Ziwe
Birth nameZiwerekoru Fumudoh
Born (1992-02-27) February 27, 1992 (age 32)
EducationNorthwestern University (BA)
Years active2013–present
Genres
Subject(s)
WebsiteOfficial website

Ziwerekoru "Ziwe" Fumudoh[1] is an American comedian and writer known for her satirical commentary on politics, race relations, and young adulthood.[2][3]

In 2017, she created the YouTube comedy show Baited with Ziwe and its 2020 Instagram Live iteration[4] She wrote for Desus & Mero from 2018 to 2020,[5] and she co-hosted Crooked Media's Hysteria podcast in 2018.[6]

Fumudoh starred in and executive produced the Showtime variety series Ziwe (2021–2022).[7][8] She published a collection of essays called Black Friend in October 2023.[9]

Early life and education

Born February 27, 1992, Fumudoh grew up in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the second of three children to parents who emigrated from Nigeria.[3][10][11][12]

In 2010, Fumudoh graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.[1][13] In 2014, she graduated from Northwestern University with a double major in radio, television, and film and African American studies, with a minor in creative writing: poetry.[3][14][15] On her first year at Northwestern, Fumudoh lived in McCulloch Hall.[16] While an undergraduate, she wrote for many student publications including: Purp Magazine, Northwestern Sketch Television, and Project SOARD.[17][16]

Career

2013–2017: Early years

In 2013, Fumudoh worked as a summer intern at Comedy Central on shows including The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.[13][18][5] During her senior year of college, she interned as a writer for The Onion and took improv classes at the iO theater.[19] At The Onion she worked in video, research, and contributing features.[20] From 2015 to 2020, she wrote for publications including The Riveter Magazine; Reductress; The Daily Dot;[21] Into The Gloss, where she wrote a column called "Operation Goo Goo Gah Gah";[22] Vulture, where she wrote television recaps;[23] and The New Yorker.

After graduation, she worked at Lorne Michaels's Above Average Productions.[10] Her first television job was as a screenwriter on The Rundown with Robin Thede.[5][18][19]

2017–2020: Baited with Ziwe and Desus & Mero

In 2017, Fumudoh created Baited with Ziwe, a show on YouTube that featured her "baiting" her white friends into making unwitting racial faux pas.[5] In an interview, Fumudoh later said "I love that Baited allows viewers to laugh about race while still acknowledging its complexity. Of all projects I worked on, it's definitely one of my favorites."[24] In the same interview, she said that she got the inspiration for the show from asking her Caucasian coworkers what questions they would be uncomfortable to answer on camera.[24]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Fumudoh moved the show from YouTube to Instagram Live with new celebrity guests each week.[25] Guests included Caroline Calloway, Alison Roman, Alyssa Milano, and Rose McGowan.[26] She stated that her show's goals were to facilitate discussions about race while entertaining people and critiquing the system.[6][27][28] Baited with Ziwe would serve as a successful template for her talk show Ziwe.

In 2018, Fumudoh appeared frequently in Pop Show, a live show she created at Brooklyn's Union Hall in which she performs original pop songs.[18][29][30] That same year, Fumudoh co-hosted Hysteria, a podcast from Crooked Media.[6]

From 2018 to 2020, Fumudoh was a writer on the TV show Desus and Mero.[31][32] A Forbes reviewer wrote that she had the "confidence of an old comedy pro".[18] During that time, Fumudoh joined the cast of Our Cartoon President as the voice of Kamala Harris. She also wrote the season 3 episode "Senate Control".[33]

2020–2021: Ziwe

In October 2020, it was announced that Fumudoh would work with Showtime on a new variety show, Ziwe.[34] The first season had six episodes and featured sketches, musical numbers, and interviews with celebrity guests including: Fran Libowitz, Bowen Yang, Phoebe Bridgers, Julio Torres, and Stacey Abrams.[35] Fumudoh hosted, wrote for, and produced the show.[36] Fumudoh collaborated with costume designer Pamela Shepard-Hill on her costumes.[7]

The second season was heavily teased prior to broadcast by mainstream publications including: Variety,[37] Forbes,[38] and Deadline.[39] Season 2 of Ziwe built upon the successful format of Season 1, expanding to 12 episodes.[35] Celebrity guests included: Ilana Glazer, Mia Khalifa, Emily Ratajkowski, Katya Zamolodchikova, Julia Fox, Bob the Drag Queen, Joel Kim Booster, Amber Riley, Michael Che, and Hannibal Burress, among others.[35] The hyper virality of clips from Season 2 of Ziwe on TikTok cemented Fumudoh in the cultural zeitgeist of Millenials and Gen Z, achieving Fumudoh's dream of becoming "The Ellen Degeneres of race relations."[3] In April 2023, Showtime chose not to renew the series for a third season.[40] In doing so, Showtime left the late-night talk show genre altogether.[41]

Additional projects

In 2021, Fumudoh wrote for the television series Dickinson and appeared in two episodes as Sojourner Truth.[42] That same year, she played Sophie Iwobi, a comedic commentator on a late-night show resembling Ziwe, in one episode of the third season of Succession. The character was tailored to more closely resemble Fumudoh after she was cast.[43]

2022–present

In September 2023, Fumudoh was part of the "My Wings, My Way" campaign for Victoria's Secret.[44]

In August 2020, it was announced that Fumudoh was writing a collection of humorous essays, The Book of Ziwe, for Abrams Books.[45] The book was later retitled Black Friend and was released on October 24, 2023.[9]To promote the book, Fumudoh went on a cross country tour between October 23 and November 8, 2023 visiting 8 cities, including: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.[46]

On December 18, 2023, Fumudoh interviewed the scandal-plagued former U.S. House representative George Santos on her YouTube channel.[47] The interview, laden with Mumudoh's trademark gotcha! style, was widely covered in political news outlets and Hollywood Entertainment columns alike, including: New York Times,[48] Washington Post,[49] CNN,[50] CBS News,[51] The Hill,[52] Mother Jones,[53] LA Times,[54] Axios,[55] Variety,[56] The Daily Beast,[57] Buzzfeed,[58] Business Insider,[59] The Advocate,[60] among others.

Influences

Fumudoh has cited Jonathan Swift and Stephen Colbert as influences, after being introduced to them by a teacher, on her freshman year of high school.[61] Naming the latter as a foundational reference, she has said of his appearance at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner, "It was so unbelievable that he’d speak to authority or even around authority like that ... I was really compelled by his satire."[62] She has also taken inspiration from Oprah, the works of Zach Galifanakis, and Nathan Fielder,[62] as well as from shows like, Arrested Development, The Office, and 30 Rock.[63]

Personal life

Fumudoh lives in New York City.[9]

Filmography

Film and television

Year Title Role Notes
2017–2018 The Rundown with Robin Thede None Writer (7 episodes)
2018–2020 Desus & Mero None Writer (66 episodes)
2019–2020 Our Cartoon President Kamala Harris, various characters (voice) 11 episodes; also writer
2020–2021 Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out The News Various voices 12 episodes
2021–2022 Ziwe Herself (host) Also producer, creator, and writer
2021 Succession Sophie Iwobi Episode: "The Disruption"
Dickinson Sojourner Truth 2 episodes, also writer
2021–2023 The Great North Amelia (voice) 9 episodes
2022 That Damn Michael Che Herself Episode: "Black Mediocrity"
Central Park (voice) Episode: "The Puffs Go Poof"
2023 Teenage Euthanasia Various voices 2 episodes
TBA Shell Post-production

Discography

References

  1. ^ a b "Supporting Engaged Scholarship". Andover, The Magazine of Phillips Academy. Winter 2010.
  2. ^ Jennings, Jackie (December 14, 2018). "Watch: How Ariana Grande's 'Thank U, Next' is like the MCU". SCI FI Wire.
  3. ^ a b c d Yap, Audrey Cleo (July 14, 2020). "Ziwe Wants to Be 'the Ellen DeGeneres of Race Relations'". Variety.
  4. ^ "Ziwe wants to shake up late night. Even if it makes you uncomfortable". Los Angeles Times. May 6, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Hawgood, Alex (March 15, 2019). "Ziwe Fumudoh Uses Humor to Push Racial Buttons". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b c ""Pass Those Pearls Down"". Crooked Media. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Testa, Jessica (May 13, 2021). "That 'Ziwe' Look". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Wheeler, André (May 3, 2021). "Ziwe Puts the Met in the Hot Seat". The New Yorker.
  9. ^ a b c Fumudoh, Ziwe (October 24, 2023). Book of Ziwe Iconic Commentary and (Mostly) True Stories. Abrams, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-4197-5634-4.
  10. ^ a b Blake, Meredith (May 6, 2021). "Ziwe is here to revolutionize late night. Even better if it makes you uncomfortable". Los Angeles Times.
  11. ^ Kilbane, Brennan (September 1, 2020). "How Ziwe Fumudoh Gets Ready for Each Episode of 'Baited'". Allure.
  12. ^ Sullivan, James (May 12, 2021). "Ziwe brings a satirical edge — and queries about race — to her new Showtime series". The Boston Globe.
  13. ^ a b Fumudoh, Ziwe (October 30, 2019). "Ziwe And The Skincare You Buy After The Derm Reads You 'For Filth'". Into The Gloss.
  14. ^ Misulonas, Joseph; Lenhoff, Caryn (January 22, 2013). "Meet The Daily's winter columnists". The Daily Northwestern.
  15. ^ "Ziwe Fumudoh '14". Recent Alumni Newsletter Archive, Northwestern Alumni. 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Episode 63: Navigating Career as a Creative Professional with Ziwe Fumudoh '14". www.alumni.northwestern.edu. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  17. ^ "Your Reunion Committee". www.alumni.northwestern.edu. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d Escandon, Rosa (October 31, 2018). "26-Year-Old Ziwe Fumudoh Has The Confidence Of An Old Comedy Pro". Forbes.
  19. ^ a b c Milliken, Clare (September 29, 2020). "An Artist First: Ziwe Fumudoh starts uncomfortable conversations with comedy". Northwestern Magazine.
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  27. ^ Murphy, Chris (August 28, 2020). "Ziwe's Instagram Live Show: 'An Incredible Leader'". Vulture.
  28. ^ Garcia, Sandra E. (July 9, 2020). "Ziwe Fumudoh Asks: 'How Many Black People Do You Know?'". The New York Times.
  29. ^ Pilat, Kasia (August 9, 2018). "5 Comedy Shows to Catch in N.Y.C. This Weekend". The New York Times.
  30. ^ Zinoman, Jason (January 31, 2019). "Instead of Killer Punchlines, Killer Choruses". The New York Times.
  31. ^ McKenzie, Joi-Marie (March 14, 2019). "'Desus & Mero's' Secret Weapons Are Two Black Women Writers". Essence.
  32. ^ Smith, Mariah (February 5, 2020). "Desus and Mero Writer Ziwe Fumudoh Plays the Race Card for Laughs". W Magazine.
  33. ^ White, Peter (October 21, 2020). "Showtime Orders Variety Series Featuring 'Desus & Mero' Writer Ziwe". Deadline Hollywood.
  34. ^ O'Connell, Mikey (October 21, 2020). "Ziwe Fumudoh Getting Her Own Variety Show at Showtime". The Hollywood Reporter.
  35. ^ a b c "Ziwe Season 2 (2022)". Paramount+ with Showtime. May 9, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  36. ^ Greene, Steve (February 23, 2021). "'Ziwe': Showtime Sets Premiere Date for New Variety Series". IndieWire.
  37. ^ Shafer, Ellise (April 14, 2022). "'Ziwe' Reveals Season 2 Trailer and Guest Lineup Including Chet Hanks, Deux Moi and Charlamagne Tha God". Variety. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  38. ^ Escandon, Rosa. "Showtime's 'Ziwe' Announces Season 2 Guests". Forbes. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  39. ^ White, Peter (September 21, 2022). "'Ziwe': Drew Barrymore & Julia Fox Among Guests For Latest Tranche Of Second Season". Deadline. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  40. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 5, 2023). "'Heist 88' Moves To Showtime As Network Picks Up 'Seasoned' To Series, Passes On 'The Wood' & Cancels 'Ziwe' After 2 Seasons". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  41. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 5, 2023). "'Heist 88' Moves To Showtime As Network Picks Up 'Seasoned' To Series, Passes On 'The Wood' & Cancels 'Ziwe' After 2 Seasons". Deadline. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  42. ^ "'Dickinson': Ziwe's Sojourner Truth Proves She's History's Baddest B*tch". Decider. November 5, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  43. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (November 1, 2021). "Ziwe's Surprise 'Succession' Cameo Was Reshaped Specifically for Her". IndieWire. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  44. ^ Pusateri, Catie (September 12, 2023). "Victoria's Secret Brings Back the Wings in New Campaign". Fashionista.
  45. ^ Wright, Megh (August 12, 2020). "Ziwe Fumudoh to Bait You With a Book of Essays". Vulture.
  46. ^ Mukherjee, Soumyajyoti (August 17, 2023). "Ziwe The Black Friend Tour 2023: How to buy tickets, dates, venues, & more". Sports Keeda. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  47. ^ George Santos Answers Hard-Hitting Questions | Ziwe Interview, retrieved December 19, 2023
  48. ^ Ashbury, Grace (December 18, 2023). "George Santos's Latest Stop on His Notoriety Tour: A Ziwe Interview". New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  49. ^ Scribner, Herb; Branigin, Anne (December 18, 2023). "George Santos talked to Ziwe. He had a lot to say". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  50. ^ Rosenbloom, Alli (December 17, 2023). "Ziwe releases George Santos interview: 'What could we do to get you to go away?'". CNN. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  51. ^ Yilek, Caitlin (December 18, 2023). "Ziwe asks George Santos, "What can we do to get you to go away?" - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  52. ^ Kurtz, Judy (December 18, 2023). "Santos has message for ex-colleagues: 'I'll outlive them'". The Hill. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  53. ^ Hayssen, Sophie. "How Ziwe met her match in George Santos". Mother Jones. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  54. ^ "George Santos' Ziwe interview shows the promise — and limits — of his Hollywood dreams". Los Angeles Times. December 19, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  55. ^ Rubin, April (December 18, 2023). ""People want the content": Santos sits for interview with comedian Ziwe". Axios. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  56. ^ Shanfeld, Jordan Moreau,Ethan; Moreau, Jordan; Shanfeld, Ethan (December 18, 2023). "George Santos Claims 'Gen Z Loves Trump' and Calls HBO's Biopic About Him 'F—ing Fiction' During Ziwe Interview". Variety. Retrieved February 17, 2024.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  57. ^ Wilstein, Matt (December 18, 2023). "Ziwe Exposes George Santos Once and for All in Scathing Sit-Down". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  58. ^ Bramwell, Michaela (December 18, 2023). "Here Are The 11 Most Shocking Moments Of Ziwe's Interview With George Santos". BuzzFeed. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  59. ^ Metzger, Bryan. "All we learned from the Ziwe interview is that George Santos is ignorant of gay history — and is obviously in on the joke". Business Insider. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  60. ^ "Unpacking George Santos' Disastrous Ziwe Interview: 'I'm Not a Politician'". www.advocate.com. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  61. ^ Fragoso, Sam (November 12, 2023). "The Ziwe Interview". Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  62. ^ a b Conteh, Mankaprr (October 16, 2023). "How Ziwe Got Tender on Her Own Terms in Her First Book". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  63. ^ Blake, Meredith (May 6, 2021). "Ziwe is here to revolutionize late night. Even better if it makes you uncomfortable". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 29, 2024.

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