May 27, 2025 • 36 mins
Ever wondered what happens when a murder disrupts the hallowed halls of the White House? "The Residence" serves up a deliciously different take on the murder mystery genre, balancing clever comedy with genuine intrigue while showcasing the often-overlooked White House staff who keep the historic mansion running.
What makes this Shonda Rhimes production truly special is its departure from her signature high-stakes emotional dramas. Instead, we're treated to a more lighthearted approach where the murder investigation becomes a vehicle for exploring the rich tapestry of White House history and the dedicated professionals who maintain its traditions across changing administrations. The series portrays these staff members with such reverence that you can't help but develop a newfound appreciation for the actual White House as a living, breathing entity with stories embedded in its very walls.
At the center of this captivating mystery stands Uzo Aduba's Cordelia Cup - a detective whose unwavering confidence and unapologetic approach to both birding and crime-solving make her instantly memorable. The ensemble cast delivers performances that feel authentic and nuanced, creating workplace dynamics that resonate with anyone who's navigated professional relationships. What's particularly refreshing is how the diverse casting showcases various personalities without making race the central focus - characters stand their ground regardless of position, creating a representation that avoids stereotypes while acknowledging the complexities of workplace hierarchies.
Whether you're drawn to smart comedy, historical settings, murder mysteries, or simply appreciate watching talented actors at the top of their game, "The Residence" offers something truly special. Subscribe now to hear our full breakdown of this Netflix gem and join the conversation about what direction Shonda Rhimes might take this intriguing concept next!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Niq (00:01):
Hi guys, and welcome to next episode with Nick and Jess.
And today we're discussing theNetflix hit, the Residence.
Yes, so I'm really excitedabout this show because I felt
like it was very, very charming,very cute and even though it's
(00:21):
about a murder, like emotionally, like the stakes stakes were
low for me.
I don't know how you felt aboutthat yeah, absolutely it felt.
Jess (00:28):
It felt it was more of like a comedy.
It was funny, I didn't.
Niq (00:31):
Yeah, murder was fine right , even though, like, the
characters were very good, veryendearing, like even the murder
victim, because you, as like theshow goes on, you get to know
more and more about the murdervictim, like I.
It's not that goes on, you getto know more and more about the
murder victim, like I.
Jess (00:46):
It's not that I did not make an emotional connection
with a lot of the characters,because I did, but at the same
time, like it was I, it led withcomedy and I mean, if you think
about it like it starts withthe murder and then you learn
about AB, who's the guy who'smurdered, so like you don't have
a chance to connect with himuntil after he's already dead.
Niq (01:08):
You know?
Right, that's very true, that'svery true.
Now, I don't know if you know.
So AB Winter, who's the personwho was murdered, was played by
Giancarlo Esposito.
Did you know that he was notthe original person who was
supposed to play that part?
Jess (01:23):
I did, I did, but that guy passed away.
Niq (01:27):
Yes.
Jess (01:27):
Do you know who he?
Niq (01:28):
was Andrew Brower.
Jess (01:29):
The guy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Niq (01:32):
Yes, and I was like he would have been so good.
Jess (01:36):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he would have been better than he went
to.
Niq (01:41):
Yeah, that was really, really sad.
They had literally startedfilming and everything like he
died during production of theshow.
So giancarlo stepped in and hewas talking about how emotional
it was because he that was likea friend of his.
Oh wow, I didn't know.
They were friends, yeah.
And so he ended up having tostep in and I was like, oh my
(02:03):
goodness, watching the show, Iwas trying to picture him in the
role of what he would havebought.
Jess (02:15):
Yeah, he done a little about some comedy to it as well.
He has the ability to appearlike a straight man, but still
be funny.
Niq (02:22):
Yes, he is the funniest straight man I I feel like I
love it because he's like, it'slike he'll say the most
ridiculous thing with, like, thestraightest face in the
sternest voice and I love it Ido I love it so okay, my first
question do you think this showwas meant to be like a one-off?
(02:45):
I do?
Jess (02:47):
I do Because I can't see where they would go next season,
with it being focused on theWhite House and it being called
the Residence.
So I do think it's meant tokind of be a one-off.
So is it considered a show or alimited series?
Because that's what I was.
I wasn't sure about that.
Niq (03:03):
I don't think it was listed as a limited series, because
that's what I was.
I wasn't sure about that.
I don't think it was listed asa limited series.
But I also feel like a lot ofAmerican shows are not
necessarily listed as limitedseries.
There's just one of them andthat's just it, because I think
secretly there, if people werewilling to pay, they will make
anything a sequel.
We love a sequel in America.
Jess (03:24):
We do, we do.
So I think it was meant to be aone-off, but I feel like I can
see where it would go.
I would love another murdermystery every season, so
Cordelia Cup maybe being thesame and maybe keeping the
police chief that she's close to, but the rest of the cast
completely changing every season, because it's a different
murder mystery and I would bedown for that ride.
Niq (03:45):
But I cast completely changing every season because
it's a different murder mysteryand I would be down for that
ride, but I don't know thatthat's what they plan to do.
I don't know.
I haven't heard anything either, but I'm like, okay, it is
called the Residence, so if it'sgoing to be White House
centered and a mystery, I'm likemaybe something could get
stolen next year other mysteriesinstead of just murder or
(04:08):
someone could be kidnapped, Idon't know.
One of the things that the firstseason had was a lot of
information about the WhiteHouse and the history of the
White House, and like that Ifeel like added a layer to the
show, because it really kind ofgave you a glimpse Like people
don't know a lot of about theback, like the background of the
(04:32):
White House and how itfunctions and how it runs, and
it just gave kind of it shined alight on the people who are
working so hard and don't get alot of credit, so that was
beautiful, but also it's like,okay, they did that.
What happens next season?
Jess (04:48):
Yeah, and that's the thing .
But I think the White House isso old, there's a lot of room
for history, for the history ofit, so I think that they can
still even go deeper, ordifferent seasons, depending on.
The mystery touches ondifferent parts of the history.
It burned down at one point.
You know it was built byenslaved people, like.
(05:11):
There's a lot of stuff that youcould go into as far as the
history goes, but I do againalso like the shine and the
light on the staff, that kind ofkeep it going, keep it running,
and I mean you can go like sothe it's the residence, so like
it focused on the part that theylive in, but then you also have
the West Wing, like the partwhere they actually run.
you know the country from, sothere's like that part and that
(05:33):
history and that's what'shappened in that office, that
kind of stuff, and then thatwould also be a different staff.
Niq (05:40):
Would it be pushing it too far if they, like, did a season
at Camp David or where the vicepresident lives, like, is that
pushing it too far?
No, Heck.
Jess (05:55):
For me.
Cordelia Cup is the show, so wecan do this season at the White
House, we can do the next oneat the Governor's Mansion, I
don't care.
You know what I mean, rightWherever, while I get it, it
starts with the White House andthat's kind of why it's called
the residence.
The governor's mansion also isgoing to have a staff.
It's going to have a history,depending on what she can travel
(06:15):
, because I feel like he calledher in and contracted her.
She can really go anywhere inthe country.
She's not limited to this place.
There's a lot of places thatwould have a similar and as
important feel that we can getinto the background in Austria.
Like I said, I like her, soI'll go with you on that ride.
Niq (06:38):
This is a Shonda Rhimes production.
This is really outside of whatwe expect from Shonda Rhimes.
Do you agree with that?
I do.
I do agree with that.
I like it.
I did.
I loved it because the thingabout it is is Shonda Rhimes,
she loves drama, she lovesinterracial romance, she loves
(07:00):
like, like, a lot of like tear,dirt, jerky, strong, emotional
stories like you know, privatepractice, gray's anatomy, how to
get away with murder, evenbridgerton, which is, you know,
a show that she produces, it'sit.
There's a lot of like emotion,there's a lot of romance.
You know, there's a lot ofstakes are very high in those
(07:23):
shows.
This show was so fun.
Yeah, yeah, right, and I'm like, oh, you know, I want to see
more low stakes shows fromshonda rhimes because she, she's
doing a low stakes show well.
Yeah, it's got the quality ofher other shows it does.
(07:45):
But like, one of the thingsthat made me stop watching
Grey's Anatomy is because theywould spend 45 minutes making me
fall in love with the characterthat they were going to kill
off in a tragic way in the last15 minutes of the show.
Yes, and so for this show tohave a murder in it and I not be
triggered by it.
(08:05):
I loved it.
Jess (08:07):
Well, and that's the thing , I think that's also the
starting with the murder.
So that's out the way wealready know.
That's why we're here andversus, like you know, warming
up to the character that's goingto go away.
Niq (08:16):
Yeah.
So also I think, casting theydid an excellent job, excellent,
excellent, absolutely thinkcasting they did an excellent
job.
Jess (08:22):
Excellent, excellent, absolutely.
Niq (08:28):
So Cordelia Cup is being portrayed by Uzo Aduba.
Thank you, you know I will jackup a name and I literally be
calling her Uzo, like we'refriends.
I don't know, maybe she's mycousin.
I've loved her and admired herFor a long time.
(08:49):
She's a phenomenal actor and Iloved her in this show Because
normally she's doing a lot.
She was in Orange is the NewBlack and she basically played
somebody who was psychotic.
Usually she plays a hugepersonality and she played
(09:14):
someone with a big personalityin this show, but the way that
she played it, it was like so itwas very simplified, it was
like I loved her personality.
It is what it is.
Yeah, you know, here's thething like I'm the best
detective, right?
Not arguing that fact with you,that's just a fact.
Jess (09:37):
Right.
Niq (09:38):
I also love birds.
And I'm going to take thisopportunity to go birding at the
White House.
Like, yes, there's aninvestigation going on, but I'm
birding and I'm like goingthrough things in my head, I'm
making connections.
Like she was unapologetic, likeeven like down to like the food
(09:58):
that she was eating and like Ithink his name was edwin was
getting offended like she.
She does not apologize for whoshe is and I love seeing a black
woman in that role.
she's not like she's not beinglike a typical stereotypical
black bee, how they love toportray us.
She's just strong, confidentand intelligent and
(10:21):
unapologetically herself, and Ifeel like more of us need to be
that person.
Jess (10:27):
I agree, I do like.
One of the things that you knowwe kind of talked before is
like I like how she interactedwith white people, white men who
tried to intimidate her and shejust would not allow it in any
state.
But I feel like a good like Iwas bitching to say all the
Black characters did in this.
You know what I mean.
There wasn't that sort ofkowtowing or stepping down to
them when they tried tointimidate, when they tried to
(10:51):
force themselves in certainplaces and situations or make
themselves seem more powerfulthan they were.
No one backed down, no onestepped aside.
They stood their ground, nomatter what their position was,
and I like that.
Niq (11:03):
You know what is interesting this show, if you
think about it, was almost raceblind.
There were a lot of Blackcharacters in this show, but the
show was not about Blackness atall.
Like it, like there was, it wasalmost as if the show was
race-blonde Like I, first of all, I I love that because just
(11:26):
because there's Black people init doesn't make it a Black show.
You know what I mean.
It's just showing that probably, like, like in real life, a lot
of the people who are doingthat work are Black, you know
what I mean, and they talk abouttheir jobs with such reverence.
They do Like the lady who wastalking about how she worked at
(11:51):
Waffle House.
Yeah, and she was able to workat the White House and she
really wanted to work at theWhite House.
And how they talk about thehistory and how they talk about
the protocol and how much theycare about the house and keeping
the traditions alive.
They have a reverence for whatthey do and, like they said,
it's not based on politics, it'snot you know what I mean.
(12:12):
It was just kind of beautiful.
The cast was like.
I felt like it was likereasonably a reasonably diverse
cast, but it and they didn'thave like those snarky comments
or those jokes about people'srace and stuff like that like
you know what I'm saying, likeit, I really enjoyed that.
(12:35):
I did.
Yeah, which is interestingbecause, you know, I just
recently saw sinners and sinnerslike, what makes that so great
is how heavily the blackness isbeing focused on.
But it's a different movietrying to do a different thing.
Jess (12:53):
Yeah, because because I think there's room for both, and
that's always like you know.
Yeah, because I think there'sroom for both, and that's always
like.
You know what I mean.
I think the issue is not thatone should exist and one
shouldn't, it's just that theyboth have a right to exist.
Niq (13:05):
Yes, and more often they don't.
You know what I mean.
I don't like it when theypigeonhole a show, a Black show,
just because it has a Blacklead.
You know what I mean.
But at the same time, I dothink that there are shows that
are Black-centered and in Blackculture and that's great, that
(13:31):
does need to happen and thatdoes need to be celebrated.
But there just needs to be abalance.
But yes, I thought this like Ienjoyed it.
Jess (13:40):
On that note, I feel like there's also a balance in the
cast with that.
Like you get to see differentkinds of Black people because
you know, like the one that youmentioned, the one who went from
the Waffle House to the WhiteHouse she's a very interested in
personality, but you also getto see.
You get to see her, you get tosee AB's personality Uzo I'm
sorry, cordelia, you know what Imean Like there's just there's
(14:02):
such a variety of the portrayalsthat I appreciate as well.
Niq (14:05):
Yes, yeah, I agree, but I think that they I'm like they,
honestly they really did a goodjob with all of the casting.
Everybody was very like,unquestionable, like I I didn't
say, oh, you know it was.
There was not one person whowas lacking, like the
performances were there, thecasting made sense.
I thought that they, like thecast, did a really good job of
(14:27):
interacting in a way like so,workplaces are tough, right, and
at its heart, this is kind oflike a workplace comedy.
You know, like they're all ofthese like like how they talk
about when they talk about theissues, because they're trying
to find out who murdered ab.
So they're like you're learningabout the staff members and
(14:49):
different people who work thereand you're learning about their
relationships with ab and alsowith each other, and so it's
like as much as the staff loveseach other.
You know, when you worktogether for a long time, you
have like these long-standing,like beefs.
You have these like differentsituations and I think that they
(15:09):
did a really good job of likeweaving everything together,
like where it felt very, verylike realistic and it made sense
, like because, like the show islike, in a way, it's nonsense
and it's fun and it's likefantastical a little bit, yeah,
(15:31):
but they weaved a lot of genuinethings into it you know that,
that that reverence, thattradition, that history and how
complicated relationships can be, you know, and how like you
want to do a great job.
What happens when someone ishindering you from even when
(15:53):
you're working your hardest, andhow is that this frustrated and
then having to deal with thedifferent administrations coming
in and doing things their way.
When the house is like a river,like it flows you know what I
mean and then they each newadministration come in and it's
like a dam, you know.
They come in and they buildover.
So then the like the river hasto adjust how it flows, but at
(16:15):
the same time trying to stillmove forward in that same
direction.
Jess (16:20):
Yeah, so it was beautiful it was and the house is a
character.
Yeah, I love that.
Niq (16:27):
I honestly like it made.
I think, like right now, in thepolitical climate and with all
of the craziness going on, likeit gave me like a lot of respect
for like the White House itselfyeah, the actual house the
actual house, the actual history, the actual traditions and all
(16:49):
of the people who are workingnight and day to make that
happen.
Right.
It's the way that like Hamiltonredeemed Alexander Hamilton and
all of the people who areworking night and day to make
that happen.
Right.
It's the way that like Hamiltonredeemed Alexander Hamilton and
all of a sudden made him likesomebody that we all, for some
reason, love and respect, aslong as we don't look too hard.
You know, I feel like it didthe same thing, because I never,
(17:09):
really I think I was extremelyindifferent when it came to the
White House, extremelyindifferent, and I was like you
know what, maybe in eight years,maybe I'll take a tour maybe
you know, anyway, so I'm sorry.
(17:31):
So, with this show being so, sogreat, what would you like to
see Shonda tackle next?
That's like outside of herwheelhouse that's a good
question.
Jess (17:45):
What would I like to see Shonda Rimes do?
I don't know.
She's done so much already.
She's done a lot of medicalshows.
This is now a mystery.
Have we gotten a thriller fromher?
I don't know.
She's done so much already.
She's done a lot of medicalshows.
This is now a mystery.
Niq (17:58):
Have we gotten a thriller from her?
What about how to Get Out Awaywith Murder?
That was kind of like athriller drama.
Jess (18:05):
I couldn't follow that one .
Niq (18:08):
Because it was like people were getting murdered.
You were like trying to figureit out.
Jess (18:11):
Yeah, I know, but I just didn't watch it.
I keep getting stuck on thefirst season with that one.
A do-over.
You want to see a do-over?
I'm not not a best like of athriller.
Like, I would like to see adifferent thriller from her.
That one, yeah.
How to Get Away with WorkbookMurder?
I couldn't, I just couldn't getinto that one.
Niq (18:31):
I feel like you know what my answer is going to be.
Jess (18:33):
What.
Niq (18:34):
Oh, I don't.
Actually I want to see her dosomething in the sci-fi realm.
Jess (18:39):
Oh, okay, that makes sense because she's done plenty of
historical fiction, right.
Niq (18:47):
Like.
I wonder what her take on sci-fiWould be, because you know
sci-fi is so vast, so it's likewhat would she be interested-fi
would be what like what?
Because you know sci-fi is sovast.
So it's like what would she beinterested in?
Would it be aliens?
Would it be like robots andtechnology?
Like what kind of story wouldshe tell?
What kind of lessons would shetry to teach us?
I would be really curious onwhat Shonda Rhimes sci-fi would
(19:13):
look like.
Okay, I would be really curiouson what Shonda Rhimes sci-fi
would look like.
Jess (19:16):
Okay, I would watch it it's not too much that she's
done that I wouldn't watch,except for the medical shows,
but that's just because myfeelings about medical shows you
don't watch any other thanScrubs, right?
Niq (19:28):
yeah, you didn't like Private Practice.
It's Medicine Night, oh.
Jess (19:36):
I worked in hospitals for a long time.
I did not.
You know, I believe in theseparation of work and home,
even when I work from home.
So when I get off I don't wantto do nothing that has to do
with anything like work.
So that's why scrubs was funny.
So I could do scrubs, but Icould not come home from a
hospital see what I saw, even inpassing, because I wasn't
(19:57):
medical.
Um, see what I saw even inpassing and then watch gray's
anatomy, you know what I mean.
It would feel like I didn'tleave right, that was like me.
Niq (20:08):
When I like, when I was working in hospitality, I didn't
want to watch hotel shows.
Jess (20:12):
Right, so like you're not coming home and watching David
Bach show, right.
Niq (20:16):
Right, because, like I did that all day, right, and like I
can watch the White Lotus nowbecause I'm so far removed from
it, like I've been out of thatindustry for so long, right, but
I still have strong feelings.
Jess (20:29):
You still have strong feelings.
So that's the same thing,feelings.
So now it's been at least threeyears, maybe four, since I've
been in the hospital.
So I'm like maybe I could tryagain.
But when Graves was out I waslike no, I am not going home,
you know, I just want somebodyto get their back sewn up in
real life.
I don't want to go home andwatch it on TV.
Niq (20:51):
One of the things that I feel like I like about this show
and I would love to see more issmart and funny TV.
I think that people they try tomake smart, funny TV and a lot
of times it's either one or theother or it's neither.
Jess (21:12):
You know, I don't know times, it's either one or the
other or it's neither you know,I don't know that it's hard,
because I feel like we used toget it a lot and then it was
just kind of a lull.
Niq (21:23):
I don't know, like when you think of a smart, funny TV show
, what do you think of?
Jess (21:31):
A show I've never watched was the Office.
I would assume, like I thinkpeople.
Niq (21:36):
I don't think it's smart because, like it's not, there's
a lot of like ridiculouscharacters in there.
It's it's a just like it's awell written show.
Like it's a great show Is theOffice.
Jess (21:52):
No, I never seen the Office.
Niq (21:52):
It's a great show.
Jess (21:54):
Are you guys in the office ?
Niq (21:56):
No, I'm never in the office .
It's a great show.
I don't know.
I wouldn't necessarily think ofit as super smart, okay.
I don't know Everybody loved itso I assumed.
Yeah, no, because it's a greatshow.
But what makes the show sogreat are, honestly, the
characters and theirrelationships.
You know what I mean.
It's a great because it's agreat show, but I mean what
makes the show so great are,honestly, like, the characters
(22:16):
and their relationships.
You know what I mean.
Like there's a like a bunch oflike oddballs and then one
person who swears that he's likethe straight man and you know
around a bunch of oddballs but,like sir, to do the things that
you do you're also an oddballtoo and how they interact like
in like.
So they work for a papercompany, which is like one of
the most mundane jobs that youcould think of.
(22:37):
You know what I mean.
So you just kind of see, liketheir shenanigans.
You should really watch theOffice.
Jess (22:43):
I don't think I missed the moment with that one.
Niq (22:47):
No, people are literally still watching it today over and
over again.
Ask me how I know okay people,I also watch Parks and Rec still
watching it today over and overagain.
Ask me how I know Okay People,I also watch Parks and Rec.
Jess (22:58):
I tried Parks and Rec recently.
Niq (23:02):
How about a few episodes?
I love Leslie, I love LeslieKnope, I love the optimism.
It's the same way like thething that I love about like
Cordelia is like how strong andconfident she is.
(23:24):
Like that's how I feel aboutlike Leslie Knope's optimism.
People will say like try tolike bring the truth, or like
you can't do this and she's likeI can, I just can.
Like you can't do this andshe's like, eh, I can, I just
can.
Like she doesn't doubt herself.
I just think that more womenneed to be confident.
But also I would not considerthat show a smart, funny show
either okay, so I think I waswatching it more for Rhea.
Jess (23:47):
Rhea's character, which I don't know the name and I'm
sorry it's a character oh, isRhea Donna.
Niq (23:55):
is she the black woman Donna?
And I'm sorry, it's a character.
Oh, is Rhea Donna?
Is she the black woman Donna?
Okay, because I'm likeliterally going through my head
and I'm like who on the show isRhea?
Jess (24:01):
Yeah, sometimes I know the character name, sometimes I
know their real name.
Niq (24:05):
Donna is one of the best characters ever and it's for the
same reason that I loveCordelia Cup.
Like Donna has been on thatshow like all the time you've
never seen like a fat joke abouther, like they.
Like she is like a characterwho is like on point, very
(24:26):
confident, very about likeluxury, unapologetic, like how
she lives her life, like I, Ilove that.
But she's not, once again,she's not like a nasty
personality or anything likethat.
She's like cool, calm, she'schill, but she's also like the
most fabulous person there.
You know like where she was.
(24:50):
You say what I was trying toget to the episode.
I think I did.
Where she was with the SouthAmerican dignitaries.
You said what I was trying toget to the episode.
Jess (24:54):
I think I did where she was with the South American
dignitaries, because I saw it onTikTok, and so then I'm like I
need to see this whole episode.
Niq (25:00):
Oh yeah, they're like, well , yes, I choose the Black woman.
And then they're like is therea book?
If not, I also choose the Blackwoman.
Yes, yeah, yes, yeah, I enjoyed, I enjoyed her character on
Parks and Rec.
But I love Parks and Recbecause I also like April's
character, like the really dry,and I also love.
(25:22):
I love that show.
Jess (25:23):
I'm sorry because I'm just like, because you like, oh, you
watched it for Aziz and sorry,and I'm like he's like one of my
least favorite characters well,like they were the two that I
was familiar with outsidebecause you know, they had the
treat yourself thing, which I'veonly seen because I hadn't
watched the show.
I'd always seen clips of peopleposting the treat yourself, and
then I had seen a clip of theSouth American Dignitaries
(25:46):
episode which was like.
Niq (25:48):
Then I was like, okay, let me go watch do you know what
famous meme also comes from thatshow, which one don't be
suspicious, don't don't be.
I didn't know that was fromthat show.
Yes, that also comes like mostpeople don't know that, but yeah
, that also comes from ParkerReck.
Parker Reck is awesome so letme ask you, so we both agree
(26:09):
that like Uzo is like the bomb,right?
Do you feel like Hollywoodunderstands her gifts and are
utilizing them like to the bestof their ability?
Jess (26:20):
Hollywood never understands anyone's gifts who
are not like this, like veryspecific type of person.
So absolutely not.
But I think she understands hergifts and she utilizes them to
the best of her ability becauseyou know she continues to see
her, we continue to see herdifferent opportunities that
like, really.
But I think she understands hergifts and she uses them to the
best of her ability Because youknow she continued to see her,
we continue to see her differentopportunities that, like,
really push boundaries or well,push boundaries for us.
(26:41):
But I think, like she's not, Ithink as a person, she's not
afraid, she uses her gifts welland she's going to continue to
go after things that peoplemight not see her in otherwise
people might not see her inotherwise.
Niq (26:53):
So if you could create a story, or if you can think of a
story that you would love to seeher in, what would it be?
I?
Jess (27:02):
would love to see her in anything.
She's also one of those peoplethat if she's on it, I'm going
to watch it.
But let me see who would I liketo see her go next?
Is it weird to say a rom-com?
Niq (27:15):
No, not at all.
Jess (27:17):
Yeah, yeah, I want her to be the romantic lead in
something.
Niq (27:22):
I would love that.
I would love something likethat where she's the romantic
lead, but also where she's thegovernor, and also because I
love when she gets to flex herintelligence and her leadership.
So I would love to see a moviewhere she's the governor and she
falls in love, but don't makeher fall in love with the
(27:43):
groundskeeper.
I want to see like a moviewhere she's like the governor
and she falls in love, but don'tmake her fall in love with the
groundskeeper, like I want tosee like a tech billionaire,
like whining and dining her asshe like unpacks, like her
issues and what it's like to belike powerful and figure out how
to like live and work withsomeone else who's also powerful
(28:05):
.
I hate when they makesuccessful Black women date down
.
I hate that Me too.
So, yeah, please don't have herfall in love with the janitor.
Jess (28:18):
Yeah, I'm seeing her in anything.
We haven't seen her in sci-fieither.
No, not that I can remember.
Niq (28:32):
No, I would definitely watch her as, like, the head of
a starship or a like scientisttrying to like find the cure of
a virus that is ravaging theEarth.
I would watch it.
Jess (28:48):
Yeah, dystopian flick maybe.
Ooh, you know what?
Niq (28:53):
would be interesting.
They do a dystopic movie andshe's the head of the dystopic
government.
Jess (28:59):
Right, but we also need her as a villain, because I've
never seen her as a villain.
Niq (29:04):
You know what that would be good.
She would kill a role as avillain role.
Jess (29:10):
Even like Crazy Eyes.
Even though it was so a good,it was an interesting role.
She wasn't the villain.
Niq (29:15):
No, she wasn't.
You know what.
I would love to see her in theWestern.
Jess (29:18):
But I also think that Piper was the villain in that
show.
But that's just my personalopinion.
Niq (29:24):
I totally agree she was.
I feel like that show was likeoh my God, I'm too good for this
, but yet you did a crime, youdid the crimes, so you're not,
you're not too good, you belonghere, just like a little meth
girl.
She was the least interestingcharacter.
But I would love to see Uzo ina western.
(29:46):
Oh okay, that's reallydifferent.
What makes you say western?
Because I feel like we needmore black westerns, but like so
, for example, I would love tosee her in like a western
version of like Macbeth orsomething like that.
Jess (30:06):
Okay, that's really specific.
Niq (30:08):
Like I want to see like a Western, but like with another
layer to it, like a Westernversion of Hamlet or Othello,
you know what I mean, somethingwhere you have to have a version
of Othello, you know I mean, ifshe plays Othello, no, still
We've plays Othello, no, stillWe've never felt all enough.
But I just want to see, like Iwant to see a role that would be
(30:31):
challenging for anybody BecauseI know she would body it.
Yeah, agreed.
Also, maybe it's Cowboy Carter,but I just would love to see,
like I don't know, I just likeI'm like I want to see when
westerns are done, well, I likethem.
(30:51):
I don't like traditionalwesterns, but I like movies
because I love period pieces so.
I love movies that are set indifferent time periods.
I love movies with heavycostuming.
You know what I mean.
But I think a lot of times,because I love historical
fiction, like I need that littleextra, like go, if you're going
(31:16):
back in time, like all of asudden we got aliens, all of a
sudden we have zombies, orsociety is completely flipped
and now we're doing this and nowwe're doing that.
So that's what I'm like.
I would love to see her in awestern because I would love for
her to be able to like do thatthe physicality of learning how
to shoot a gun and like ridinghorses.
(31:36):
Like I would love for her tochallenge herself, to like learn
those things and portray thosethings on screen.
But also because I know thatshe's such a great actor, I want
a meaty, challenging story thatshe can really pour herself
into.
That's why I'm like oh yes,it's a western, but what if it's
(31:57):
a story of Macbeth and she'splaying Macbeth, the Macbeth
person, who's like trying to getpower, and you know what I mean
, and it's set in the old west?
You told me that wouldn't hit,it would be interesting.
I would watch it.
You know like it would be like.
I just think that, like there'sthere's so many stories that
(32:20):
are yet to be told, specificallyour community, like we need to
be able to tell more stories andwe need to be free to do more
things like how I saw Was itViola Davis?
I think it was Viola Davis andshe was talking about in college
(32:42):
how you play that.
You know you have to play allof these quote, unquote, like
white roles, like you're doingShakespeare.
You're doing all of these.
Like you know.
You have to be able to play anycharacter.
You know the majority of thecharacters that you're playing
are white, but then when youleave and you go to professional
(33:04):
work, you're immediatelypigeonholed into Black
characters only, and so what Iwant is for her, for Viola, for
Kerry Washington, for all ofthese Black actors and actresses
(33:24):
who are amazing, you know, tobe able to play like these
diverse roles that are likeoutside of their blackness, but
they can bring their blacknessto it, because how can we not,
you know, but I want them tojust be able to do things
outside of their blackness andnot be pigeonholed.
(33:47):
So, yes, I want to see her do aWestern version.
Thank you, guys, so much forjoining us.
Thank you.
We hope you enjoyed theconversation and we will see you
on the next episode.
The next episode Bye.
Hi guys, and welcome to next episode with Nick and Jess.
And today we're discussing theNetflix hit, the Residence.
Yes, so I'm really excitedabout this show because I felt
like it was very, very charming,very cute and even though it's
(00:21):
about a murder, like emotionally, like the stakes stakes were
low for me.
I don't know how you felt aboutthat yeah, absolutely it felt.
Jess (00:28):
It felt it was more of like a comedy.
It was funny, I didn't.
Niq (00:31):
Yeah, murder was fine right , even though, like, the
characters were very good, veryendearing, like even the murder
victim, because you, as like theshow goes on, you get to know
more and more about the murdervictim, like I.
It's not that goes on, you getto know more and more about the
murder victim, like I.
Jess (00:46):
It's not that I did not make an emotional connection
with a lot of the characters,because I did, but at the same
time, like it was I, it led withcomedy and I mean, if you think
about it like it starts withthe murder and then you learn
about AB, who's the guy who'smurdered, so like you don't have
a chance to connect with himuntil after he's already dead.
Niq (01:08):
You know?
Right, that's very true, that'svery true.
Now, I don't know if you know.
So AB Winter, who's the personwho was murdered, was played by
Giancarlo Esposito.
Did you know that he was notthe original person who was
supposed to play that part?
Jess (01:23):
I did, I did, but that guy passed away.
Niq (01:27):
Yes.
Jess (01:27):
Do you know who he?
Niq (01:28):
was Andrew Brower.
Jess (01:29):
The guy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Niq (01:32):
Yes, and I was like he would have been so good.
Jess (01:36):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he would have been better than he went
to.
Niq (01:41):
Yeah, that was really, really sad.
They had literally startedfilming and everything like he
died during production of theshow.
So giancarlo stepped in and hewas talking about how emotional
it was because he that was likea friend of his.
Oh wow, I didn't know.
They were friends, yeah.
And so he ended up having tostep in and I was like, oh my
(02:03):
goodness, watching the show, Iwas trying to picture him in the
role of what he would havebought.
Jess (02:15):
Yeah, he done a little about some comedy to it as well.
He has the ability to appearlike a straight man, but still
be funny.
Niq (02:22):
Yes, he is the funniest straight man I I feel like I
love it because he's like, it'slike he'll say the most
ridiculous thing with, like, thestraightest face in the
sternest voice and I love it Ido I love it so okay, my first
question do you think this showwas meant to be like a one-off?
(02:45):
I do?
Jess (02:47):
I do Because I can't see where they would go next season,
with it being focused on theWhite House and it being called
the Residence.
So I do think it's meant tokind of be a one-off.
So is it considered a show or alimited series?
Because that's what I was.
I wasn't sure about that.
Niq (03:03):
I don't think it was listed as a limited series, because
that's what I was.
I wasn't sure about that.
I don't think it was listed asa limited series.
But I also feel like a lot ofAmerican shows are not
necessarily listed as limitedseries.
There's just one of them andthat's just it, because I think
secretly there, if people werewilling to pay, they will make
anything a sequel.
We love a sequel in America.
Jess (03:24):
We do, we do.
So I think it was meant to be aone-off, but I feel like I can
see where it would go.
I would love another murdermystery every season, so
Cordelia Cup maybe being thesame and maybe keeping the
police chief that she's close to, but the rest of the cast
completely changing every season, because it's a different
murder mystery and I would bedown for that ride.
Niq (03:45):
But I cast completely changing every season because
it's a different murder mysteryand I would be down for that
ride, but I don't know thatthat's what they plan to do.
I don't know.
I haven't heard anything either, but I'm like, okay, it is
called the Residence, so if it'sgoing to be White House
centered and a mystery, I'm likemaybe something could get
stolen next year other mysteriesinstead of just murder or
(04:08):
someone could be kidnapped, Idon't know.
One of the things that the firstseason had was a lot of
information about the WhiteHouse and the history of the
White House, and like that Ifeel like added a layer to the
show, because it really kind ofgave you a glimpse Like people
don't know a lot of about theback, like the background of the
(04:32):
White House and how itfunctions and how it runs, and
it just gave kind of it shined alight on the people who are
working so hard and don't get alot of credit, so that was
beautiful, but also it's like,okay, they did that.
What happens next season?
Jess (04:48):
Yeah, and that's the thing .
But I think the White House isso old, there's a lot of room
for history, for the history ofit, so I think that they can
still even go deeper, ordifferent seasons, depending on.
The mystery touches ondifferent parts of the history.
It burned down at one point.
You know it was built byenslaved people, like.
(05:11):
There's a lot of stuff that youcould go into as far as the
history goes, but I do againalso like the shine and the
light on the staff, that kind ofkeep it going, keep it running,
and I mean you can go like sothe it's the residence, so like
it focused on the part that theylive in, but then you also have
the West Wing, like the partwhere they actually run.
you know the country from, sothere's like that part and that
(05:33):
history and that's what'shappened in that office, that
kind of stuff, and then thatwould also be a different staff.
Niq (05:40):
Would it be pushing it too far if they, like, did a season
at Camp David or where the vicepresident lives, like, is that
pushing it too far?
No, Heck.
Jess (05:55):
For me.
Cordelia Cup is the show, so wecan do this season at the White
House, we can do the next oneat the Governor's Mansion, I
don't care.
You know what I mean, rightWherever, while I get it, it
starts with the White House andthat's kind of why it's called
the residence.
The governor's mansion also isgoing to have a staff.
It's going to have a history,depending on what she can travel
(06:15):
, because I feel like he calledher in and contracted her.
She can really go anywhere inthe country.
She's not limited to this place.
There's a lot of places thatwould have a similar and as
important feel that we can getinto the background in Austria.
Like I said, I like her, soI'll go with you on that ride.
Niq (06:38):
This is a Shonda Rhimes production.
This is really outside of whatwe expect from Shonda Rhimes.
Do you agree with that?
I do.
I do agree with that.
I like it.
I did.
I loved it because the thingabout it is is Shonda Rhimes,
she loves drama, she lovesinterracial romance, she loves
(07:00):
like, like, a lot of like tear,dirt, jerky, strong, emotional
stories like you know, privatepractice, gray's anatomy, how to
get away with murder, evenbridgerton, which is, you know,
a show that she produces, it'sit.
There's a lot of like emotion,there's a lot of romance.
You know, there's a lot ofstakes are very high in those
(07:23):
shows.
This show was so fun.
Yeah, yeah, right, and I'm like, oh, you know, I want to see
more low stakes shows fromshonda rhimes because she, she's
doing a low stakes show well.
Yeah, it's got the quality ofher other shows it does.
(07:45):
But like, one of the thingsthat made me stop watching
Grey's Anatomy is because theywould spend 45 minutes making me
fall in love with the characterthat they were going to kill
off in a tragic way in the last15 minutes of the show.
Yes, and so for this show tohave a murder in it and I not be
triggered by it.
(08:05):
I loved it.
Jess (08:07):
Well, and that's the thing , I think that's also the
starting with the murder.
So that's out the way wealready know.
That's why we're here andversus, like you know, warming
up to the character that's goingto go away.
Niq (08:16):
Yeah.
So also I think, casting theydid an excellent job, excellent,
excellent, absolutely thinkcasting they did an excellent
job.
Jess (08:22):
Excellent, excellent, absolutely.
Niq (08:28):
So Cordelia Cup is being portrayed by Uzo Aduba.
Thank you, you know I will jackup a name and I literally be
calling her Uzo, like we'refriends.
I don't know, maybe she's mycousin.
I've loved her and admired herFor a long time.
(08:49):
She's a phenomenal actor and Iloved her in this show Because
normally she's doing a lot.
She was in Orange is the NewBlack and she basically played
somebody who was psychotic.
Usually she plays a hugepersonality and she played
(09:14):
someone with a big personalityin this show, but the way that
she played it, it was like so itwas very simplified, it was
like I loved her personality.
It is what it is.
Yeah, you know, here's thething like I'm the best
detective, right?
Not arguing that fact with you,that's just a fact.
Jess (09:37):
Right.
Niq (09:38):
I also love birds.
And I'm going to take thisopportunity to go birding at the
White House.
Like, yes, there's aninvestigation going on, but I'm
birding and I'm like goingthrough things in my head, I'm
making connections.
Like she was unapologetic, likeeven like down to like the food
(09:58):
that she was eating and like Ithink his name was edwin was
getting offended like she.
She does not apologize for whoshe is and I love seeing a black
woman in that role.
she's not like she's not beinglike a typical stereotypical
black bee, how they love toportray us.
She's just strong, confidentand intelligent and
(10:21):
unapologetically herself, and Ifeel like more of us need to be
that person.
Jess (10:27):
I agree, I do like.
One of the things that you knowwe kind of talked before is
like I like how she interactedwith white people, white men who
tried to intimidate her and shejust would not allow it in any
state.
But I feel like a good like Iwas bitching to say all the
Black characters did in this.
You know what I mean.
There wasn't that sort ofkowtowing or stepping down to
them when they tried tointimidate, when they tried to
(10:51):
force themselves in certainplaces and situations or make
themselves seem more powerfulthan they were.
No one backed down, no onestepped aside.
They stood their ground, nomatter what their position was,
and I like that.
Niq (11:03):
You know what is interesting this show, if you
think about it, was almost raceblind.
There were a lot of Blackcharacters in this show, but the
show was not about Blackness atall.
Like it, like there was, it wasalmost as if the show was
race-blonde Like I, first of all, I I love that because just
(11:26):
because there's Black people init doesn't make it a Black show.
You know what I mean.
It's just showing that probably, like, like in real life, a lot
of the people who are doingthat work are Black, you know
what I mean, and they talk abouttheir jobs with such reverence.
They do Like the lady who wastalking about how she worked at
(11:51):
Waffle House.
Yeah, and she was able to workat the White House and she
really wanted to work at theWhite House.
And how they talk about thehistory and how they talk about
the protocol and how much theycare about the house and keeping
the traditions alive.
They have a reverence for whatthey do and, like they said,
it's not based on politics, it'snot you know what I mean.
(12:12):
It was just kind of beautiful.
The cast was like.
I felt like it was likereasonably a reasonably diverse
cast, but it and they didn'thave like those snarky comments
or those jokes about people'srace and stuff like that like
you know what I'm saying, likeit, I really enjoyed that.
(12:35):
I did.
Yeah, which is interestingbecause, you know, I just
recently saw sinners and sinnerslike, what makes that so great
is how heavily the blackness isbeing focused on.
But it's a different movietrying to do a different thing.
Jess (12:53):
Yeah, because because I think there's room for both, and
that's always like you know.
Yeah, because I think there'sroom for both, and that's always
like.
You know what I mean.
I think the issue is not thatone should exist and one
shouldn't, it's just that theyboth have a right to exist.
Niq (13:05):
Yes, and more often they don't.
You know what I mean.
I don't like it when theypigeonhole a show, a Black show,
just because it has a Blacklead.
You know what I mean.
But at the same time, I dothink that there are shows that
are Black-centered and in Blackculture and that's great, that
(13:31):
does need to happen and thatdoes need to be celebrated.
But there just needs to be abalance.
But yes, I thought this like Ienjoyed it.
Jess (13:40):
On that note, I feel like there's also a balance in the
cast with that.
Like you get to see differentkinds of Black people because
you know, like the one that youmentioned, the one who went from
the Waffle House to the WhiteHouse she's a very interested in
personality, but you also getto see.
You get to see her, you get tosee AB's personality Uzo I'm
sorry, cordelia, you know what Imean Like there's just there's
(14:02):
such a variety of the portrayalsthat I appreciate as well.
Niq (14:05):
Yes, yeah, I agree, but I think that they I'm like they,
honestly they really did a goodjob with all of the casting.
Everybody was very like,unquestionable, like I I didn't
say, oh, you know it was.
There was not one person whowas lacking, like the
performances were there, thecasting made sense.
I thought that they, like thecast, did a really good job of
(14:27):
interacting in a way like so,workplaces are tough, right, and
at its heart, this is kind oflike a workplace comedy.
You know, like they're all ofthese like like how they talk
about when they talk about theissues, because they're trying
to find out who murdered ab.
So they're like you're learningabout the staff members and
(14:49):
different people who work thereand you're learning about their
relationships with ab and alsowith each other, and so it's
like as much as the staff loveseach other.
You know, when you worktogether for a long time, you
have like these long-standing,like beefs.
You have these like differentsituations and I think that they
(15:09):
did a really good job of likeweaving everything together,
like where it felt very, verylike realistic and it made sense
, like because, like the show islike, in a way, it's nonsense
and it's fun and it's likefantastical a little bit, yeah,
(15:31):
but they weaved a lot of genuinethings into it you know that,
that that reverence, thattradition, that history and how
complicated relationships can be, you know, and how like you
want to do a great job.
What happens when someone ishindering you from even when
(15:53):
you're working your hardest, andhow is that this frustrated and
then having to deal with thedifferent administrations coming
in and doing things their way.
When the house is like a river,like it flows you know what I
mean and then they each newadministration come in and it's
like a dam, you know.
They come in and they buildover.
So then the like the river hasto adjust how it flows, but at
(16:15):
the same time trying to stillmove forward in that same
direction.
Jess (16:20):
Yeah, so it was beautiful it was and the house is a
character.
Yeah, I love that.
Niq (16:27):
I honestly like it made.
I think, like right now, in thepolitical climate and with all
of the craziness going on, likeit gave me like a lot of respect
for like the White House itselfyeah, the actual house the
actual house, the actual history, the actual traditions and all
(16:49):
of the people who are workingnight and day to make that
happen.
Right.
It's the way that like Hamiltonredeemed Alexander Hamilton and
all of the people who areworking night and day to make
that happen.
Right.
It's the way that like Hamiltonredeemed Alexander Hamilton and
all of a sudden made him likesomebody that we all, for some
reason, love and respect, aslong as we don't look too hard.
You know, I feel like it didthe same thing, because I never,
(17:09):
really I think I was extremelyindifferent when it came to the
White House, extremelyindifferent, and I was like you
know what, maybe in eight years,maybe I'll take a tour maybe
you know, anyway, so I'm sorry.
(17:31):
So, with this show being so, sogreat, what would you like to
see Shonda tackle next?
That's like outside of herwheelhouse that's a good
question.
Jess (17:45):
What would I like to see Shonda Rimes do?
I don't know.
She's done so much already.
She's done a lot of medicalshows.
This is now a mystery.
Have we gotten a thriller fromher?
I don't know.
She's done so much already.
She's done a lot of medicalshows.
This is now a mystery.
Niq (17:58):
Have we gotten a thriller from her?
What about how to Get Out Awaywith Murder?
That was kind of like athriller drama.
Jess (18:05):
I couldn't follow that one .
Niq (18:08):
Because it was like people were getting murdered.
You were like trying to figureit out.
Jess (18:11):
Yeah, I know, but I just didn't watch it.
I keep getting stuck on thefirst season with that one.
A do-over.
You want to see a do-over?
I'm not not a best like of athriller.
Like, I would like to see adifferent thriller from her.
That one, yeah.
How to Get Away with WorkbookMurder?
I couldn't, I just couldn't getinto that one.
Niq (18:31):
I feel like you know what my answer is going to be.
Jess (18:33):
What.
Niq (18:34):
Oh, I don't.
Actually I want to see her dosomething in the sci-fi realm.
Jess (18:39):
Oh, okay, that makes sense because she's done plenty of
historical fiction, right.
Niq (18:47):
Like.
I wonder what her take on sci-fiWould be, because you know
sci-fi is so vast, so it's likewhat would she be interested-fi
would be what like what?
Because you know sci-fi is sovast.
So it's like what would she beinterested in?
Would it be aliens?
Would it be like robots andtechnology?
Like what kind of story wouldshe tell?
What kind of lessons would shetry to teach us?
I would be really curious onwhat Shonda Rhimes sci-fi would
(19:13):
look like.
Okay, I would be really curiouson what Shonda Rhimes sci-fi
would look like.
Jess (19:16):
Okay, I would watch it it's not too much that she's
done that I wouldn't watch,except for the medical shows,
but that's just because myfeelings about medical shows you
don't watch any other thanScrubs, right?
Niq (19:28):
yeah, you didn't like Private Practice.
It's Medicine Night, oh.
Jess (19:36):
I worked in hospitals for a long time.
I did not.
You know, I believe in theseparation of work and home,
even when I work from home.
So when I get off I don't wantto do nothing that has to do
with anything like work.
So that's why scrubs was funny.
So I could do scrubs, but Icould not come home from a
hospital see what I saw, even inpassing, because I wasn't
(19:57):
medical.
Um, see what I saw even inpassing and then watch gray's
anatomy, you know what I mean.
It would feel like I didn'tleave right, that was like me.
Niq (20:08):
When I like, when I was working in hospitality, I didn't
want to watch hotel shows.
Jess (20:12):
Right, so like you're not coming home and watching David
Bach show, right.
Niq (20:16):
Right, because, like I did that all day, right, and like I
can watch the White Lotus nowbecause I'm so far removed from
it, like I've been out of thatindustry for so long, right, but
I still have strong feelings.
Jess (20:29):
You still have strong feelings.
So that's the same thing,feelings.
So now it's been at least threeyears, maybe four, since I've
been in the hospital.
So I'm like maybe I could tryagain.
But when Graves was out I waslike no, I am not going home,
you know, I just want somebodyto get their back sewn up in
real life.
I don't want to go home andwatch it on TV.
Niq (20:51):
One of the things that I feel like I like about this show
and I would love to see more issmart and funny TV.
I think that people they try tomake smart, funny TV and a lot
of times it's either one or theother or it's neither.
Jess (21:12):
You know, I don't know times, it's either one or the
other or it's neither you know,I don't know that it's hard,
because I feel like we used toget it a lot and then it was
just kind of a lull.
Niq (21:23):
I don't know, like when you think of a smart, funny TV show
, what do you think of?
Jess (21:31):
A show I've never watched was the Office.
I would assume, like I thinkpeople.
Niq (21:36):
I don't think it's smart because, like it's not, there's
a lot of like ridiculouscharacters in there.
It's it's a just like it's awell written show.
Like it's a great show Is theOffice.
Jess (21:52):
No, I never seen the Office.
Niq (21:52):
It's a great show.
Jess (21:54):
Are you guys in the office ?
Niq (21:56):
No, I'm never in the office .
It's a great show.
I don't know.
I wouldn't necessarily think ofit as super smart, okay.
I don't know Everybody loved itso I assumed.
Yeah, no, because it's a greatshow.
But what makes the show sogreat are, honestly, the
characters and theirrelationships.
You know what I mean.
It's a great because it's agreat show, but I mean what
makes the show so great are,honestly, like, the characters
(22:16):
and their relationships.
You know what I mean.
Like there's a like a bunch oflike oddballs and then one
person who swears that he's likethe straight man and you know
around a bunch of oddballs but,like sir, to do the things that
you do you're also an oddballtoo and how they interact like
in like.
So they work for a papercompany, which is like one of
the most mundane jobs that youcould think of.
(22:37):
You know what I mean.
So you just kind of see, liketheir shenanigans.
You should really watch theOffice.
Jess (22:43):
I don't think I missed the moment with that one.
Niq (22:47):
No, people are literally still watching it today over and
over again.
Ask me how I know okay people,I also watch Parks and Rec still
watching it today over and overagain.
Ask me how I know Okay People,I also watch Parks and Rec.
Jess (22:58):
I tried Parks and Rec recently.
Niq (23:02):
How about a few episodes?
I love Leslie, I love LeslieKnope, I love the optimism.
It's the same way like thething that I love about like
Cordelia is like how strong andconfident she is.
(23:24):
Like that's how I feel aboutlike Leslie Knope's optimism.
People will say like try tolike bring the truth, or like
you can't do this and she's likeI can, I just can.
Like you can't do this andshe's like, eh, I can, I just
can.
Like she doesn't doubt herself.
I just think that more womenneed to be confident.
But also I would not considerthat show a smart, funny show
either okay, so I think I waswatching it more for Rhea.
Jess (23:47):
Rhea's character, which I don't know the name and I'm
sorry it's a character oh, isRhea Donna.
Niq (23:55):
is she the black woman Donna?
And I'm sorry, it's a character.
Oh, is Rhea Donna?
Is she the black woman Donna?
Okay, because I'm likeliterally going through my head
and I'm like who on the show isRhea?
Jess (24:01):
Yeah, sometimes I know the character name, sometimes I
know their real name.
Niq (24:05):
Donna is one of the best characters ever and it's for the
same reason that I loveCordelia Cup.
Like Donna has been on thatshow like all the time you've
never seen like a fat joke abouther, like they.
Like she is like a characterwho is like on point, very
(24:26):
confident, very about likeluxury, unapologetic, like how
she lives her life, like I, Ilove that.
But she's not, once again,she's not like a nasty
personality or anything likethat.
She's like cool, calm, she'schill, but she's also like the
most fabulous person there.
You know like where she was.
(24:50):
You say what I was trying toget to the episode.
I think I did.
Where she was with the SouthAmerican dignitaries.
You said what I was trying toget to the episode.
Jess (24:54):
I think I did where she was with the South American
dignitaries, because I saw it onTikTok, and so then I'm like I
need to see this whole episode.
Niq (25:00):
Oh yeah, they're like, well , yes, I choose the Black woman.
And then they're like is therea book?
If not, I also choose the Blackwoman.
Yes, yeah, yes, yeah, I enjoyed, I enjoyed her character on
Parks and Rec.
But I love Parks and Recbecause I also like April's
character, like the really dry,and I also love.
(25:22):
I love that show.
Jess (25:23):
I'm sorry because I'm just like, because you like, oh, you
watched it for Aziz and sorry,and I'm like he's like one of my
least favorite characters well,like they were the two that I
was familiar with outsidebecause you know, they had the
treat yourself thing, which I'veonly seen because I hadn't
watched the show.
I'd always seen clips of peopleposting the treat yourself, and
then I had seen a clip of theSouth American Dignitaries
(25:46):
episode which was like.
Niq (25:48):
Then I was like, okay, let me go watch do you know what
famous meme also comes from thatshow, which one don't be
suspicious, don't don't be.
I didn't know that was fromthat show.
Yes, that also comes like mostpeople don't know that, but yeah
, that also comes from ParkerReck.
Parker Reck is awesome so letme ask you, so we both agree
(26:09):
that like Uzo is like the bomb,right?
Do you feel like Hollywoodunderstands her gifts and are
utilizing them like to the bestof their ability?
Jess (26:20):
Hollywood never understands anyone's gifts who
are not like this, like veryspecific type of person.
So absolutely not.
But I think she understands hergifts and she utilizes them to
the best of her ability becauseyou know she continues to see
her, we continue to see herdifferent opportunities that
like, really.
But I think she understands hergifts and she uses them to the
best of her ability Because youknow she continued to see her,
we continue to see her differentopportunities that, like,
really push boundaries or well,push boundaries for us.
(26:41):
But I think, like she's not, Ithink as a person, she's not
afraid, she uses her gifts welland she's going to continue to
go after things that peoplemight not see her in otherwise
people might not see her inotherwise.
Niq (26:53):
So if you could create a story, or if you can think of a
story that you would love to seeher in, what would it be?
I?
Jess (27:02):
would love to see her in anything.
She's also one of those peoplethat if she's on it, I'm going
to watch it.
But let me see who would I liketo see her go next?
Is it weird to say a rom-com?
Niq (27:15):
No, not at all.
Jess (27:17):
Yeah, yeah, I want her to be the romantic lead in
something.
Niq (27:22):
I would love that.
I would love something likethat where she's the romantic
lead, but also where she's thegovernor, and also because I
love when she gets to flex herintelligence and her leadership.
So I would love to see a moviewhere she's the governor and she
falls in love, but don't makeher fall in love with the
(27:43):
groundskeeper.
I want to see like a moviewhere she's like the governor
and she falls in love, but don'tmake her fall in love with the
groundskeeper, like I want tosee like a tech billionaire,
like whining and dining her asshe like unpacks, like her
issues and what it's like to belike powerful and figure out how
to like live and work withsomeone else who's also powerful
(28:05):
.
I hate when they makesuccessful Black women date down
.
I hate that Me too.
So, yeah, please don't have herfall in love with the janitor.
Jess (28:18):
Yeah, I'm seeing her in anything.
We haven't seen her in sci-fieither.
No, not that I can remember.
Niq (28:32):
No, I would definitely watch her as, like, the head of
a starship or a like scientisttrying to like find the cure of
a virus that is ravaging theEarth.
I would watch it.
Jess (28:48):
Yeah, dystopian flick maybe.
Ooh, you know what?
Niq (28:53):
would be interesting.
They do a dystopic movie andshe's the head of the dystopic
government.
Jess (28:59):
Right, but we also need her as a villain, because I've
never seen her as a villain.
Niq (29:04):
You know what that would be good.
She would kill a role as avillain role.
Jess (29:10):
Even like Crazy Eyes.
Even though it was so a good,it was an interesting role.
She wasn't the villain.
Niq (29:15):
No, she wasn't.
You know what.
I would love to see her in theWestern.
Jess (29:18):
But I also think that Piper was the villain in that
show.
But that's just my personalopinion.
Niq (29:24):
I totally agree she was.
I feel like that show was likeoh my God, I'm too good for this
, but yet you did a crime, youdid the crimes, so you're not,
you're not too good, you belonghere, just like a little meth
girl.
She was the least interestingcharacter.
But I would love to see Uzo ina western.
(29:46):
Oh okay, that's reallydifferent.
What makes you say western?
Because I feel like we needmore black westerns, but like so
, for example, I would love tosee her in like a western
version of like Macbeth orsomething like that.
Jess (30:06):
Okay, that's really specific.
Niq (30:08):
Like I want to see like a Western, but like with another
layer to it, like a Westernversion of Hamlet or Othello,
you know what I mean, somethingwhere you have to have a version
of Othello, you know I mean, ifshe plays Othello, no, still
We've plays Othello, no, stillWe've never felt all enough.
But I just want to see, like Iwant to see a role that would be
(30:31):
challenging for anybody BecauseI know she would body it.
Yeah, agreed.
Also, maybe it's Cowboy Carter,but I just would love to see,
like I don't know, I just likeI'm like I want to see when
westerns are done, well, I likethem.
(30:51):
I don't like traditionalwesterns, but I like movies
because I love period pieces so.
I love movies that are set indifferent time periods.
I love movies with heavycostuming.
You know what I mean.
But I think a lot of times,because I love historical
fiction, like I need that littleextra, like go, if you're going
(31:16):
back in time, like all of asudden we got aliens, all of a
sudden we have zombies, orsociety is completely flipped
and now we're doing this and nowwe're doing that.
So that's what I'm like.
I would love to see her in awestern because I would love for
her to be able to like do thatthe physicality of learning how
to shoot a gun and like ridinghorses.
(31:36):
Like I would love for her tochallenge herself, to like learn
those things and portray thosethings on screen.
But also because I know thatshe's such a great actor, I want
a meaty, challenging story thatshe can really pour herself
into.
That's why I'm like oh yes,it's a western, but what if it's
(31:57):
a story of Macbeth and she'splaying Macbeth, the Macbeth
person, who's like trying to getpower, and you know what I mean
, and it's set in the old west?
You told me that wouldn't hit,it would be interesting.
I would watch it.
You know like it would be like.
I just think that, like there'sthere's so many stories that
(32:20):
are yet to be told, specificallyour community, like we need to
be able to tell more stories andwe need to be free to do more
things like how I saw Was itViola Davis?
I think it was Viola Davis andshe was talking about in college
(32:42):
how you play that.
You know you have to play allof these quote, unquote, like
white roles, like you're doingShakespeare.
You're doing all of these.
Like you know.
You have to be able to play anycharacter.
You know the majority of thecharacters that you're playing
are white, but then when youleave and you go to professional
(33:04):
work, you're immediatelypigeonholed into Black
characters only, and so what Iwant is for her, for Viola, for
Kerry Washington, for all ofthese Black actors and actresses
(33:24):
who are amazing, you know, tobe able to play like these
diverse roles that are likeoutside of their blackness, but
they can bring their blacknessto it, because how can we not,
you know, but I want them tojust be able to do things
outside of their blackness andnot be pigeonholed.
(33:47):
So, yes, I want to see her do aWestern version.
Thank you, guys, so much forjoining us.
Thank you.
We hope you enjoyed theconversation and we will see you
on the next episode.
The next episode Bye.
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