“Quinnterviews” is what Marcus has coined her series of comedic shorts, featuring impromptu man-on-the-street interviews which now air on mtvU, a 24-hour branch of MTV geared toward college students. Marcus, a senior at Emerson, roams the streets of Boston and beyond with her cameraman, Tyler Weinberger, in pursuit of obliging pedestrians willing to chat. Conversation meanders under the direction of the quick-witted Marcus, who focuses discussion on everything from parent-child relationships to the best way to find a roommate.

Her show has humble beginnings, materializing “just for fun” between Marcus and friends, who were attending high school in Atlanta at the time. Influenced by the banter of late-night shows, Marcus strived to emulate her hosting heroes, Jimmy Kimmel and David Letterman.

“I think they are amazing at it,” Marcus said of her late-night muses. “They make it less about themselves and more about the [subject], which I think is more charming. I try and do that, and really listen to the person I’m interviewing.”

Marcus honed her on-screen presence until she had perfected a hilariously blunt, unfiltered delivery. After three years of shooting “Quinnterviews,” she decided to take the project one step further. Last May, Marcus pitched the concept to mtvU, and shortly after, received a phone call worth ducking out of class for.

“[mtvU] called me while I was in class and they wanted a video pitch about my personality and why I wanted a show,” Marcus said, pausing for sushi after hours of interviewing in the rain. “I just did a Quinnterview where I asked people what my personality was like, which I think shows my personality more.”

Having received both video submissions from Marcus, ­mtvU executives traveled to Boston to meet her. Marcus worked hard to memorize a formal pitch, but was halted minutes into her proposal — the network representatives were taken by the concept and immediately decided to move forward with the show.

“We saw exactly what you’re seeing now: somebody who is really funny, authentic, and relatable,” explained Paul Ricci, head of development and production at mtvU. “Quinn’s charm is that she is exactly who she is, on camera and off camera, and we know how important authenticity is to our audience. We liked her voice, her demeanor, and her attitude.”

The first episode of “Quinnterviews” aired on ­mtvU in mid-September to positive reviews, both locally and elsewhere. Marcus has been featured in publications ranging from Emerson’s own “Berkeley Beacon” to “Teen Vogue” and receives plenty of digital praise. One commenter writes, “this chick is killing me. HAH-larious!”

Marcus noted, “It’s kind of odd and cool, people in Arkansas or Arizona are like, ‘I love Quinnterviews!’ And I’m just like, ‘That’s the coolest, ‘cause I don’t know you!’ ”

While Marcus is smitten with her newfound role, it all comes naturally to her as she lives out her childhood dream.

“I wanted to be a cowboy. But [as I got older,] I was mature enough to actually realize that I was already a cowboy,” she said, laughing. “I love Dave Letterman, and when I was like 14 and I just remember [realizing,] wait I can do that! If I want to do it, I can do it. And now I’m going to.”

Hassan Ildari, an assistant professor of screenwriting at Emerson, recognized Marcus’s talent early on. “Quinn has not only a deadpan performance, but she has a deadpan presence. That’s what sets her apart: She has a supreme way, a natural ability which is more than just talent, to exude comfort. She just has the right combination of the right stuff.”

In “INCOMING, Freshmen That Is,” Marcus takes on Emerson’s new batch of undergrads on move-in day. Approaching tightly packed cars, anxious freshmen, and their families, Marcus begins her barrage of questions. After inquiring if a newcomer’s father is sad about sending his daughter off to school, he replies, nodding his head, “My baby, it’s my princess.” Marcus immediately suggests, “Well, you can get a dog and name her Princess.”

But for a headlining performer who’s so at ease on-screen, Marcus is remarkably humble in an interview.