INTRODUCING: Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa (w/ Colman Domingo)

Summary

Summary: SmartLess Episode "INTRODUCING: Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa" featuring Colman Domingo

In the "SmartLess" podcast episode titled "INTRODUCING: Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa (w/ Colman Domingo)", hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett welcome Kelly Ripa as a guest to introduce her own podcast, "Let's Talk Off Camera." The episode delves into an engaging and heartfelt conversation where Kelly shares a poignant excerpt from her discussion with actor Colman Domingo about his romantic journey to finding his husband. This summary captures the essence of their dialogue, highlighting key moments, insights, and memorable quotes.

Introduction to Kelly Ripa's Podcast

Kelly Ripa opens the segment by introducing her podcast, "Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa," emphasizing its unique angle of having off-camera, genuine conversations with notable guests. She mentions her ability to ask personal and intriguing questions, setting the stage for an authentic and entertaining dialogue. Kelly states:

"Every Wednesday, I get to ask the questions that I really want to know and talk to friends like Andy Cohen, Carol Burnett, Seth Meyers, Goldie Hawn, and so many more."
[00:00]

This introduction underscores the podcast's focus on candid discussions away from the public eye, offering listeners an intimate glimpse into the lives of celebrities and public figures.

Colman Domingo's Romantic Story

The Serendipitous First Encounter

Colman Domingo recounts the enchanting story of how he met his husband nearly two decades ago, highlighting the absence of modern technology in facilitating their connection. He begins by sharing the context of their meeting:

"We literally met in the stone ages of technology because... I was really minding my business."
[00:51]

One evening in Berkeley, after attending a show at Berkeley Rep in New York, Colman stops by Walgreens to purchase a mask. Exiting the store, he spots a striking man with long hair and a lip piercing, describing him as:

"He had the greenest eyes... something out of a fairy tale."
[00:51]

Their eyes lock, creating an immediate and mesmerizing connection. However, the man is with another woman who appears upset, leaving Colman intrigued but unsure about approaching him.

The Missed Connection and Reiteration

Three days after their initial encounter, Colman decides to browse Craigslist, where he stumbles upon a "Missed Connections" post that mirrors his own experience. Recognizing the description, he excitedly reaches out:

"I literally jumped the fuck up. And I was like, get the fuck out of here. That's me."
[02:59]

The post, seemingly written by the man he saw, leads to an email exchange that culminates in a planned meeting at a bar named Dalva in San Francisco. This fortuitous twist reignites the connection they initially felt.

The Emotional Reunion

At Dalva, Colman describes the evening as "beautiful," noting the natural chemistry between them. Despite his attraction, Colman expresses a desire to maintain integrity:

"I'm trying not to be a whore."
[04:01]

Kelly empathizes with his sentiment:

"Yes, I got it. I'm with you. I understand."
[04:04]

Colman elaborates on his approach to building a genuine relationship:

"I'll go home with you, but we can just... Let's just cuddle tonight. Because I really liked him."
[04:07]

This moment of vulnerability becomes a turning point, leading to a profound emotional connection. Around 4 a.m., Colman shares a heartfelt confession:

"I think I love you and you're about to change my life."
[04:07]

This declaration cements their bond, and they have remained together ever since.

The Serendipitous Coincidence

Adding a delightful twist to their story, Colman reveals an unexpected coincidence that solidifies their destined meeting:

"I was a tailor at that same building... What floor was it on?... I worked on the fifth floor."
[05:08]

Both discover that they unknowingly worked in proximity years before their actual meeting, reinforcing the sense of fate that brought them together.

Key Takeaways and Insights

• Serendipity in Relationships: Colman's story underscores the role of chance and fate in forming meaningful connections.

• Vulnerability and Honesty: His willingness to express deep emotions early in the relationship highlights the importance of honesty and vulnerability in building trust and lasting bonds.

• Timing and Technology: Meeting in an era devoid of modern digital communication tools emphasizes that genuine connections can transcend technological barriers.

• Destined Connections: The coincidental overlap in their professional lives adds a layer of destiny to their relationship, suggesting that sometimes, the universe conspires to bring people together.

Conclusion

This "SmartLess" episode offers a touching glimpse into Colman Domingo's romantic journey, showcasing the power of serendipity, honesty, and genuine connection in forging lasting relationships. Through Kelly Ripa's storytelling, listeners gain insight into the beautiful unpredictability of love and the meaningful coincidences that can shape one's personal life. The episode not only entertains but also inspires listeners to remain open to unexpected opportunities and the magic that can unfold when least anticipated.

For those intrigued by Colman's heartfelt narrative and eager to hear the full story, Kelly Ripa encourages tuning into her podcast, promising more engaging conversations with a diverse array of guests.

Transcript

[Kelly Ripa]

Hey there, smartless listeners, it's Kelly Ripa. Remember hearing that Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson might be brothers? Or that Rob Lowe briefly had a fling with Demi Moore, Lucky Rob. You can hear it all and much more on my podcast, let's talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa. Every Wednesday, I get to ask the questions that I really want to know and talk to friends like Andy Cohen, Carol Burnett, Seth Meyers, Goldie Hawn, and so many more. It's fun, it's honest, and the best part, it's off camera. And believe me, that's when you get the good stuff. One of my favorite conversations was with the legendary Colman Domingo. We talked about his long standing friendship with Lenny Kravitz, his full circle moment with Oprah, and the unbelievably romantic way Coleman met his now husband. Here's a little taste of that love story. So tell me this story about how you met your husband, because it doesn't.

[Colman Domingo]

Sound real, you know, because it doesn't feel real, to be honest. It's. Tell me first, first of all, we're celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary in two days and thank you, but we met almost 20 years ago. Next year will be 20 years. We literally met in the stone ages of technology because, and I say that because I was really minding my business. One night I was, I was living. I lived in New York, but I went to Berkeley Rep to do a show. So on Sunday night, I decided to go to go to Walgreens to get a mask. I wanted to get like a Queen Helene mask to, like, get my pores together. So I go in there and walking out of Walgreens was this beautiful, beautiful man with hair down past his shoulders and a lip piercing. And I was like, what? And he had the greenest eyes. I don't know, he just looked like something out of a fairy tale. And we just locked eyes and I was just awestruck by it. So then I came back outside. I didn't even go inside. I came back out. And I'm looking at him, he's looking at me. He's with this girl. And this girl seems to be pissed off about something, but he keeps looking over at me. And I was on the phone with somebody who was just gabbing away. I said, okay, there's not anything. I need to go, I want to talk to this guy. And I finally hang up. By the time I hang up, he and this girl there, she's dragging him down the street down Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley. And he keeps looking back at me. And I raised my hand and said, come back. He doesn't come back. And so I was like. So then I'm really. I was. I'm gonna tell you the full story. I was so kind of dazed about all of this. I go back outside and I think, will he come back? And I thought, well, maybe he felt the same way and I'm a romantic. Maybe he'll meet me back here next Sunday at 8 o' clock if he felt the same way. So I put that away. Three days later, I'm trying to buy a used computer on Craigslist because I got a grant to help out with my writing. You know, I was a struggling artist. I was on Craigslist for like a good hour, and then I was just staring at the home screen and I remember reading all those Craigslist miss connections and I thought, well, what if I wrote one of those?

[Kelly Ripa]

Oh my gosh.

[Colman Domingo]

So I started just reading them and then I get to the second page, third from the top, and I see it says, saw you outside of Walgreens, Berkeley. I literally jumped the fuck up. And I was like, get the fuck out of here. That's me. I click on it. I almost clicked on it. Like I was scared. Like I clicked it. And he described me and my faux hawk because it was 20 years ago and I had a faux hawk. And he described me to a T and said, I'm sorry. We were lost and my friend was rushing off. I hope this finds you. Apparently he posted that just an hour before. He tried to post it three times before, but it go up until like an hour before I reach out to him by email. We agree to meet up two days later in San Francisco at this bar named Dalva called Dalva. I go in there, we have a beautiful night. I trying to be a good boy. He wants me to go home with him. I'm like, ah, no, no, I'm trying. I'm trying. I'm trying to, you know, make him.

[Kelly Ripa]

Earn it a little bit more.

[Colman Domingo]

Or I'm trying not to be a whore. Yes, exactly.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yes, I got it. I'm with you. I understand.

[Colman Domingo]

You understand. So I was like, you know, I'm trying to practice some good behavior. So I was like, well, how about this? I'll go home with you, but we can just. Let's just cuddle tonight. Because I really something about him I really liked. I just really liked him. And so we're laying there and I couldn't sleep. It's about 4 in the morning. And I just say this quietly. I didn't think he was awake or anything. I just said, I think I love you and you're about to change my life. Oh, my God. And he heard me, but he didn't say anything. And so we've been together ever since. Like, when I tell you.

[Kelly Ripa]

God.

[Colman Domingo]

And then get this. Here. Here's the coda to the story. There's another. There's a coda. We believe we were supposed to meet two or two years before because we started to find out. I was like, oh, my agent is in the building on Gary street in San Francisco. Oh, really? I used to work on Gary Street. I used to work at a. For Gucci. I was a tailor at that same building. I was like, really? Oh, yeah. What floor was it on? I said, my agent was on the sixth floor. He's like, oh, my God. I worked on the fifth floor. And then we both remembered this.

[Kelly Ripa]

One moment to hear the rest of the story, to find out what happened, go listen to the episode and be sure to check out the other great conversations I've had with folks like Rob Lowe, Jeremy Renner, Tyler Perry, Salma Hayek, Alec Baldwin, my own daughter Lola, and so many more. So download my podcast. Let's talk off camera with Kelly Ripa. Wherever you get your podcasts, you're going to love it.