WATCH: The Cast Of FX’s ‘The Bear’ Speak On Promoting Diversity Within The Food Industry

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Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, and Liza Colón-Zayas sits down with ESSENCE in celebration of the award-winning show’s third season.

Transcript

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.

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