How Robin Thede Is Making Her Mark As The Only Black Woman Hosting Late Night TV
When Robin Thede walks on set of her late-night talk show The Rundown with Robin Thede, there's no shortage of brown faces. The wardrobe assistant that helps keep her dressed to the nines, the digital assistant snapping behind-the-scenes footage for social media, and the stage manager and producers who help bring her show to life are all equally talented at their respective crafts, and are being given the opportunity to shine in an industry where they're often the minority.
“I have producers, writers, sound people—black women in every sort of position, and so whatever happens with this show they can go on to other things because that's all it takes," she tells me on our Monday morning phone call. “It's getting their foot in the door, so I'm really proud of that. I employ a ton of black women on my show and I'm happy everyday to come in to see their faces."
Somewhere on the path to purpose, a legacy begins to be birthed. It's the thing that you leave behind that ensures that the generations after you who are reaching up can one day reach back—creating an unbreakable chain of opportunity that pulls often overlooked ethnic and gender groups out of obscurity.
Thede's own climb began at the beckoning presence of comedic icons, such as Whoopi Goldberg, Eddie Murphy, and Richard Pryor.
“When I saw Whoopi's one-woman show, I remember seeing it on TV and being so captivated," she says. “I'd never seen a brown woman on television before being funny, and she had such an affect on me."
“I'd never seen a brown woman on television before being funny, and she had such an affect on me."
It was enough to encourage the daughter of “good Midwestern folks" to dream beyond the trailer parks of Iowa. While Thede didn't grow up well endowed, she was rich in love, support, and confidence.
While getting her formal education, she simultaneously became an intense student of her craft, developing a voracious appetite for all things comedy—from sketch and improv to standup. Before the days of Black comedians like Ellen Cleghorne, Thede tuned to the likes of Chevy Chase, Gene Wilder, and Carol Burnett.
Photo Credit: Jaxonphotogroup.com
“The black comedians came as I got older and they got more exposure and I got to see them more, but in the early, early days it was definitely Whoopi, first and foremost, and then all of these other comedians that I was able to watch on network television—the cleaner comics."
In the late night hours during sleepovers with friends, she was introduced to more unfiltered comics, such as Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy. “Once I discovered Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor it was like, oh my God, I can be like this," she says. “All of these amazing, varied comics, you have to be able to appreciate their style and their genius for what it is."
Thede majored in Broadcast Journalism and African-American Studies, but her fire for comedy never extinguished. At Northwestern University, she ran a sketch comedy group and then later trained at The Second City in Chicago before following in the footsteps of her comedic predecessor and bringing her own one-woman show to Los Angeles.
During that time, she caught the attention of Mike Epps' manager, which led to her writing for the comedian both on the road and on the sketch comedy show Funny Bidness. Thede began landing one opportunity after another, and soon became a regular writer for award shows (BET Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards and NAACP Image Awards), penning jokes for a number of comedians, including Anthony Anderson, Kevin Hart, and Jamie Foxx.
Simultaneously, Thede pursued a career in acting, appearing on shows such as All of Us, BET's web series Buppies, and later Key & Peele, and working as an entertainment correspondent for E! News. She also wrote and acted in videos for Funny or Die (one of her most popular videos was a remake of Bobby Brown's “Every Little Step" with Wayne Brady and Mike Tyson) and wrote on a number of TV shows including In the Flow with Affion Crockett and Real Husband of Hollywood with Kevin Hart.
But ironically, despite her long trajectory as a writer, Thede never sought out to become the woman behind many of the jokes from our favorite comedians.
“I was always a performer, I never called myself a writer," says Thede. “I was acting for many years before I ever admitted that I was a writer. Even when I was doing writing jobs I just thought, oh, I'm doing that to pay the bills. What happened was, I would always perform in sketch shows, pilots, and sitcoms, and then they would either ask me to write or I'd get hired to write and asked to perform. So people are like why did you choose one or the other? And that's not how it went. I came out to LA to be a comedian and was acting but was always a good writer because I learned growing up and at The Second City, I really honed my writing; I never set out to be a writer. But then, one day I woke up and I'm like oh, I'm in the Writer's Guild and also in SAG, I guess I'm also a writer. Once I embraced both wholly, my career opened up."
For a number of years, Thede split her time both in front and behind the camera as she climbed the ladder of success. Her ability to master different comedic voices led to her becoming the head writer for The Queen Latifah Show and ultimately The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, marking her place in history as the first black woman to serve as a head writer for a late-night television show.
"It's not about putting my jokes out there, it's about doing their jokes and making them the best comedian they already are and can continue to be."
“I think it really helped me to become better. The thing that I became known for in the industry and why I worked with so many different comedians is because I can listen to five or ten minutes of somebody's stand up and know how to write jokes in their voice. I was very much a student of comedy and a student of joke structure and formulas and tone and how people sound. I don't write the same jokes for everybody, I write different jokes for Kevin Hart than I would Chris Rock. So I think that's why I became valuable very quickly in the industry, because I was a valuable writer. And my sole purpose in writing for someone else is to make them their funniest. It's not about putting my jokes out there, it's about doing their jokes and making them the best comedian they already are and can continue to be."
While many of today's up-and-coming talent operate their careers on a microwave minute—often expressing frustration when success doesn't come as quickly as expected and dismissing the role of serving others until it's their time—Thede credits her years behind the scenes as being critical to her own evolution as a comedian and a writer.
Despite her continued success, she's never stopped craving knowledge—a trait often attributed to the wealthy and the wise. “Even today, working with Chris Rock as an executive producer is a dream come true. He's literally a living legend, which he's teaching me things that are different than what other comedians taught me and so I just try to absorb, and the more that I can absorb from all different types of comedians from sketch to stand up has been what helped me to find my comedy."
The Rundown with Robin Thede is being credited as a voice for the black community—a relatively unfiltered one that beautifully weaves pop culture and politics, and where Gucci Mane and presidential references can co-exist without being trumped by the white counterparts of a far too long racially diluted industry.
Photo Credit: Robin Thede
Thede believes that it's a sign of the times that a late-night show of such caliber can exist without rebuttal. “I was expecting the reviews of the show to either be non-existent or to say that they didn't understand what I was talking about, and they weren't. The reviews have been ridiculously glowing, and they get what we're doing, and so that's when I knew okay, the time is right. Black culture is the trendsetting culture and I think people want to be woke and they want to hear. They want to be cool also, and I think my show can do both."
Having a show that carries her name in the title isn't about fame or donning the title of “first," it's about paving the way for the now and the next, and making dents one thought-provoking joke at a time in a wall that keeps our voices—our people—from crossing comedic borders.
And as a Black woman, it's about being a pioneer so that one day it's no surprise to see similar faces in the writer's room, and that those who have a seat at the table didn't have to get there by softening their tone, straightening their hair, or wearing clothing that doesn't accentuate and complement their body type—but by working hard, not because they had to be ten times better than, but because they're simply the best.
“I don't take any of this for granted," she continues. “I think it's such a blessing. I certainly can't speak for every black woman nor would I attempt to, but I do think that being a Black woman in this space right now is so personal for me because women come up to me and say like thank you for speaking for us. Thank you for being a voice for us. Thank you for just being present. Thank you for being there. And that's why I'm here; this is it."
Aspiring talent, take note—this is what success looks like.
Watch the The Rundown with Robin Thede Thursdays 11/10c on BET.
Kiah McBride writes technical content by day and uses storytelling to pen real and raw personal development pieces on her blog Write On Kiah. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @writeonkiah.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Playa del Carmen is the perfect vacation getaway for anyone who loves beautiful beaches, delicious food, and fun activities. Located on the Caribbean Sea side of Mexico, PDC is nestled right between the spring break hub Cancun and the growing hotspot Tulum. Oftentimes overlooked for some of the other popular cities, I found Playa del Carmen to have just as much in terms of vacation necessities, with a more local and authentic Mexican feel.
The Ultimate Guide to Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is perfect for a solo traveler looking to spend a few days in paradise or the group chat that wants to hang on the beach all day and turn up at night. I found the area to have a little bit of everything for everyone, so here’s my guide on where to eat, stay, and play for the ultimate Playa del Carmen vacation.
Getting Around
The easiest way to get to Playa del Carmen is to fly into Cancun Airport and then make your way south. You can rent a car and drive the one hour down to PDC, take a taxi, or you can catch the ADO bus, which will cost you less than $40 roundtrip. Overall, Playa del Carmen is an easy and safe city to navigate. If you stay on or close to Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue), you’ll be within walking distance to a ton of stores, restaurants, and nightlife. Most taxi rides were between 100 and 150 pesos, which is less than $10 USD. Renting a car is also an option, but with things being very walkable and taxis being fairly inexpensive, it’s not a necessity. Another great way to get around is bikes, which you can rent to use throughout the city.
Stay
The Thompson Hotel is for the folks who know that where you stay on vacation absolutely does matter. This luxury property offers chic rooms and upscale suites, onsite restaurants, and a spa for those who are looking to pamper themselves. One of the standout features of this property is the rooftop infinity pool, which has 360-degree views of the city and is absolutely stunning. This is your type of hotel if you value immaculate views, delicious eats, prime location, and live DJs.
Grand Hyatt offers a prime beachfront location, while also being steps away from the mix on Quinta Avenida. I like that this property allows you to take in the calm beauty of the Caribbean, while also being in close proximity to the action within the city. You get both authentic Mexican food and some international fare at the resort restaurants, and this property also has an infinity pool that gives views of the ocean.
Airbnb
If you don’t have the funds to spend on a hotel stay, but still want clean and comfortable accommodations, do not overlook Airbnb. You can find super reasonably priced apartments close to the strip that will leave you in the heart of all the action. Many of these buildings feature 24-hour security, infinity pools, top-notch gyms, and rooftop bars. This is a great way to save some money, while not sacrificing the quality of the accommodations you like.
Eat
One of the best parts of being near the Caribbean Sea is having access to fresh seafood, and Ictio Fish House is the place to go for it. Located just a block off of the 5th Avenida strip, this small seafood restaurant is a quieter change compared to some of the busier and more touristy restaurants located directly on the strip. They have both indoor and outdoor seating available, but if you can snag a spot at the bar, the service is top notch and you can watch the bartender put together your craft cocktail.
Everything they serve is delicious and tastes authentic, so you really can't go wrong when ordering. But to start, the crispy jumbo shrimp and calamari are perfect for sharing. Other must-try dishes are the garlic butter catch of the day and the adobo-styled octopus.
El Fogon
Ask anyone for a recommendation for the best tacos in Playa del Carmen, and I promise you they will point you to El Fogon. You know a spot is good when it’s filled with just as many locals as tourists, and there’s a line outside at 1 p.m. This no-frills spot serves up authentic Mexican favorites like el pastor tacos, chicken quesadillas, guacamole, and margaritas. Every dish comes with the fixings and is not only super filling but extremely affordable. You can easily get a full meal and a drink for less than $20 USD. They have more than one location, so you can taste some of their delicious tacos no matter what part of PDC you stay in.
L&L by Lara&Luca
Before you hit the beach for day drinking, you need a hearty breakfast from L&L to start your day. This cute cafe is the smaller “sister” restaurant to Lara&Luca, another popular breakfast and lunch cafe in Playa. I liked that L&L is less busy and more laid back than the other location. They serve up typical breakfast and lunch items such as eggs, coffee, sandwiches, and French toast.
My favorite item was the ham and cheese croissant, which could be enjoyed on their outdoor seating or taken to enjoy on the go. They also have yummy pastries, but these sell out quickly, so be sure to go early.
El Pirata
If you’re a fried fish lover like me and appreciate sea-to-table service, El Pirata is the place to go. This restaurant is tucked away towards the end of the main 5th Avenida strip, so you might miss it if you aren’t looking for it. The restaurant serves up a plethora of tasty dishes like fresh ceviche, garlic shrimp, and shrimp empanadas, and has a full beverage menu for your libation needs. However, the fried fish is truly the star of the show.
When you order, they bring to your table a few of the fresh fish that were caught that day and allow you to choose which lucky one you want them to fry for you. And let me tell you, picking your own fried fish just hits different! It was one of my favorite meals in Playa del Carmen.
Play
Food Tour
There are so many delicious places to eat in Playa del Carmen so taking a local food tour is the best way to try a little bit of everything. I love taking food tours when I travel because not only is it a great way to try a range of different local dishes, but the tour guides usually give you a history lesson during the tour where you learn more about the history of certain dishes and the country as a whole. In Playa Del Carmen, I took a local food tour with GetYourGuide, where we stopped at several different locations for tacos, fresh fruit juice, tamales, and more.
I value it when there’s a local leading the tour because it’s a way to support the locals and also learn things that only people native to the location would know. While we walked, the guide shared a lot of insight about Mexico and Playa del Carmen, while giving recommendations for places to eat during our trip.
Cenotes
Cenotes are natural sinkholes or underground caverns that have pools of water in which you can explore, dive, and swim in. You will find cenotes all around Mexico, but there are several in the Playa del Carmen region. Cenotes vary in size and also the depth of water, so even if you don’t know how to swim, you can find a cenote to explore at your own comfort level. Two beautiful cenotes you can explore near PDC are Cenote Azul and Cenote Dos Ojos.
Cenote Azul is perfect for snorkeling because of the crystal clear waters that allow you to see the colorful fish and plant life underneath. Cenote Dos Ojos is perfect for explorers due to the mesmerizing underground caverns and rock formations throughout. You can take a trip to the cenotes on your own or book a tour that may take you to several different cenotes.
Beaches
Playa Del Carmen has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, so beach hopping is a must while vacationing in the area. Whether you want a chill, relaxing beach day or you are thinking of jet skiing on the blue waters, there is a beach for you. There are several beaches along the coast of Playa del Carmen, some that are within walking distance of most hotels, and others that you may need to travel to get to but are totally worth it.
Playa Mamitas is one of the most popular beaches in PDC due to its location near the heart of the city, and also because of the crystal clear waters and white sand. Playa Mamitas is also a great spot for entertainment and the occasional beach party for the folks wanting to turn up. Playacar Beach is another great option that is located in the upscale Playacar neighborhood, south of downtown Playa del Carmen.
It is known for its pristine beauty and laid-back atmosphere, making it a popular destination for travelers seeking relaxation and seclusion. Other beaches to consider are Punta Esmeralda and Xpu-ha Beach, so you’ll have an option for every day of your trip, depending on your mood.
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