Ayo Edebiri Has a Matching Tattoo of a Don Cheadle Quote, Talks the Obamas Producing Proof

0:00 -Our first guest tonight is an Emmy Award-winning actress, writer,

0:03 and comedian you know from her work in shows such

0:05 as "The Bear" and "Big Mouth" and films like "After

0:08 the Hunt" and "Bottoms." She is currently starring on Broadway

0:10 in "Proof," which is playing now at the Booth Theatre.

0:13 Please welcome back to the show, our friend, Ayo Edebiri, everybody!

0:17 Cheers and applause]♪♪ -Hello!

0:29 How are you?

0:31 -I'm well.

0:32 How are you?

0:33 -I'm wonderful.

0:34 You know, last time you were here, it was October,

0:36 and we were talking about you doing this show.

0:38 And, you know you're a star, obviously, of, you know, screen,

0:41 both the big— And we were just worried, like, would Broadway change you?

0:45 -Would Broadway change me?

0:47 -That was the fear, yeah.

0:49 -I— Excuse me.

0:50 So sorry.

0:50 Hi.

0:51 Thank you.

0:51 Thank you so much.

0:52 Thank you.

0:54 Laughter, applause]-[ Speaking indistinctly, laughs] -You don't have,

0:59 like, a coaster or anything, right?

1:00 No?

1:01 -No, because you assured us you hadn't changed,

1:03 so we didn't think— -So you didn't bring out to coasters.

1:05 Yeah.

1:05 Okay.

1:06 -If you had told us, "I'm different now," we would have had a coaster.

1:09 Oh, my God, by the way, did you know it would match your look?

1:13 -I just really wanted a Shirley Temple.

1:15 Laughter] -It's a fantastic outfit.

1:17 Thank you so much.

1:19 -Yeah.

1:19 Thank you for giving me the platform for this outfit.

1:22 -Yeah.

1:22 -I really appreciate it.

1:23 -We want to platform new and exciting outfits.

1:26 -You know, I appreciate that, the way that you

1:28 make space for outfits in "Late Night," in the world.

1:31 -Yeah.

1:31 A lot of people try to make a space for voices.

1:34 Not me.

1:35 -No.

1:36 -Outfits.

1:36 -There's so many, by the way.

1:38 There's so many voices.

1:39 Not many outfits.

1:41 -Not as many outfits.

1:42 -Two, three...

1:43 -And then once we cycle through them, then I'll get to the voices,

1:46 but only after I see all the outfits.

1:48 -Specifically these ones.

1:49 Yeah.

1:50 -How is it going?

1:51 It's you and Don Cheadle, which is fantastic news.

1:54 Incredible actor.

1:55 Cheers and applause] -The greatest.

1:57 -I mean, look, not unlike a lot of us,

1:59 but you've been a fan of Don's for a long time.

2:01 -Yes, for a bit of time.

2:04 -But maybe more intensely a fan of him than, say, I am.

2:06 -Well, intense is such a strong choice of word.

2:10 I may or may not have a Cheadle related tattoo on my body.

2:15 -Okay.

2:16 -Maybe.

2:17 -And— But also ima— -His face on my back.

2:20 Big.

2:20 Photorealistic.

2:23 -With a quote?

2:24 -Yeah.

2:24 "Keep dreaming." No, um,

2:26 it's a quote from "Ocean's Eleven." Um...make some noise for that film.

2:33 Um, yeah.

2:34 Applause] Uh, my—[ Laughs] Making people applaud for "Ocean's Eleven." Um,

2:40 but it's a— it's a quote.

2:42 He plays a character named Basher Tarr.

2:44 And one of my best friends who is also a Black woman,

2:48 we met at NYU and we both were like, we're obsessed with this movie.

2:51 We're obsessed with Don Cheadle.

2:52 Wouldn't it be so funny if we got him saying,

2:54 "Barney Rubble trouble" on our bodies forever?

2:58 -And did you— I assume when you get a matching tattoo,

3:00 you do it on the same day?

3:02 -Yes.

3:02 -Because you want the artist to, like...

3:04 -Stay in the zone.

3:05 -Yeah, exactly.

3:05 -Don't lose focus.

3:06 -Do you feel like they're more hesitant

3:08 or more excited when people come in and go, "We want— we want matching tattoos"?

3:12 Like, I feel like— -It feels 50/50.

3:14 It feels like it's close.

3:15 -Yeah.

3:16 Also, I would think it's very important to get a tattoo in the middle

3:19 of the day so they don't think that you're making a bad choice.

3:21 based on alcohol.

3:22 -Yeah.

3:22 No, no, no.

3:22 3 p.m.

3:23 tattoo.

3:23 -Yeah.

3:24 -Yeah.

3:24 The 3 p.m.-ers, they must be so happy— -Well, it's like,

3:26 you want it in the same window as a doctor's appointment.

3:29 -Right.

3:29 -Just to have an air of...

3:31 -You're right.

3:31 -Yeah.

3:31 -Like, if you're like— if you're like,

3:33 "My doctor says it's bad," you're like, "When did you go?" You're like,

3:36 "1 a.m." And you're like, "Oh,

3:38 get a second opinion." -You need a second opinion.

3:40 You need a second opinion.

3:41 -This is— this is a very famous play.

3:43 -Yes.

3:43 -And Tommy Kail's directing.

3:44 He's a very accomplished director.

3:46 And you also have some very impressive producers on this Broadway show.

3:50 -Yes.

3:51 -We have a photo of them.

3:52 And for those who don't know Broadway producers,

3:54 you might have to explain who they are.

3:55 -Sure.

3:56 -Not everybody here is, like— -No, no, no, it's okay.

3:58 Yeah.

3:58 So this is Michelle and Barack Obama.

4:01 Laughter, cheer and applause] And they've done a few things.

4:08 They're up and coming.

4:09 Yeah.

4:09 They're up and coming.

4:10 -Did Michelle consent to the hug you're giving her?

4:12 Because that is aggressive.

4:13 -Okay!

4:14 -That's an aggressive hug.

4:15 -Okay!

4:15 I give a good hug.

4:17 I give a good hug.

4:18 Yeah, well, I'm excited.

4:19 -It's really cool.

4:20 -She was the first lady and she's really nice.

4:23 -And in their role of producers,

4:25 I'm assuming they're sort of— I don't want to mean passive,

4:28 as if they don't care,

4:29 but I'm assuming they just come and tell you you did great.

4:31 -There every day, giving me notes.

4:33 Really cruel.

4:34 Yeah.

4:35 No.

4:35 But they've been so lovely and helpful.

4:38 It is such a nice hug.

4:39 -Yeah, it's a really good hug.

4:41 -I don't think I have even photos where I'm hugging— -I'm

4:43 glad we have one where she's hugging back a little bit more.

4:46 Laughter] -I feel like it was a little unfair just to be like, this one.

4:50 -Yeah.

4:50 -This is like an attack.

4:52 And this is— -Again, the word choice with you tonight.

4:56 We'll circle back later.

4:58 Um, yeah, but they've been so supportive and cool.

5:02 And I think for a lot of reasons, the story really connected with them.

5:06 There's a lot of questions this play asks about.

5:08 You know, like genius— what does genius look like?

5:09 What does legacy look like?

5:11 Which I think for them,

5:13 especially as literally our first Black president, that is,

5:17 like, a question that is on his mind

5:20 and their minds and the Chicago connection...

5:22 So it's been really fun.

5:24 -That's wonderful.

5:25 -You and Don are doing a very cool thing as well.

5:27 -Yes.

5:28 -Did you start this program or are you using this program?

5:31 But it's about accessible tickets.

5:32 -Well, we just wanted that to be a really—

5:35 this mass— This Shirley Temple is so tall.

5:37 -Yeah.

5:38 -Um, but we both, I think have benefited in our lives from access to the arts.

5:43 And, uh, you know, we are living in a time where

5:47 I think there's a lot of other conversation, a lot of noise.

5:50 People might not consider that a priority,

5:52 but I know that that's changed my life.

5:54 That's changed the lives of friends that I have who aren't even in the arts.

5:57 Um, my parents are not in the arts,

5:59 but I know they love, you know, seeing theater, seeing shows, seeing comedy.

6:03 And so we have a few different affordable, accessible ticket initiatives.

6:08 And we also partnered with the Department of Education.

6:10 So right now the number is 500.

6:12 But if any rich people watch this and they

6:14 want to give any more money, we can get more.

6:16 But 500 students and teachers will be able to see the show for free.

6:21 And we also have, like, a student rush,

6:23 as well as our in-person rush and our digital rush and lottery.

6:27 So we've got a lot of different programs.

6:28 You can check them out at our website.

6:31 -Um, I also know, uh, you had parents like I had parents, which is we grew up...

6:36 -Nigerian?

6:36 -...in New England.

6:37 -Yes, I have two— -And Bajan?!

6:38 -Have I never brought that up?

6:40 -That makes sense.

6:40 -That I have Nigerian parents.

6:42 -Meyers.

6:42 I'm hearing it now.

6:43 Okay.

6:44 Yeah.

6:44 Mm-hmm.

6:45 Laughs]-[ Inaudible] -Um, but they wanted to bring us to New York.

6:49 I mean, we were Boston people or New England people, I should say.

6:51 You're more Boston than me.

6:53 But come down here.

6:54 Um, but you used to take the now infamous,

6:56 the dearly departed— -The Fung Wah Bus.

6:59 May she rest in power.

7:00 -Yeah.

7:00 -Yes.

7:01 -So for those who never experienced...

7:04 explain the unique journey that is provided by a Fung Wah bus.

7:08 -Imagine this.

7:10 Open your eyes.

7:12 Close them.

7:13 Now open your mental eye.

7:15 Right?

7:16 You are in a bus depot in the depths of Boston Chinatown.

7:23 You get the opportunity to take a $10 to $15 bus

7:26 that will take you to New York in under four hours, sometimes three.

7:31 It's like the Concorde of buses.

7:33 This thing is going 100 mi— Big bus, too.

7:36 Not a small bus.

7:37 Big old bus.

7:38 100 miles an hour on the speedway.

7:40 Sometimes catching fire.

7:41 Don't sit in the back.

7:42 Don't sit in the front.

7:44 You will hit things and things will hit you.

7:46 The bus might explode.

7:48 That's not your business.

7:49 Your business is getting to New York.

7:52 And then you do.

7:53 -And it was really— You're not joking when you say it's like $10, $15.

7:57 -Yes!

7:57 $10, $15 to get on a bus that would take you to another state.

8:01 Sometimes it would break down in Connecticut and end up at, like,

8:04 an IHOP or a— -You know, I've heard tale of, like,

8:08 it breaks down and then an hour later, they're like,

8:10 "There's no bus." This one's not— it's never gonna get fixed.

8:14 -And then you get a bindle and a plucky dog and another band of fellow orphans,

8:19 and you start a new life in Connecticut or upstate New York.

8:22 You just figure it out.

8:23 -Yeah.

8:23 -Yeah.

8:24 -They're like, "We have good news and bad news.

8:26 The bad news is the bus broke down.

8:28 The good news is you live here now." -Yeah.

8:30 Laughs] -"This is your home." -It's like a Twin Peaks style...

8:35 -They're like, "You were on the Fung Wah bus.

8:36 You needed a fresh start."-[ Laughter] -And we needed a mayor.

8:41 Laughter][ Applause] -When we write the screenplay, we do it together.

8:46 -Obviously.

8:47 Obviously.

8:48 Um, do you ever— I mean, buses can be, obviously,

8:51 as you've just described— I mean, uh, but do you take the New York bus ever?

8:56 -I haven't taken the New York bus in a long time.

8:58 There's ghosts on the New York public transit for me, especially the bus.

9:03 The bus out here is hard.

9:05 -I will, uh— I'll full snob and say never took the bus until I had kids.

9:10 And now in the last few years, like,

9:12 sometimes you just pick them up at school and you're like,

9:13 the bus is our best— -That's cool.

9:15 -And, uh— and I will say, I have no— no shade on the bus.

9:20 It's very— it still gets the job done.

9:21 -Yeah.

9:22 That's important.

9:23 That's important.

9:23 And then also, like, just—-[ Applause] -Yeah.

9:26 Okay.

9:26 -Give it up for the bus.

9:27 -Okay.

9:27 Yeah.

9:28 Laughs]-[ Applause] -Heartbreaking— heartbreaking that the New York bus got more

9:32 applause than "Ocean's Eleven." -Than "Ocean's

9:34 Eleven." It really makes you think.

9:35 -Yeah.

9:35 It really makes you think...

9:36 -It's good.

9:37 -..."What time are we living in?" That's Mamdani's New York.

9:40 It's now the New York City bus...

9:41 -That is Mamdani's New York.

9:42 Cheers and applause] -They're clapping for the bus.

9:45 -The bus!

9:46 Um, mentioned our New England connection.

9:50 Celtics up three games to one over Philadelphia.

9:53 -Yeah, they are.

9:54 Laughs] Yeah, they are.

9:55 Absolutely.

9:55 -This is— we're filming this before tonight's game five.

10:00 How do you feel right now about the team?

10:03 -I'm feeling good.

10:03 My boys are back.

10:04 They're healthy.

10:04 They're in sync with each other.

10:06 -It's wonderful to see.

10:08 -Jayson coming back, I'm very happy about.

10:11 And I think the last time— yeah, the championship, I had to get on a plane.

10:16 -Yes.

10:17 -And I watched that game in tears on the plane

10:20 that I couldn't be— Somebody said "aww." Well...[ Laughs] Oh...

10:24 Laughs] -I was so sad that I couldn't be there and I couldn't make it.

10:29 And so I'm like, I don't know how, but— -Hopefully this time you'll air travel.

10:35 You'll just schedule your air travel a little bit better.

10:37 -While I'm also, like, in a show on Broadway that I can't miss.

10:40 Laughter] -We know where you'll be.

10:42 We know where you'll be.

10:42 -So then they can come down here and do the parade.

10:45 -Do you think they'll do the parade for the Celtics here?

10:47 -If I ask really politely.

10:48 -I don't know.

10:49 -Maybe.

10:49 -Um, congrats on the show and thanks for being here.

10:52 -Thank you very much.

10:52 It's always so lovely.

10:53 -Thanks for having me.

10:54 Ayo Edebiri, everybody.

10:55 "Proof" is on Broadway now at the Booth Theatre through July 19th.

10:59 Stick around.

10:59 We'll be right back with Matthew Rhys.