Host Carly Fleischmann, a 21-year-old with autism who speaks with the help of a computer, has always wanted to be a talk show titan.
With the ever-obliging Channing as her first guest, she couldn’t have hoped for a better start for her series called Speechless – at the time of writing she’d had almost three million views of the first episode below.
The Magic Mike star, 36, couldn’t stop laughing during this candid chat in which the host confesses her love for him and asks him to divorce his wife.
Carly, who has also written a book called Carly’s Voice: Breaking Through Autism, asks about his early career as a stripper, comments on some of his wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum’s spiritual beliefs and asks who among his Hollywood friends would be allowed to date his daughter.
“Would you date a 21-year-old person with autism?’ she asks.
To which a laughing Channing replies: “Yes, if I got permission from my wife.”
She smiles and says: “Alright I’ve got my lawyers working on your divorce papers as we speak.”
Carly, who was diagnosed with autism and oromotor apraxia at the age of two, asks Channing if he finds it hard to be good looking.
He replies: “I find it hard to make people take me serious at all, ever. I’m very lucky that my parents are two good looking people.”
Carly beguiles the actor by following compliments with hard questions.
“Now even though I’m in love with you I do realise that you’re married,” she says, before suggesting his wife believes in fairies and inquiring if there are any of her spiritual beliefs that Channing just can’t entertain.
At the end of their time together Carly thanks Channing for the once in a lifetime interview before adding: “My bags are at your house and I’m ready to move in!”
The interviewer gets a kiss on the head from Channing who describes her as “so sweet!”
Carly then moves in to receive more kisses on the head from the actor.
“Work that body!” she says.
This is the best ever! What a great guy he is and what an inspiration Carly is. Great story.
He’s a favourite in our office here at TheCarousel. That’s for sure. Wish there were more people like him, don’t you?