For the third year in a row, The Roommates Show brought a live audience to Randall’s Island this time with an NBA Championship.
The Knicks are back, but this time with an NBA championship after an electrifying season. Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart brought practically all of New York to Randall’s Island for a live taping of their Roommates Show podcast. In previous years the stage was set in Central Park, but the event was moved to accommodate all of the fans.
Before the cameras started rolling, the energy was already playoff-ready. Ticket holders warmed up with bites from local food vendors, drinks, and a little friendly basketball competition before settling in for the main event: a live taping of The Roommates Show featuring Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. The night brought together basketball, entertainment and New York culture under one roof. NBA guards Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet joined the conversation, trading stories and reactions to some of the game’s biggest moments, including OG Anunoby’s unforgettable game-winning shot.
But this was New York, so naturally, the Knicks extended family showed up, too. Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay, lifelong Knicks superfan Spike Lee and late-night host Jimmy Fallon joined Brunson and Hart onstage, reminiscing about the highs, heartbreaks, and unforgettable moments of the Knicks’ playoff run. Adding another layer to the live experience, each segment integrated a brand partner into the action, with names including AWAY, Lunazul Tequila, and Quest Nutrition becoming part of the conversation rather than simply sitting on the sidelines.
So, what made The Roommates Show the right court for Quest to step onto following the launch of its new “Feed Your Athlete” campaign? We caught up with Emily Johnston, SVP of Marketing at Quest Nutrition, to talk about the partnership, the brand’s growing presence in sports, and how Quest is finding new ways to connect with today’s fans.
The Roommates Show with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart
Quest has built a strong presence around fitness and active lifestyles, but The Roommates Show reaches a broader pop-culture audience. What made this partnership feel like the right cultural moment for Quest?
Emily: Quest’s DNA is in the fitness and the athletic community but it’s a brand that is for a broader cohort. Because if you think about it, getting convenient, nutritious snacks is something that helps everyone on and off the field. So we were excited about The Roommates Show because it’s this broad, engaged super driven audience, right? They’re passionate and we feel like Quest can show up for them wherever they want to fuel, especially after a Championship. So for us, Quest is there every step of the way. We’re here to help you balance life so why not engage with an audience that’s engaged and fanatic.
Quest has evolved from being simply known as a protein brand, how are you thinking about the next generation?
Emily: Consumers are always looking for better, tastier options to get their nutrition. Quest 1.0 was founded on flipping the macros on the things that you love and making them higher in carbs but without the sugar. That’s not gonna change right? However, we’ve taken that into chips, milkshakes, and candy. And now, as science and technology has evolved the consumer expects more. So, we need to make it more nutritious and tastier. For example, consumers want more fiber and we’re doing it. We’ll follow along the consumer journey because that’s our journey.
Will you be there for the party next year? Another championship repeat?
