Dani Fernandez talks the magical experience of co-hosting Live from WZRD

Comedian Dani Fernandez talks co-hosting a new magical talk show, Live from WZRD, plus the importance of diverse representation across fandoms and media.

For those of us who never received  an acceptance letter to Hogwarts, don’t give up hope yet! East Gatewood Wizarding Community College, a 2-year accredited wizarding school in La Crescenta, CA, can be your Plan B.

One of Gatewood’s more entertaining aspects is Live from WZRD, a weirdly hilarious talk show hosted by Open Mike Eagle and Dani Fernandez. For those not able to attend Gatewood, you can still catch recent episodes on VRV.

Each episode features on-set segments with characters from around the school and celebrity guests, such as Bob’s Burgers‘ Paul F. Tompkins and comedian Rhea Butcher. When Mike and Dani aren’t keeping students and faculty up-to-date on campus happenings, they find themselves entangled in dangerous situations in the magical realm of East Gatewood.

Eager to learn more? Well, sit tight, because we had the magical opportunity to chat with co-host Dani Fernandez about her experiences so far on Live from WZRD.

Mike Eagle, SungWon Cho, and Dani Fernandez on the set of “Live from WZRD,” comding to VRV on March 28

For starters, fill everyone in about your character.

Dani Fernandez, played by me, Dani Fernandez, was a role I had been preparing for my entire life. My character is a freshman who just found out she is magic. She is paired with Open Mike Eagle, a perpetual senior, to co-host his public access show. Dani is an optimistic freshman and very intrigued by this new world she finds herself in. She wants to show she belongs here at this school and hosting this show – even if she is a little awkward and new to it.

How much of your actual personality is embedded in the character?

I would say she is a very heightened version of the positive aspects of myself. I think the cast and crew would agree that I had a lot of fun energy on set. Sometimes in between takes I would dance on our wizarding furniture. I just wanted to make people laugh! I think Dani is who I am when I’ve slept for 8 hours and had caffeine. She’s like a fresh-faced person who just moved to Hollywood ready to take on her dreams! I’d say in real life I toggle between being a hyper Dani and a funny sarcastic Mike.

How did you get involved with the show initially? And how involved are you in the creative side of it?

I sat down with Sarah Victor at VRV to talk about some things I had been working on and some things she had been working on and she told me about this show, and later told me they wanted to bring on Open Mike Eagle and I screamed because I have always wanted to work with him. Mike and I got to have a lot of influence on the characters. There were many things that were important to us, including having a diverse group of guests. Many of those are our talented friends. We also did quite a bit of improv which is always fun.

What have been some of your favorite moments on set?

It is very hard not to laugh working across from Mookie Blaiklock who plays Steve the Janitor. He got Mike and I several times. There was also a scene where I make like 20 tuna cans fall on his face which cracked the whole crew up. Neither him nor the tuna was harmed thanks to the magic of art directors and editing. I also LOVED our set! Our set designers created elaborate wizarding locations including a mysterious laboratory and supernatural creatures hanging from the walls. Every day was magical.

Mike Eagle and Dani Fernandez on the set of “Live from WZRD” premiering on VRV March 28.

How many episodes will there be in this first season? And when can people watch?

There will be 8 episodes this first season and please watch on VRV so we can get a season 2! There is so much more magic to be had!

Do you have a dream guest for this show?

My dream guests would be Lizzo playing her flute and singing in a musical wizarding episode. My friend and designer Gabi Fresh doing a wizard fashion show. Stephanie Beatriz playing my sister who also finds out she is magic. And Jason Mantzoukas playing a banished wizard who tries to possess Mike and Dani. Sorry, did you say just one?

The show definitely has a unique and diverse cast. Can you discuss the importance of that, as well as why it’s important for fandoms to embrace diversity as well?

Well, it is a reflection of the actual world. I think it’s weird (and telling) when shows, especially sci-fi fantasy ones, are not as diverse as the actual world is. If you can have dragons or aliens, you can have people of color. There’s literally no excuse. Embracing diversity also leads to better storytelling! We get to see the world through a different experience, through diverse lenses. It makes the range of fandom and media richer.

Mike Eagle and Dani Fernandez on the set of “Live from WZRD” premiering on VRV March 28.

What do you feel have been the biggest moments of progression when it comes to diversity in entertainment? And what spaces still need attention?

I’m seeing a lot more queer women of color in scripted television. And that isn’t their entire personality. Their personality isn’t “I’m gay! I’m the gay character!” They are fully fleshed out beings with story arcs. I’m also seeing this with plus-sized women, where they get to have actual stories and love lives.

As far as spaces that need attention, in the hosting world, I still see a lot of movie news and entertainment channels that only have one or two people of color full time (if that). Most of the nerd news channels barely have any women of color at all! When you see women of color, they are often freelance, brought in to make the channel look more diverse than it actually is, which means they don’t get to enjoy the benefits of the full time staff.

We are so much more than sidekicks! If you need help finding people, look at all of the hosts of color I follow. Or follow accounts like Geeks of Color or Nerds of Color who retweet the countless talented people in my industry!

When it comes to Latinxs having being well-represented in fandoms and entertainment as a whole, how do you do your part in making that happen? Or encouraging it to happen?

So far, I have written a Latinx lead in all my scripts. My screenwriting teacher said if we wanted to see ourselves represented, we needed to write ourselves into our scripts, and I have. And it looks like several of those scripts may be moving forward, so fingers crossed that you get to see them next year. Please know I am fighting to get more Latinx families and stories on your screen. I also have Latinx creators on my podcast, and when I have to pass on a hosting or acting gig, I recommend other people of color to take my place. I realized this is my duty. It is my job to make sure they don’t have an excuse to say “well she wasn’t available. We tried to make it diverse. It’s not our fault.” Because that has happened! I normally say, “if you love me, here are three other nerdy Latinas you’re gonna love.” I do this with hosts of color in general. My friends can vouch, I put my money where my mouth is. I would not be here if it weren’t for the countless others who paved the way before me. Now I get to pave some of the way. A rising tide lifts all boats.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I hope everyone has fun with this bizarre hilarious show! A lot of great people worked on it and laughing with the cast and crew reminded me of why I fell in love with the nerd community in the first place.

Live from WZRD airs Thursdays on VRV at 9 a.m. PT. Its first season will have a total of 8 episodes. VRV is a fandom focused video platform featuring premium SVOD channels including Crunchyroll, NickSplat, Rooster Teeth, Shudder and more.