When we look back on the history of pop-political interviewing in the future, we may find it amusing that Sacha Baron Cohen had to disguise himself as Borat and Ali G to lure public individuals into uncomfortable positions. It turns out that all you have to do is inquire. At least, that was the case with Andrew Yang, a New York mayoral candidate and media omnipresence who accepted a risky offer from comedian Ziwe to participate on her self-titled Showtime show.
Many political handlers would be irritated by the invitation (issued in a tweet that appeared to include a still from an already conducted interview). The three-week-old show “Ziwe,” which is based on the comedian’s internet show “Baited With Ziwe,” is a furnace of guffaws. In many respects, however, the Yang campaign has been built on embarrassment.
Ziwe sets up creatively unpleasant questions about politics and society in her interviews by adopting the image of an excessively online interviewer enamored of influencer-speak (everything, and everyone, is “iconic”). Her trademark is to drench a softball question template (“Your favorite ____”) in acid and encircle it with mousetraps. “What annoys you more: slow walkers or racism?” she questioned novelist and famed New York grouch Fran Lebowitz.
The interview on Sunday was a success. Ziwe invited the candidate to select his four favorite billionaires after a happy teleconference introduction — Mr. Yang was, of course, an “icon” — (Among his choices were Michael Bloomberg, whom the Democratic base views less than iconic; Oprah Winfrey; Michael Jordan; and a tie for fourth place between LeBron James and the Rock, all of whom are possible/potential billionaires.) What is his favorite subway station? The Times Square station is notorious for its harshness.
A hesitant laugh erupted in response to the question, “What are your favorite racial stereotypes?” “Can I say anything about Asians?” Mr. Yang stated, one of his famed “MATH” caps visible behind him from his presidential campaign. When Mr. Yang said he liked hip-hop, Ziwe asked what his favorite Jay-Z song was, a loaded question about a New York rapper for a candidate whose local credentials have been frequently questioned. There was a brief lull in the conversation. Finally, Mr. Yang performed “Numb/Encore” (with Linkin Park), as well as the Kanye West duet “Watch the Throne,” which he dubbed “Word in Paris.”
Nonetheless! Mr. Yang’s opponents said he had embarrassed himself, while his fans believed he had aided himself. You may perceive a naive glad-hander in over his head or a brave good sport in the interview. And you could be correct in any case. The Yang campaign in the media has followed this pattern, with an ongoing succession of gaffes and self-owns that have kept him around the top of the polls despite a lack of government experience and election victories. The Ziwe interview may not have been the most embarrassing Yang video of the week, which also included a video showing him throwing bricks at a public basketball court.
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