How do big names like Bowen Yang, Fran Lebowitz, Phoebe Bridgers, and Patti Harrison all end up in the same room? With the power of Ziwe, of course.
Those are just a few of the iconic guests you can expect to stop by the new late-night variety series ZIWE on Showtime. Ziwe Fumudoh is a comedian, writer, internet star, and now talk-show host who’s bringing her quirky interviewing skills and sharp humor from the internet to the premium network.
The pandemic was a rough time for everyone but for Ziwe it presented the perfect opportunity to deliver some of the best content to ever grace Instagram since Beyonce joined. What started off as satirical banter on Instagram Live meant to embarrass some of your favorite influencers, while also educating them, has now turned into a TV series.
While Ziwe is well known for her work as a writer on Showtime’s Desus and Mero, her online presence grew quickly after her painfully hilarious interview with Caroline Calloway went viral last summer. Since then, she’s earned a loyal fanbase known as “ziwe stans,” as well as a few celebrity co-signs.
ZIWE will cover the most pressing topics ranging from the unhealthy wealth gap in the U.S. to Nicki Minaj’s ass. A virtual premiere hosted by musician and actress Janelle Monae took place on Thursday ahead of the show’s debut, and nothing was off-limits.
You’ve probably seen the show’s bubblegum pink promo shots floating around for some weeks now but Ziwe’s not just a fan of the color. She explained how important it was to establish a super feminine feel to the show’s set design as a way to challenge the hyper-masculinity typically seen in late-night talk shows.
But Ziwe isn’t focused on being different, just authentic. She described her new show as “trying to merge two worlds: hyper-intellectual and pop culture.” So, expect a seamless balance of social issues and politics wrapped in to comedy and Real Housewives references.
There’s a scene in the first episode where Ziwe interviews author and NYC enthusiast Fran Lebowitz, who Ziwe says was not aware of her existence until their interview. Fran joked about Ziwe’s team relentlessly emailing her to be a guest and feeling almost compelled to come on the show to finally meet her. Nevertheless, their first meeting made for a hilarious 2-hour conversation covering everything from Fran’s close friendship with the late Toni Morrison to the controversy surrounding former presidential candidate Andrew Yang.
ZIWE premieres on Showtime on May 9th at 11 PM EST. Watch the epic trailer below: