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.[1]

Ziwe
GenreLate-night talk show
Variety/Sketch show
Cringe comedy
Created byZiwe Fumudoh
StarringZiwe Fumudoh
Theme music composerNicholas Britell
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producers
  • Ziwe Fumudoh
  • Jamund Washington
  • Hunter Speese
  • Alli Reich
  • Ravi Nandan
  • Jo Firestone
Producers
  • Iman Young
  • Corey Deckler (season 1)
  • Mary Beth Minthorn (season 1)
  • Kerri Hundley
CinematographyChristine Ng
Editors
  • Cori Wapnowska
  • Janis Vogel
  • Danny Scharar
Running time24-33 minutes
Production companies
  • A24
  • Generation Ziwe
Original release
NetworkShowtime
ReleaseMay 9, 2021 (2021-05-09) –
December 25, 2022 (2022-12-25)

In April 2023, Showtime cancelled the series after two seasons.[2]

Episodes

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Series overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
16May 9, 2021 (2021-05-09)June 13, 2021 (2021-06-13)
212May 1, 2022 (2022-05-01)December 25, 2022 (2022-12-25)

Season 1 (2021)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
11"55%"May 9, 2021 (2021-05-09)0.049[4]
22"Beauty Standards"May 16, 2021 (2021-05-16)N/A
Guests: Eboni K. Williams, Rachel Lindsay, Cole Escola, Jeremy O. Harris, Sam Taggart, Sydnee Washington and Jordan Mendoza.
33"Wealth Hoarders"May 23, 2021 (2021-05-23)0.34[5]
44"Allyship"May 30, 2021 (2021-05-30)N/A
55"Immigration"June 6, 2021 (2021-06-06)N/A
Guests: Julio Torres, Julian Castro, Laura Benanti, Michelle Davis, Cole Escola, Jordan Mendoza, Grace Kuhlenschmidt and Pat Regan.
66"Whitewashing"June 13, 2021 (2021-06-13)N/A
Guests: Adam Pally, Stacey Abrams, Laura Benanti, Phoebe Bridgers, Michelle Davis, Patti Harrison, Cole Escola, Sam Taggart and Heléne Yorke.

Season 2 (2022)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date [6]U.S. viewers
(millions)
71"Critical Race Theory"May 1, 2022 (2022-05-01)[a]N/A
Guests: Charlamagne tha God, Amandla Stenberg, Jocelyn Bioh, Nore Davis, Larry Owens, Sam Salvodon, Kaitlynn Edgar, Alizia Russell and Ike Ufomadu.[7]
82"Celebrity Rights Activist"May 8, 2022 (2022-05-08)0.49[10]
Guests: Chet Hanks, DeuxMoi, Jo Firestone, Brandon Gray and Martell Ruffin.[9]
93"Socially Liberal, Fiscally Conservative"May 15, 2022 (2022-05-15)0.51[11]
Guests: Nicole Byer, Hannibal Buress, Brianna Cameron, Olivia Lu, Derrick Delgado, Ronald Metellus and Sam Salvodon.
104"Hot!"May 22, 2022 (2022-05-22)0.19[12]
Guests: Ilana Glazer, Jane Krakowski and Ike Ufomadu
115"Empowerment"May 29, 2022 (2022-05-29)0.26[13]
Guests: Emily Ratajkowski, Mia Khalifa, Luann de Lesseps, Heléne York, Aparna Nancherla, Cole Escola and Michelle Davis.
126"Gay Pride!"June 5, 2022 (2022-06-05)0.34[14]
Guests: Katya Zamolodchikova, Adam Pally, Pat Regan, Rowan Blanchard, Ricky Allure, Sam Taggart, Ike Ufomadu, Michelle Davis, Ronald Metellus, Jen Goma and Celine Edmondson.
137"Men!"November 20, 2022 (2022-11-20)N/A
Guests: Michael Che, Julia Fox, Benito Skinner, Michael Antonucci, George Civeris, Sam Taggart and Ronald Metellus
148"Democracy"November 27, 2022 (2022-11-27)N/A
Guests: Bob the Drag Queen, DeRay Mckesson and Ike Ufomadu.
159"Tech"December 4, 2022 (2022-12-04)N/A
Guests: Blake Griffin, Joel Kim Booster, Amy Sedaris, Scott Adsit and Michelle Davis.
1610"Diversity Training"December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)N/A
Guests: Amber Riley, Josh Sharp, Marie Faustin, Michelle Davis and Ike Ufomadu.
1711"Miss Universe"December 18, 2022 (2022-12-18)N/A
Guests: Drew Barrymore, Melody Kimmel, Aparna Nancherla, Chloe Cherry and River Ramirez.
1812"Juneteenth"December 25, 2022 (2022-12-25)N/A
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

Production

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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.[15] The series was filmed over the course of 15 days in February 2021.[16] Nicholas Britell composed the series theme song.[17]

In June 2021, Showtime renewed the series for a second season.[18]

Reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 73% based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 6.00/10.[19] On Metacritic, the series holds a rating of 69 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[20]

Notes

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  1. ^ Critical Race Theory was released on Showtime's on-demand and streaming platforms on April 29, 2022.[8]

References

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  1. ^ O'Connell, Michael (February 23, 2021). "Ziwe Previews New Variety Show: "I'm Trying to Punch Up at the Powerful"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Madden Toby, Mekeisha (May 7, 2021). "Ziwe Puts Karens and White Feminism on Blast, Turns to Fran Lebowitz and Gloria Steinem for Answers". TVLine. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  4. ^ Metcalfe, Mitch (May 11, 2021). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.9.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "Ratings for Sunday 23rd May 2021 - Network Prelims, Finals and Cable Numbers Posted". Spoiler TV. May 26, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "Shows A-Z – Ziwe on Showtime". The Futon Critic. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Bradley, Laura (May 2, 2022). "Ziwe Claps Back at Megyn Kelly and Grills Charlamagne Tha God on Why He 'Hates Black Women' in Season 2 Debut". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  8. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (April 14, 2022). "'Ziwe' Season 2 Trailer: Chet Hanks, DeuxMoi, Emily Ratajkowski, and Ilana Glazer Confess to the Apology Cam". IndieWire. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  9. ^ Contreras, Cydney (May 11, 2022). "Chet Hanks' Ziwe Interview Is So Chaotic It's Hilarious". E! News. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  10. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (May 11, 2022). "ShowbuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.8.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  11. ^ Salem, Mitch (May 17, 2022). "ShowbuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.15.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  12. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (May 24, 2022). "ShowbuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.22.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  13. ^ Salem, Mitch (June 1, 2022). "ShowbuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.29.2022". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  14. ^ Salem, Mitch (June 7, 2022). "Showbuzz Daily's Sunday 6.5.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  15. ^ Thorne, Will (October 21, 2020). "Ziwe to Star in and Produce Variety Series at Showtime". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  16. ^ Frederick, Candice (May 6, 2021). "Ziwe says she uses race to bait her guests on her new Showtime series because 'my ways of coping with trauma are to laugh'". Insider. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  17. ^ Alter, Rebecca (May 9, 2021). "Watch Ziwe's Cool Animated Theme Song Before the Series Premiere". Vulture. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  18. ^ White, Peter (June 22, 2021). "'Ziwe' Renewed For Supersized Season 2 At Showtime". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  19. ^ "Ziwe (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  20. ^ "Ziwe". Metacritic. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
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