Aziz Ansari stopped by the Today Show set to talk to about wrapping up seven seasons of NBC's Parks and Recreation, his new book on modern romance, and his Netflix comedy special from one of America's most hallowed performance halls - Aziz Ansari: Live from Madison Square Garden.
The actor/comedian/author also shared the inspiration behind one of his favorite on-stage bits - taking audience members' phones and reading aloud their text messages.
"During my set, I do this material about how, when you meet someone nowadays you exchange numbers, and so much of the early courtship happens on text messages," said Ansari. "I ask if anyone in the audience has met someone recently they've been texting back and forth."
Ansari claims the phones of willing audience members, and proceeds to share, on stage, a selection of text messages. He calls the exercise, "super interesting." Audience members just call it hilarious (below).
His new book, "Modern Romance," available in June, dives deeper into love in the time of texting, with historical data and international reporting on how the digital era is influencing dating today.
"I do think it's made us a little ruder," Ansari told Today Show hosts Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer, "like, this morning I almost texted you guys like, 'yeah, I don't think I'm gonna make it."'"
IN-DEPTH
- Aziz Ansari on His New Book and How Texting Is Ruining Relationships (TIME)
- Poehler talks 'Parks and Recreation'
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