Ziwe (talk show)

{{Short description|American late-night talk show}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Ziwe Showtime logo.png

| caption =

| genre = Late-night talk show
Variety/Sketch show
Cringe comedy

| creator = Ziwe Fumudoh

| developer =

| writer =

| screenplay =

| creative_director =

| starring = Ziwe Fumudoh

| theme_music_composer = Nicholas Britell

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| composer =

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 2

| num_episodes = 18

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

  • Ziwe Fumudoh
  • Jamund Washington
  • Hunter Speese
  • Alli Reich
  • Ravi Nandan
  • Jo Firestone

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

  • Iman Young
  • Corey Deckler (season 1)
  • Mary Beth Minthorn (season 1)
  • Kerri Hundley

}}

| cinematography = Christine Ng

| animator =

| editor = {{Plainlist|

  • Cori Wapnowska
  • Janis Vogel
  • Danny Scharar

}}

| camera =

| runtime = 24-33 minutes

| company = {{Plainlist|

  • A24
  • Generation Ziwe

}}

| budget =

| network = Showtime

| first_aired = {{Start date|2021|5|9}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2022|12|25}}

}}

Ziwe is an American satirical late-night talk show hosted and executive produced by comedian Ziwe Fumudoh based in New York City. The show premiered on May 9, 2021, on Showtime.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/ziwe-previews-new-variety-show-im-trying-to-punch-up-at-the-powerful-4137035/|title=Ziwe Previews New Variety Show: "I'm Trying to Punch Up at the Powerful"|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Michael|last=O'Connell|date=February 23, 2021|access-date=May 6, 2021}}

In April 2023, Showtime cancelled the series after two seasons.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/heist-88-showtime-seasoned-series-order-the-wood-ziwe-canceled-1235317984/|title='Heist 88' Moves To Showtime As Network Picks Up 'Seasoned' To Series, Passes On 'The Wood' & Cancels 'Ziwe' After 2 Seasons|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=April 5, 2023|access-date=April 5, 2023}}

Episodes

= Series overview =

{{Series overview

| color1 = #000000

| link1 = #Season 1 (2021)

| episodes1 = 6

| start1 = {{Start date|2021|5|9}}

| end1 = {{End date|2021|6|13}}

| color2 = #F2BDCD

| link2 = #Season 2 (2022)

| episodes2 = 12

| start2 = {{Start date|2022|5|1}}

| end2 = {{End date|2022|12|25}}

}}

= Season 1 (2021) =

{{Episode table |total_width= |background=#000000 |overall= |season= |title= |airdate= |country=U.S. |viewers= |episodes={{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|Title = 55%

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|9}}

|Viewers = 0.049{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-9-2021.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511141413/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-9-2021.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2021|title= ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.9.2021|website=Showbuzz Daily|first=Mitch|last=Metcalfe|date=May 11, 2021|access-date=May 11, 2021}}

|ShortSummary = Guests: Fran Lebowitz, Gloria Steinem, Cristin Milioti, Jane Krakowski and Cole Escola.{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2021/05/07/ziwe-premiere-karens-white-feminism-fran-lebowitz-gloria-steinem/|title=Ziwe Puts Karens and White Feminism on Blast, Turns to Fran Lebowitz and Gloria Steinem for Answers|website=TVLine|first=Mekeisha|last=Madden Toby|date=May 7, 2021|access-date=May 9, 2021}}

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|Title = Beauty Standards

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|16}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Guests: Eboni K. Williams, Rachel Lindsay, Cole Escola, Jeremy O. Harris, Sam Taggart, Sydnee Washington and Jordan Mendoza.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|Title = Wealth Hoarders

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|23}}

|Viewers = 0.34{{cite web|url=https://www.spoilertv.com/2021/05/ratings-for-sunday-23rd-may-2021.html|title=Ratings for Sunday 23rd May 2021 - Network Prelims, Finals and Cable Numbers Posted|website=Spoiler TV|date=May 26, 2021|access-date=June 7, 2021}}

|ShortSummary = Guests: Patti Harrison, Bowen Yang and Andrew Yang.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|EpisodeNumber2 = 4

|Title = Allyship

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|30}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Guests: Phoebe Bridgers, Lil Rel Howery, Rachel Brosnahan, Christopher Meloni and Patti Harrison.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|EpisodeNumber2 = 5

|Title = Immigration

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|6|6}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Guests: Julio Torres, Julian Castro, Laura Benanti, Michelle Davis, Cole Escola, Jordan Mendoza, Grace Kuhlenschmidt and Pat Regan.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|EpisodeNumber2 = 6

|Title = Whitewashing

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|6|13}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Guests: Adam Pally, Stacey Abrams, Laura Benanti, Phoebe Bridgers, Michelle Davis, Patti Harrison, Cole Escola, Sam Taggart and Heléne Yorke.

|LineColor = 000000

}}

}}

= Season 2 (2022) =

{{Episode table |total_width= |background=#F2BDCD |overall= |season= |title= |titleR= |airdate= |airdateR={{cite web |title=Shows A-Z – Ziwe on Showtime |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/ziwe/listings/ |website=The Futon Critic |access-date=November 1, 2022}} |country=U.S. |viewers= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|Title = Critical Race Theory

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|5|1}}{{efn|Critical Race Theory was released on Showtime's on-demand and streaming platforms on April 29, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/04/ziwe-season-2-trailer-chet-hanks-deuxmoi-showtime-1234716823/|title='Ziwe' Season 2 Trailer: Chet Hanks, DeuxMoi, Emily Ratajkowski, and Ilana Glazer Confess to the Apology Cam|website=IndieWire|first=Samantha|last=Bergeson|date=April 14, 2022|access-date=April 28, 2022}}}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Guests: Charlamagne tha God, Amandla Stenberg, Jocelyn Bioh, Nore Davis, Larry Owens, Sam Salvodon, Kaitlynn Edgar, Alizia Russell and Ike Ufomadu.{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/ziwe-claps-back-at-megyn-kelly-and-grills-charlamagne-tha-god-on-why-he-hates-black-women-in-season-2-debut|title=Ziwe Claps Back at Megyn Kelly and Grills Charlamagne Tha God on Why He 'Hates Black Women' in Season 2 Debut|website=The Daily Beast|first=Laura|last=Bradley|date=May 2, 2022|access-date=May 14, 2022}}

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|Title = Celebrity Rights Activist

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|5|8}}

|Viewers = 0.49{{cite web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-9-2021.html|title=ShowbuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.8.2022|website=Showbuzz Daily|first=Mitch|last=Metcalf|date=May 11, 2022|access-date=May 31, 2022}}

|ShortSummary = Guests: Chet Hanks, DeuxMoi, Jo Firestone, Brandon Gray and Martell Ruffin.{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1330588/chet-hanks-ziwe-interview-is-so-chaotic-its-hilarious|title=Chet Hanks' Ziwe Interview Is So Chaotic It's Hilarious|website=E! News|first=Cydney|last=Contreras|date=May 11, 2022|access-date=May 14, 2022}}

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|Title = Socially Liberal, Fiscally Conservative

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|5|15}}

|Viewers = 0.51{{cite web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-5-15-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=ShowbuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.15.2022|website=Showbuzz Daily|first=Mitch|last=Salem|date=May 17, 2022|access-date=May 31, 2022}}

|ShortSummary = Guests: Nicole Byer, Hannibal Buress, Brianna Cameron, Olivia Lu, Derrick Delgado, Ronald Metellus and Sam Salvodon.

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 10

|EpisodeNumber2 = 4

|Title = Hot!

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|5|22}}

|Viewers = 0.19{{cite web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-5-22-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=ShowbuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.22.2022|website=Showbuzz Daily|first=Mitch|last=Metcalf|date=May 24, 2022|access-date=May 31, 2022}}

|ShortSummary = Guests: Ilana Glazer, Jane Krakowski and Ike Ufomadu

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 11

|EpisodeNumber2 = 5

|Title = Empowerment

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|5|29}}

|Viewers = 0.26{{cite web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-5-29-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=ShowbuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.29.2022|website=Showbuzz Daily|first=Mitch|last=Salem|date=June 1, 2022|access-date=June 3, 2022}}

|ShortSummary = Guests: Emily Ratajkowski, Mia Khalifa, Luann de Lesseps, Heléne York, Aparna Nancherla, Cole Escola and Michelle Davis.

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 12

|EpisodeNumber2 = 6

|Title = Gay Pride!

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|6|5}}

|Viewers = 0.34{{cite web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-6-5-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=Showbuzz Daily's Sunday 6.5.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated|website=Showbuzz Daily|first=Mitch|last=Salem|date=June 7, 2022|access-date=June 7, 2022}}

|ShortSummary = Guests: Katya Zamolodchikova, Adam Pally, Pat Regan, Rowan Blanchard, Ricky Allure, Sam Taggart, Ike Ufomadu, Michelle Davis, Ronald Metellus, Jen Goma and Celine Edmondson.

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 13

|EpisodeNumber2 = 7

|Title = Men!

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|11|20}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Guests: Michael Che, Julia Fox, Benito Skinner, Michael Antonucci, George Civeris, Sam Taggart and Ronald Metellus

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 14

|EpisodeNumber2 = 8

|Title = Democracy

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|11|27}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Guests: Bob the Drag Queen, DeRay Mckesson and Ike Ufomadu.

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 15

|EpisodeNumber2 = 9

|Title = Tech

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|12|4}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Guests: Blake Griffin, Joel Kim Booster, Amy Sedaris, Scott Adsit and Michelle Davis.

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 16

|EpisodeNumber2 = 10

|Title = Diversity Training

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|12|11}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Guests: Amber Riley, Josh Sharp, Marie Faustin, Michelle Davis and Ike Ufomadu.

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 17

|EpisodeNumber2 = 11

|Title = Miss Universe

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|12|18}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Guests: Drew Barrymore, Melody Kimmel, Aparna Nancherla, Chloe Cherry and River Ramirez.

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 18

|EpisodeNumber2 = 12

|Title = Juneteenth

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|12|25}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Guests: Wayne Brady, Laura Benanti, Larry Owens, Michelle Davis, Ronald Metellus, Sam Taggart, Ike Ufomadu, Zaire Saa Hallie, John Reynolds, Jackie Hoffman and AnnaSophia Robb

|LineColor = #F2BDCD

}}

}}

Production

In October 2020, it was announced Ziwe Fumudoh would star and executive produce a late-night talk show and variety series for Showtime, produced by A24.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/ziwe-variety-series-showtime-1234812156/|title=Ziwe to Star in and Produce Variety Series at Showtime|website=Variety|first=Will|last=Thorne|date=October 21, 2020|access-date=May 6, 2021}} The series was filmed over the course of 15 days in February 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/ziwe-showtime-series-race-bait-making-music-videos-2021-5|title=Ziwe says she uses race to bait her guests on her new Showtime series because 'my ways of coping with trauma are to laugh'|website=Insider|first=Candice|last=Frederick|date=May 6, 2021|access-date=May 9, 2021}} Nicholas Britell composed the series theme song.{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/05/watch-ziwe-shares-animated-theme-song-before-premiere.html|title=Watch Ziwe's Cool Animated Theme Song Before the Series Premiere|website=Vulture|first=Rebecca|last=Alter|date=May 9, 2021|access-date=May 9, 2021}}

In June 2021, Showtime renewed the series for a second season.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/ziwe-renewed-supersized-season-2-showtime-1234779569/|title='Ziwe' Renewed For Supersized Season 2 At Showtime|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Peter|last=White|date=June 22, 2021|access-date=June 22, 2021}}

Reception

{{expand section|date=April 2024}}

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 73% based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 6.00/10.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/ziwe/s01|title=Ziwe (2021)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=November 7, 2021}} On Metacritic, the series holds a rating of 69 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/ziwe/season-1|title=Ziwe|website=Metacritic|access-date=November 7, 2021}}

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}