ZIWE or The Highway! Innovative New Series is The Perfect Vehicle For a Comedy Star on The Rise

By BILL HARRIS Special to The Lede Here’s the kind of snappy back-and-forth dialogue you can expect on SHOWTIME’s ZIWE, fittingly named for its star and creator, which debuts Sunday, May 9 only on Crave. The first guest for Ziwe – a comedian and social media sensation who is also a writer on SHOWTIME’s DESUS & MERO – is Fran Lebowitz, described by Ziwe herself as “one of New York City’s most iconic figures, author, and thought-leader.” But one of Ziwe’s comedic specialties is pushing – both envelopes and buttons – no matter who the guest might be. Early in the first episode of ZIWE, the host says to Lebowitz, “One of your conditions of doing this interview was, absolutely no games. Is that standard for white women to come onto a show and dictate how it’s supposed to go?” Lebowitz can’t help but snort laughter, but then she responds, “Only black women think white women are in charge of things.” Enter the power of editing! A video is then played, with the words “five minutes earlier” stamped on the screen, showing Lebowitz marching onto the set and plunking herself down in a chair. Ziwe says something about how guests usually stay behind the scenes before being introduced, but Lebowitz replies curtly, “I’m fine.” Ziwe echoes, “You’re fine … ” And we’re off! Ziwe – both the person and the show – has a tone that really has to be experienced to be understood. She knows how to put people on the spot in her interviews, which can be described as either “deep disguised as funny” or “funny disguised as deep.” Or both. Either way, it works. But ZIWE, the show, isn’t only interview-focused. It’s a variety series of sorts, with a mixture of sketches, guest stars, parody ads, musical numbers, and – as previously mentioned – snappy editing, with almost everything designed to hold up a mirror to societal discomfort with race, politics, and other cultural issues. When Ziwe was asked in a panel interview with TV reporters how long she has been crafting her unique comic persona – does it go back to her earliest dreams of stardom, or has she honed it substantially through her work in recent years – she displayed her trademark quick wit. “I think it’s a combination of the two – as an infant, I had dreams of comedy, but they were rudimentary,” said Ziwe, prompting laughter. “Those dreams stunk, you know? I wasn’t really drawing in the lines. But as I’ve gotten older, and more experienced as a professional entertainer, I’ve refined my voice, and refined the character that I’ve built around this show. This has been in the making for probably a decade or two.” Ziwe added, “Offensive, bombastic, satirical – that’s my brand of comedy. As far as my show, I don’t seek controversy, I just would like to say really poignant things with my art. Perhaps that’s controversial, but ultimately I’m trying to punch up at the powerful. And part of that is being accountable for my words and knowing when, you know, maybe I missed the mark on certain jokes, because I’m not perfect. I’m fallible. But part of that is being willing to take a risk. You can’t have a show that pushes boundaries without getting to the edge. Sometimes I’ll go over, and sometimes I’ll ride the line.” Whether she’s riding the line or crossing it, Ziwe’s smart comedy can make people laugh, so her star is definitely on the rise – not that Fran Lebowitz necessarily knows about it. “I’m honoured that you’re doing the show, but, my question is, why did you agree to this?” Ziwe asks Lebowitz. “Do you know who I am?” “I don’t have the slightest idea who you are,” Lebowtiz responds. “Someone who works for you was incredibly persistent – INCREDIBLY persistent – to the point where this just seemed easier.” billharristv@gmail.com @billharris_tv