Subtlety is not Ziwe’s strongest point. The comedian, talk show host, and writer, whose full name is Ziwerekoru Fumudoh, is known for asking very insubstantial, twisting questions of her guests, first on “Baited with Ziwe”, her YouTube talk series, and now on Showtime’s “Ziwe”, a variety and talk show that celebrated its second season with a party on Monday.
The subject of the first episode? Critical Race Theory. Her advice for navigating the hot potato topic? “The best way out is through,” she said during the screening at the Roxy Hotel.
After a short Q&A, the revelers, including Ms. Fumudoh’s comedic friends, including Chloe Fineman of “Saturday Night Live” and Desus Nice, the co-host of the late-night talk show “Desus & Mero” – moved to Paul’s Cocktail Lounge in TriBeCa, which was transformed into a bright pink playground. There were pink stools and pink lights, pink candles and pink furry fishermen’s hats. On the tables were pink rotary phones next to plates of sliders and fries, and pink pillows named Ziwe, also in pink.
“I wanted to do something hyper-feminine to contrast starkly with the late-night guys in their suits and ties and muted shades,” said Ms. Fumudoh, who wore a sparkly red dress from The Blonds, Louboutin pumps (which them later changed to less sky-high Miu Miu heels) and a beaded Hello Kitty bag from Susan Alexandra. “You give me neutral, I give you my nursery, redesigned, because my nursery didn’t look so cool.”
Nearby, under a palm-like flora, stood Pamela Shepard, Mrs. Fumudoh’s stylist and the show’s costume designer. “When we first worked together, she said to me, ‘See me as a toddler with a black card,'” said Ms. Shepard, who wore a black Ganni dress and thick Bottega Veneta glasses. ‘Of course she likes pink. She likes sets. She loves everything her movement offers.”
Around 10 p.m. DJ Nicks put the dance tracks on edge. Comedian Nore Davis, who appears on this season of the Showtime series, joined the show’s staff and formed a dance circle. Ms. Fumudoh’s comic friends and colleagues were not the only ones in attendance. Emily Ratajkowski also came by. “I’m a guest on this iconic woman’s show,” she said. “I had to remember that we were in front of the camera.”
At around 11 p.m., pink macarons were passed around and the crowd began to thin out and left with clear gift bags of pastel pink “Ziwe” hoodie. Ms. Fumudoh was still chatting with her collaborators, including her lead writers Jo Firestone and Alli Reich, and the talk show comedian and host Eric Andre.
“Ziwe has a unique and original and clear point of view unlike anyone else on TV,” said Mr Andre. “Show me a comparison.”
As for the party, there was also little comparison, at least according to Ms. Fumudoh, who alternated between dancing and taking pictures with her colleagues under a bright pink background with her name. “I think it’s pretty iconic,” she said, using a word she likes to overuse.
