Subtlety is not Ziwe’s strong suit. The comedian, talk show host and writer, whose full name is Ziwerekoru Fumudoh, is known for asking very unsubtle, squirm-inducing 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 first episode’s topic? Critical race theory. Her advice for navigating the hot-potato subject? “The best way out is through,” she said at the screening at the Roxy Hotel.
After a short Q. and A., party guests — including Ms. Fumudoh’s comedy pals 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 hot pink playground. There were pink stools and pink lights, pink candles and pink furry bucket hats. On the tables were pink rotary phones next to plates of sliders and fries, and pink pillows featuring Ziwe’s name, also in pink.
“I wanted to do something hyper-feminine to be in direct contrast to the late night guys in their suits and ties and muted tones,” said Ms. Fumudoh, who wore a sparkling red dress from The Blonds, Louboutin pumps (which she later changed to less towering Miu Miu heels) and a beaded Hello Kitty bag from Susan Alexandra. “You’re giving me neutral, I’m giving you my childhood bedroom, reimagined, because my childhood bedroom did not look this cool.”
Standing nearby, beneath palm-like flora, was Pamela Shepard, Ms. Fumudoh’s stylist and the show’s costume designer. “When we first started working together, she told me, ‘Think of me as a toddler with a black card,’” said Ms. Shepard, who wore a black Ganni dress and thick Bottega Veneta glasses. “She likes pink, obviously. She likes sets. She likes anything that offers her movement.”
Around 10 p.m., DJ Nicks cranked up the dance tracks. The comedian Nore Davis, who acts in this season of the Showtime series, linked arms with the show’s staffers and formed a dance circle. Ms. Fumudoh’s comedy friends and colleagues weren’t the only ones in attendance. Emily Ratajkowski also stopped by. “I’m a guest on this iconic woman’s show,” she said. “I had to remember we were on camera.”
Around 11, pink macarons were passed and the crowd began to thin, leaving with clear gift bags containing pastel pink “Ziwe” hoodies. Ms. Fumudoh was still chatting with her staff, including her head writers Jo Firestone and Alli Reich, and the comedian and talk-show host, Eric Andre.
“Ziwe has a unique and original and distinct point of view, unlike anybody else on TV,” Mr. Andre said. “Show me a comparison.”
As for the party, there was little comparison as well, at least according to Ms. Fumudoh, who was alternating between dancing and taking pictures with her colleagues under a bright pink backdrop featuring her name. “I think it’s pretty iconic,” she said, using a word she loves to overuse.
