‘Melo and Mero team up to talk basketball (maybe even the nets)
Carmelo Anthony, the former NBA star, and Joel Martinez, the comedian known as the Kid Mero, are in some ways a perfect match to host a streaming series.
Both are New Yorkers – Anthony grew up in public housing in Red Hook, Brooklyn; Martinez is originally from the Bronx – and the city is an essential part of every man’s identity.
Anthony’s most memorable moments in the NBA came in his nearly seven seasons with the New York Knicks, from 2011 to 2017. He won just one playoff series in those years, but Knicks fans treated him like a conquering hero. Martinez is a long-suffering Knicks fan, a fact that was often brought up on “Desus & Mero,” the late-night comedy talk show he hosted for four seasons with Daniel Baker, better known as Desus Nice.
Anthony and Martinez are teaming up for a weekly series titled “7PM in Brooklyn,” which will be available on YouTube and Spotify starting Thursday. They expect to talk primarily about basketball and New York, although other topics will be an option. (“If you tune in one day and it’s Meryl Streep and us, you shouldn’t be shocked,” Martinez said.)
They met in 2015 when Anthony toured Vice Studios while Martinez was taping his show there. Martinez has a reputation as a brash trash talker, while Anthony tends to play it safe. They discussed their collaboration in a Zoom interview.
These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
Carmelo, did you know Mero when you first met him?
CARMELO ANTHONY The culture and community knew who they were.
You played in the NBA for almost twenty years. You are a future Hall of Famer with many business interests. You don’t need this. What attracted you to working with Mero?
ANTONY It’s a different vibe, right? Yes, it’s a sports talk show, but it’s more of a cultural show. This is more of us giving people their due diligence, their flowers, paying respects, paying tribute.
What bothers you about sports talk shows?
ANTONY These aren’t things that bother me. It’s just things I can see: “Oh, this. Oh, that could be better,” or “they could add this,” or “they could add that.” So it’s more creative thinking.
JOEL MARTINEZ I had this conversation with Melo early on. It was exactly the same way you watch gaming films. That’s how I watch TV. You know what I mean? This is how I view all types of media content. As Melo said: “What can we do better? What is something that is missing?”
Mero, be honest. Have you ever booed Carmelo?
MARTINEZ Bro, I never booed Melo. Not once. Think about it, brother. For example, consider the Knicks. I am a 40 year old man. I’ve been watching the Knicks my entire existence. The closest the Knicks have been to that mountaintop was with Melo up front.
Carmelo, do you believe him?
ANTONY I believe it because I’m connected to it.
Mero, are you having fun with Desus today?
MARTINEZ Well, I’m from the Bronx. If someone isn’t actively trying to kill me, we don’t have a problem. You know what I mean?
ANTONY That’s a fact.
MARTINEZ Win, brother. You know what I mean? Do your thing, you know? If my life is a book, this is the next chapter.
You all have a visitor coming from out of town. Name the one place you take them.
MARTINEZ I’ll take you to El Tina Fish Fry. Then we head to Locksmith for a few drinks at 192nd and Broadway.
ANTONY I can’t give you my spots. I can’t place the spots there.
Carmelo is such a New Yorker that his spots are secret.
ANTONY That embodies me as a New Yorker. You have to know which places to go. It also depends on who comes to town.
Mero, the last time we spoke, you told me that as a Knicks fan was like watching a “wild, volatile stock.” How would you describe it now?
MARTINEZ Now it’s like having Apple in my wallet. It may go up and down a bit, but it will never crash.
How much will the Nets be mentioned on the show?
MARTINEZ What is that?
ANTONY I’m not biased. I also provide perspective. They’re in Brooklyn. We’re ‘7pm in Brooklyn’. The show is set in Red Hook, Brooklyn. So yes, of course there are times when the Nets come up.
Look how diplomatic Carmelo is. Do you agree, Mero?
MARTINEZ We are New Yorkers. That’s real New York. It’s like, yeah, I’m going to roast you. But it is love. You know what I mean? And I want you to come over and talk about what we roasted you about.