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Leo Yoshimura on working with Eugene Lee on production designing the first few episodes of Saturday Night Live, and working with the stagehands on the show

Leo Yoshimura on working with Eugene Lee on production designing the first few episodes of Saturday Night Live, and working with the stagehands on the show

Leo Yoshimura on playing "Sulu" in several Star Trek parodies on Saturday Night Live over the years, and on lack of representation of Japanese people on television

On attending three colleges; on experiencing racism as a college student; on television programs she watched throughout her childhood

On not getting lead roles in college productions because she was African-American; on moving to upstate New York to work at the Empire State Youth Theatre Institute; on performing in Israel and Italy

On moving to New York City and going to auditions; on going after lead roles; on getting an audition for Law & Order

On touring with the production of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf"; on getting an agent and performing in off-Brodway productions

On focusing on theater and not looking for film and television roles; on appearing in Spike Lee's film "She's Gotta Have It"

On getting cast as "Reba" in Pee-Wee's Playhouse; on the impressive playhouse; on the show moving to Los Angeles

S. Epatha Merkerson on getting cast as "Reba" on Pee-Wee's Playhouse

S. Epatha Merkerson on getting an audition for Law & Order

S. Epatha Merkerson on meeting Paul Reubens and auditioning for the role of "Reba" on Pee-Wee's Playhouse

S. Epatha Merkerson on Paul Reubens' ability to make her laugh on Pee-Wee's Playhouse

S. Epatha Merkerson on improvised and scripted scenes with Paul Reubens on Pee-Wee's Playhouse and the show moving to Los Angeles

S. Epatha Merkerson on learning from an experience in high school drama class

S. Epatha Merkerson on Detroit riots during the Civil Rights Movement

S. Epatha Merkerson on not getting lead roles in college productions because she was African-American

S. Epatha Merkerson on pursuing lead acting roles and getting a role on Law & Order

S. Epatha Merkerson on appearing in Spike Lee's film "She's Gotta Have It"

S. Epatha Merkerson on getting cast as "Reba" on Pee-Wee's Playhouse

S. Epatha Merkerson on the playhouse and cast of Pee-Wee's Playhouse

S. Epatha Merkerson on watching Amos 'N' Andy as a child

S. Epatha Merkerson on getting an audition for Law & Order

S. Epatha Merkerson on getting cast as "Reba" on Pee-Wee's Playhouse

S. Epatha Merkerson on improvised and scripted scenes on Pee-Wee's Playhouse and the show moving to Los Angeles

S. Epatha Merkerson on experiencing racism as a college student in Indiana

S. Epatha Merkerson on the excitement of seeing black people on television when she was young

S. Epatha Merkerson on the excitement of seeing black people on television when she was young

S. Epatha Merkerson on appearing in Spike Lee's film "She's Gotta Have It"