Hi, everyone. It's Sophia. Welcome to Work in Progress.

Friends and digital listener community, today we are joined by someone who defines being whipsmart herself. Today's

guest is none other than Emmy and Tony nominated writer-comedian host and performer Amber Ruffin.

She has become one of the most prominent and celebrated voices in late-night television and happens to be one of my favorite people

ever to be interviewed by, to interview, and to hang out with.

Ruffin is not only a cool, brilliant lady. She's also a history maker. She made history as

the first black woman to write for a late-night network talk show in the United

States, joining the writing staff of NBC's iconic late night with Seth Myers in 2024. Her quick wit,

boundless energy, and incisive social commentary quickly made her a breakout star, leading to regular

on-air appearances for her, and then the creation of her own segment.

Amber says what? Most recently, Amber penned the revised book for Broadway's current revival of

The Wiz. This is actually her second recent foray into Broadway, having received a Tony nomination

just last year for co-writing the book of the musical Some Like It Hot, based on the

classic film, and as the host of her own eponymous late-night program on Peacock, The Amber

Ruffin Show, she has carved out a truly unique space for herself as a sharp-witted satirist

and dynamic on-camera personality.

That might be because Ruffin got her start in the world of improv.

She has performed with acclaimed troops in Chicago and Amsterdam before transitioning to writing and on-camera work.

She has this incredible ability to find humor in the every day and to challenge societal norms.

I love her biting incisive style, and so do the rest of you, because it's earned her widespread acclaim, including the aforementioned Emmy nomination for outstanding writing

for a variety series.

She is also currently the hosts alongside her sister, Lacey Lamar, of the Amber and Lacey,

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