David Bianculli

This is Fresh Air.

I'm David Bianculli.

Today's guest, Julio Torres, is a comic actor, director, and writer.

You may have encountered him in several different venues.

His comedy specials on HBO and Comedy Central, the short films he used to do on Saturday Night Live, his bits as a correspondent on The Tonight Show, and as a writer and actor on the HBO series Los Espookys.

In 2023, he made his debut as a movie director with Problemista, the satirical film he also wrote and in which he starred.

In 2024, Julio Torres wrote, directed, and starred in Phantasmas, an absurdist comedy series on HBO Max.

And now, Torres has a new TV special called Color Theories, which premiered last week on HBO Max.

In the fall of 2025, Torres performed Color Theories as a one-man off-Broadway show.

The Hollywood Reporter called it a TED Talk masquerading as absurdist stand-up.

Here's an early scene from Color Theories in which Torres defines a particular shade of the primary color blue.

Terry Gross spoke to Julio Torres in 2024 when his film Problemista was released.

Here she is to set things up.

Julio Torres speaking to Terry Gross about his 2023 film Problemista.

He has a new special on HBO Max called Color Theories, adapted from his one-man off-Broadway show.

After a break, we'll continue their conversation.

And film critic Justin Chang reviews the new film The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.

I'm David Bianculli, and this is Fresh Air.

Julio Torres speaking to Terry Gross in 2024.

More after a break.