Amber Ruffin Brings Big Laughs and Real Experiences to UNO Students

University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) students, Omaha high schoolers, and community members had the opportunity to ask their burning questions about comedy, television production, writing, and more, to comedy legend Amber Ruffin.

Ruffin, an Omaha native, is a writer, executive producer, and host of The Amber Ruffin Show on Peacock, is a writer and performer for NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, and is an EMMY and WGA Award nominee.

Ruffin returned to her hometown to speak with students in UNO’s College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media (CFAM), sharing her experience and story behind becoming the first Black woman to write for a late-night network talk show in the United States.

Why it matters: By bringing industry professionals like Ruffin, Juju Chang, Holly Rowe, and more, UNO students don’t just get a glimpse behind the curtain; they can begin to see themselves in roles they may have previously believed were unattainable.

What we heard: During a Q&A session at the Strauss Performing Arts Center hosted by CFAM students, Ruffin answered questions about life, writing, authenticity, comedy in a highly polarized political era, her New York Times best-selling books, her work writing on Broadway and for Late Night, and offered advice.

“People can’t work with a bad attitude anymore,” she says when asked about the importance of interpersonal skills in her work. “Seth [Meyers] said, ' A lot of people could do this job, but I hired the nicest people I know.” Ruffin pointed out that building connections and relationships is just as important as any talent.

Although comedy, television, and late night variety shows are experiencing a period of extreme criticism, Ruffin says as challenging as it is, it’s something everyone is learning and growing from together.

“It’s going through a change, and I think it’ll come out more accessible and personalized.”

When asked about what early skills have helped the longevity and continued variety of her career, Ruffin cited working in improv.

“Improv is the best thing you can do, and you don’t want to do it, and you don’t know those people, but once those reflexes get into your bones, it’s so good for you,” she says. “It destroys embarrassment. Once you leave your shame at home, it really is very good for you, and it lets you live authentically in a way that people admire and are drawn to.”

Ruffin suggested everyone, even those not seeking a career in comedy, writing, or television, to try out an improv class.

One of Ruffin’s main messages was to encourage those in attendance to follow their passions, bet on themselves, and invest in their career and the things they love, even when their time is limited.

What’s next: UNO TV’s special recording of ‘Consider This’ featuring a conversation with Amber Ruffin can soon be found on UNO Television’s YouTube channel.