Master of None, but Jack of All Trades Too: A Chat With Co-Creator Alan Yang On Season 2 Of The Netflix Hit
When the first season of Master of None debuted on Netflix back in the fall of 2015, Aziz Ansari was already a star for one of the decade’s most beloved sitcoms, a New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most adored stand-up comedians alive. Yet, somehow, Master of None still caught viewers and critics alike by surprise. A nuanced, measured look at young life in New York City, Master of None took on a different key overarching subject with each of its ten episodes, coming together with a layered story that pleased everyone who took the time to watch.
Just as the background of Ansari’s character, Dev, is loosely based on the stand-up’s life and experiences, the background of Kelvin Yu’s character, Brian, is loosely based on the life and experiences of Alan Yang, Ansari’s co-creator. After previously collaborating on Parks and Recreation, the pair wound up winning an Emmy for writing Master of None, and now have returned for a second season of fun. If early word is any indication, the new season is more ambitious, dives deeper into the characters, and somehow, even better than a first season which had a certified 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to hop on the phone for a brief interview with Yang to talk about the new season, and the swings that he and Ansari took to make exactly the show that they wanted to and continue to make. The show is gorgeous to look at, and it, of course, will make you laugh as you binge your way through the entirety of the new run of episodes. We talked influences for making the show, music, expanding characters, Kanye West videos, and way more.