Be My Guest with Ina Garten

Episode: Wendell Pierce
Date: October 20, 2024
Host: Ina Garten
Guest: Wendell Pierce (Actor & Producer)

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and lively episode, Ina Garten welcomes acclaimed actor Wendell Pierce into her East Hampton barn for a session filled with storytelling, kitchen camaraderie, and the sharing of personal journeys. Over corn muffins and a summer skillet of clams, sausage, and corn, Wendell and Ina delve into his upbringing in New Orleans, pivotal moments in his acting career, his activism after Hurricane Katrina, and their mutual love of food. It's a celebration of resilience, artistry, and the joy of gathering around a table.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood and Family Roots in New Orleans

• Pontchartrain Park Legacy:
  Wendell describes growing up in Pontchartrain Park, the first African American suburb in New Orleans, established post-World War II.

  • “My parents, they took something that was ugly in troubled times of segregation...they created a community.” (10:43, Wendell Pierce)
  • The neighborhood was an incubator for talent and the civil rights movement, producing notable figures such as jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard and New Orleans' first Black mayor.

• Early Entrepreneurship:
  At age 15, Wendell organized discos to raise money for his first trip to London—a spark for his future in theater.

  • “I did one...put it out to all the high schools...and raised the money for my ticket to London. It was fantastic.” (12:11, Wendell Pierce)

2. Discovering Acting as Vocation and Occupation

• Finding His Path:
  Wendell shares how theater became both his vocation and occupation, but stresses he always saw himself prepared to adapt.

  • “I never felt the fear...because I always knew...if it didn’t work out, I’ll find another job. It’s my occupation and vocation.” (13:11, Wendell Pierce)

• Memorable Audition with Bob Fosse:
  A vivid retelling of an audition with Bob Fosse for “Big Deal,” describing an impromptu scene where Fosse directly engaged with him.

  • “He gets nose to nose with me...He is coming at me, right?...He said, 'Oh, that’s good. You’re good. But you’re too young.'” (16:19, Wendell Pierce)
  • Wendell reflects on how this audition became a cherished milestone, even though he didn’t land the part.

3. Breaking Barriers on Broadway

• Death of a Salesman:
  First Black actor to play Willy Loman on Broadway. Emotionally recounts receiving a Tony nomination and gifting a watch to his father on opening night.

  • “It was humbling. I cried like a baby...He had given me love and time. And I had a watch made. Presented that to my father. He was 97 years old.” (17:59–19:06, Wendell Pierce)

• Emotional Demands of the Role:
  Describes the immense psychological toll and his method for staying resilient during nightly performances.

  • “Not until I play Willy Loman...you have to take some self care. So I would go and hear music in London...then I would go home and sleep all day...so I had the strength.” (19:27, Wendell Pierce)

4. Community Activism and Rebuilding After Katrina

• Rebuilding Pontchartrain Park:
  Spearheaded efforts for resident-led redevelopment after Hurricane Katrina, restoring hundreds of homes and gaining national historic recognition.

  • “I said, I’ll be damned if I let this neighborhood...be destroyed...And now it is on the National Register of Historic Places.” (21:10–21:38, Wendell Pierce)

• Tackling Food Deserts:
  Opened a community grocery store to restore food access, describing the difficulties and humor in the retail food business.

  • “We lasted about two years...It’s the toughest of business, I can tell you.” (21:45–21:59, Wendell Pierce)
  • “Why do we call it shrinkage?...Call it stealing!” (25:03, Wendell Pierce)

• Family History and Legacy:
  Touching stories from his memoir, including an ancestor sold into slavery and a great-uncle who survived a lynching attempt.

  • “My great grandfather...was sold as a baby with his mother in slavery. I had a great uncle who they attempted to lynch...They sued the perpetrators and won the case.” (25:25–26:21, Wendell Pierce)

5. On-Screen Work and Cultural Impact

• Treme:
  The show as a love poem to New Orleans, showcasing local resilience post-Katrina.

  • “Where Treme is like a poem...being from New Orleans, it is like a love poem to the city.” (07:27, Wendell Pierce)
  • Learned trombone for his role, aided by members of the Rebirth Brass Band.

• The Wire:
  Preparations with Baltimore detectives, and real-life law enforcement responses to the show’s accurate depiction of street life.

  • “NYPD called HBO and said, you’re killing us...These kids are learning from The Wire.” (02:01, 27:07, Wendell Pierce)
  • “Detectives are students of human behavior, like actors. So I became immersed in it, really enjoying how they were studying other people.” (26:48, Wendell Pierce)

• Upcoming Superman Role:
  Expresses delight at joining the Superman franchise as Perry White.

  • “I heard from people all over the world...The announcement is probably bigger than the role.” (28:20, Wendell Pierce)

Cooking Segments & Food Memories

Corn Muffins with Raspberry Jam

• Ina’s Recipe:
  Ina prepares corn muffins with a tip to make them more moist, and together they pipe in raspberry jam. Charming banter about childhood improvisations in the kitchen.
  • “As a kid, I would just take, like, a hanger...open up the whole one...jam the jam in there.” (07:01–07:11, Wendell Pierce)

Summer Skillet: Clams, Sausage, and Corn

• Cooking Together:
  Step-by-step preparation, filled with laughter and culinary tips.

  • “I love this dish because it’s all in one pot...What I love about a recipe like this, you can just take the entire skillet and just bring it to the table.” (32:38–32:46, Ina Garten & Wendell Pierce)
  • Wendell explains his family’s tradition of men cooking, favorite dishes like gumbo, and the emotional bonds tied to okra and shrimp cooked by his late mother.

• Notable Cooking Quotes:

  • “Instead of au jus, give me some of that pot liquor.” (37:03, Wendell Pierce)
  • “I always thought people were lying on these shows like, ‘Oh mine is so good’...but this is good.” (37:43, Wendell Pierce)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Courage and Calling:
  “I never felt the fear because I always knew that I would have an alternative...That’s the calling, and I’ll earn my living some other way.” (13:11, Wendell Pierce)
• Art and Resilience:
  “It’s about the work that you do and the people you do it with.” (16:44, Wendell Pierce)
• Community Impact:
  “We put together resident-initiated redevelopment...and rebuilt our neighborhood brick by brick, house by house, block by block.” (21:13, Wendell Pierce)
• Family Connection:
  “I am communing with the spirit of my mother every time I...” (35:25, Wendell Pierce, on cooking stewed okra with shrimp and tomatoes)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Wendell’s Early Life and Neighborhood – 10:30–12:49
• Bob Fosse Audition Story – 14:10–17:48
• Death of a Salesman and Tony Nomination – 17:59–19:27
• Rebuilding after Katrina and Food Deserts – 21:03–25:25
• Family History and Resilience – 25:25–26:41
• The Wire’s Cultural Impact – 27:04–28:10
• Joining Superman Franchise – 28:20–28:47
• Corn Muffin Segment – 05:50–08:21
• Cooking Summer Skillet Together – 29:51–36:38
• Food Memories and Gumbo Tales – 34:33–36:11
• Final Tasting and Reflections – 37:03–37:55

Episode Tone & Atmosphere

The episode maintains Ina’s signature warmth and lightheartedness, met by Wendell’s deep candor, humor, and humility. Laughter and nostalgia are abundant, especially when the pair cook together and reminisce about culinary roots. The conversation flows naturally from kitchen counter to personal crossroads, offering a rich blend of flavor, feeling, and inspiration.

Summary

This episode of Be My Guest is a captivating mix of kitchen wisdom, personal triumphs, and cultural homage. Wendell Pierce’s journey—from his New Orleans roots through Broadway to community leadership—unfolds with charm, insight, and vulnerability. Whether you crave inspiration, laughter, or a new recipe, this conversation offers nourishment for the soul and palate alike.