

Congrats @mikewhite...next season - for sure India or Bali?

[@IAMTKNR]

“YOU SEE EVERYTHING WHEN THE WORLD DOESN’T SEE YOU.”

[@carriek5156]

Watching this stoned. Feel like I can see inside his brain.

[@tsabo8227]

Mike, dont let these comentators make you out to be a god, just to crush you when.you say or do something wrong... Stay humble