Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, and Liza Colón-Zayas sits down with ESSENCE in celebration of the award-winning show’s third season.
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00:00It is a partnership agreement so that you can push me and I can push you.
00:04It's a good thing, right?
00:05Yeah, no, it's great.
00:08Hands.
00:09These bows are, um...
00:10They're different sizes, Richie.
00:12They're not, they're the same.
00:13Can't see the difference in this?
00:15Look at it!
00:15The vibe's weird.
00:18Doors!
00:21Re-fire!
00:22It's not perfect, it doesn't go out.
00:24That's real life.
00:25Yeah.
00:25Those are the people who are working there doing those jobs.
00:28Um, people of color, especially like Latino people, especially black people, immigrants,
00:35Asian people, like it's just like that's, that's what's happening in that industry.
00:39Even if the faces you might see that get celebrated are predominantly white and male.
00:46Um, and yeah, I think it's like just really great that then by extension we get to be
00:53telling some, even just a fraction of those stories with, with our show.
01:05My name is Okla Jones, Entertainment Editor with Essence.
01:07How are you guys doing today?
01:09Good, and how are you?
01:11It's a pleasure to be speaking with you.
01:12You look amazing.
01:14Thank you.
01:16Nice.
01:18So my first question, um, is for you, Lionel.
01:21Um, what have you felt about the reception regarding season two and anticipation for
01:26the upcoming season?
01:28Oh, you always feel great when I feel like this show does a really good job of not repeating
01:33itself for each season.
01:34So it still feels like it's a swing every season.
01:37And so season one didn't feel like season two and everyone responded to it in an overwhelmingly
01:43positive, positive way.
01:44So I think it makes me look forward to this season because it still feels like another
01:49swing and we'll see how people respond.
01:52So, um, Ayo, you had an award-winning performance last season.
01:57Everybody knows about it.
01:58It was amazing portrayal.
01:59Thank you so much.
02:00Was there any pressure to exceed that critically acclaimed performance this season?
02:04How did you approach this particular season coming up?
02:07Um, I mean, you know, it felt like in a way there's always going to be pressure and external,
02:15um, you know, feelings or whatever, especially, you know, when you sort of realize people
02:21are watching, but I think one of the many magics of our group is that when we go and
02:29we make it, that's what we do.
02:32We are there together and we really do our best to block out any external noise.
02:38It's about what we're making in the present with each other.
02:41Um, and, you know, there was pressure season two, we made the first season in a vacuum,
02:46you know, like nobody, we didn't know what people were going to think.
02:50We didn't think anybody was really going to watch this show, but what kitchen, you know,
02:54like that's what it felt like then.
02:55And then people started watching while we were making it.
02:58So we had to, you know, hunker down with each other then.
03:01And I think we just did it again this year.
03:03And that's like also the best part.
03:05That's how really like for me, I feel like I celebrated like, yeah, there's obviously
03:10so much to be grateful for.
03:13But for me, the real celebration was that I got to go back to work with my friends and
03:17my peers and just got to, yeah, be together.
03:20I love that.
03:21Um, Liza, you've had a long and great career in the entertainment industry.
03:26I wanted to ask you, uh, the character of Tina, what makes her so special to you?
03:31And, and, uh, what is your experience been being able to play her?
03:36She's special to me because so many people relate to her from all walks of life.
03:44Um, they've, and, and sometimes they just want to hug me like on the street, random.
03:53Um, like, you know, I don't know.
03:58We appreciate you taking the risk as Tina and, and diving in, um, and stepping up.
04:08And I feel like everybody kind of needs hope, right?
04:11Everybody needs to be able, or at some point in their lives has, has, um, had a dream that
04:19either they let go or, or they're, um, considering if there's time to revisit.
04:26And I think it happened that happening for me in my life as an actor and that happening for Tina
04:33is something that speaks volumes to viewers.
04:38Now, um, one thing I really love about this show is it's a diversity, you know, um, I wanted to,
04:44and either of you can ask this question.
04:46If you want to do all three, it's, it's, um, it's up to you, but why do you think it's
04:49important to highlight people of color in the food and hospitality industry?
04:53I think because that's real life.
04:55Those are the people who are working.
04:57They're doing those jobs.
04:58Um, people of color, especially like Latino people, especially black people, immigrants,
05:05Asian people, like, it's just like, that's, that's what's happening in that industry.
05:09Even if the faces you might see that get celebrated are not those are, you know,
05:15are predominantly white and male.
05:18Um, and yeah, I think it's like, just really great that then by extension, we get to be
05:25telling some, even just a fraction of those stories with, with our show.
05:31Yeah.
05:31I think that people who are seen are in general invisible in the world.
05:38Um, and these people are the backbone of the hospitality industry and of this country overall.
05:45So, um, highlighting who they are is, is new.
05:51And hopefully we see more of it.
05:57Cool.
05:59Oh, no, I was just going to say, I think what they're saying goes in line with what I was
06:03just going to say is it's just what honest is.
06:05It's like, you want to make an honest story.
06:07You got to tell them the honest way.
06:08And that's just what it is.
06:10And I think that's why people think this and believe and feel this is a good show because
06:14it feels honest and it's just showing everything how it really is.
06:18So I think the bear has an amazing cast, but I think the unsung cast member is the city of
06:24Chicago.
06:25Um, and I just think it's a beautiful city.
06:28I've been there numerous times.
06:30Um, how important has the city of Chicago been to the success of this show do you think?
06:36Like deeply instrumental.
06:39Um, we couldn't do it without it.
06:42I feel like we've all fallen in love with Chicago in different ways, but, um, a real
06:47like tangible way, I think is just in the representation of the restaurant.
06:53We have so much help from so many friends in the industry in Chicago who either come
07:00and help us prepare food, help teach us how to make dishes will help fill in for cooks
07:07and other scenes and restaurants.
07:09Like they're just always there watching, helping, listening, even just talking to us
07:14about their experiences about, you know, how insane that industry can be.
07:21Um, and so, yeah, I think that all just like feeds into the lifeblood of the show in a
07:26really beautiful way.
07:27I think the cool thing too, is I was saying this to a friend that long ago that people
07:32don't romanticize cities as much in like movies and shows as they like, like in the 80s and
07:3790s that you see something makes you want to move to California or Seattle.
07:42Yeah.
07:43And so I think that's, it's just like on that level of it, it's like, it's romanticizing
07:47this place and showing like it's from a filmmaker's eye who just has love for it.
07:51And so, yeah, it makes you want to be there.
07:53Well, thank you.
07:54That's all I have for you.
07:56I'm really looking forward to this new season and I wish all three of you much love and
08:00success.
08:01Thank you so much.
08:01Thank you.
08:07Bye.