Comedians Amber Ruffin and Robin Thede Have an Interesting Chat About Representation in Late-Night TV
Brought together by Variety, Amber Ruffin and Robin Thede discuss creativity, Covid, and representation in late-night TV. Additionally, the interview gives insight into Ruffin and Thede’s inspirations today.
You’re not prepared for how goofy tonight’s new episode of #AmberRuffinShow is gonna get! 💜 pic.twitter.com/9gmYJOyvYB
— amber ruffin (@ambermruffin) June 18, 2021
Amber Ruffin is a comedian, writer, actress, and host of The Amber Ruffin Show. Equally important is Robin Thede, a comedian, writer, executive producer, and best known for creating A Black Lady Sketch Show. The two long-time friends, who started on late-night television, shared their opinions and comments on various topics related closely to them.
At the start of the interview, Ruffin and Thede explain their reactions to the Television Academy’s decision not to combine the variety talk and sketch series categories. Ruffin found the option to combine the two categories with being “a non-comedy guy thing to do,” with Thede agreeing.
The conversation continued into the topic of the lack of representation affecting their shows. Ruffin explained, “The fact that there are so few Black women in late night and sketch just means I don’t have to triple check to see if someone made a joke I’m fixing.” In a longer response, Thede explained that she couldn’t represent all Black women, but with her show, she can “pay homage to all of these amazing women.”
After this, their discussion moved into the pandemic and how it affected their creativity. Since the pandemic has left Ruffin with a lack of an audience during her show, she stated, “If an audience arrives, it’s going to be a mess.” Thede experienced her own troubles as well. The 41-year-old comedian explained that she had to change scripts, locations and lost big-name guest stars for her own show.
Despite the troubles, the two talented writers are very inspired in their own ways today. With Thede using her “treasure trove” of a mind to merge with ideas from her writers and Ruffin simply asking herself what she wants to do, the two continue to create passionately for the shows they are currently working on.
You can find Thede’s A Black Lady Sketch Show on HBO and Ruffin’s The Amber Ruffin Show on Peacock TV.
Writer | Find me on Twitter @Fontalvokayla
