In January, television viewers were treated to a new show from Upright Citizens Brigade Alumni Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson called ‘Broad City’ (which airs on Comedy Central and is based off of the web series of the same name). The show is lucky enough to also be executive produced by another UCB Alum, Amy Poehler. And also features the rising star power of their co-star Hannibal Buress. This buddy comedy follows these two ladies through their ridiculously different lifestyles, yet refreshing and warm hearted friendship that gets them through the sometimes cold and uninviting New York City life. This sitcom shows that we can not only laugh at the things that annoy the living hell out of us, but it also sheds light on private and very often weird conversations we have with our closest friends when nobody is around. Those conversations where we think about something that might land us in therapy or a psych ward but you realize there’s somebody else in this world like you and maybe you’re going to be just fine as long as they’re by your side. Man or woman, you can relate to those true friendship moments in the show.
The comedy writing of this show really does a good job of making New York seem like the most interesting place in the world. For years shows like Saturday Night Live have used NYC as the butt of their joke and even though it is a national show, some punchlines only made locals laugh. This show still has the same ‘locals only’ feel but still gives viewers the chance to laugh even if they’ve only lived in New York through pictures or other’s stories. Even though many of the scenarios are ridiculous beyond belief, the show is almost like a ‘What To Expect When You Consider New York City as a Home’. No matter how hard it might get, you can still expect to find a lot of things to enjoy.
It is also nice to see two women be the main characters of some hilarious situations. I am from the camp that if you’re funny, you’re funny. Race, gender, sexual orientation, none of that matters. But it wasn’t until I saw ‘Broad City’ did I realize that there haven’t been very many shows or movies where ladies can really act comfortable in their own skin and really be in charge of a situation. It’s safe to say that there is still some stereotyping in entertainment about how women are supposed to act. But when you see Ms. Glazer talk about her vagina as explicitly as men about their penises and the such like they have throughout history, you realize not only is the topic funny but the jokes made with it are great too. Those are the moments in the show that reveal something that I think many men, including myself, have not been exposed to because those kind of conversations have been behind closed doors. And it differs from when somebody like Sarah Silverman talks about her private parts because she tries add cutesy and adorable stuff to it which, in my personal opinion, gets old pretty quick. These girls just want to act like themselves and if there happens to be a camera near by then we’re all in for a treat.
Another added bonus with this show is the brilliance in making drug use very funny that is on par with comedy legends Cheech and Chong. Back when Cheech and Chong first started out, the drug use itself was the joke to a lot of people. There are moments, though, when the drugs contributed to an absurd situation that really made it into comedy gold. Abbi and Ilana have found those moments and polished them up real good. The absurdity that the drugs gets these girls in to is just too good to pass up. Even if you have never said the word ‘marijuana’ in your life you will laugh when the ladies try to find the perfect hiding spot for their stash in episode two, season one appropriately titled “P***y Weed”. It gets better and better from there.
It is also enjoyable to see how maturity does not necessarily come with age. Just because you are old enough to do your own taxes, doesn’t necessarily mean you will. And the show also reveals that ladies have just as much apprehension when it comes to being attractive to the opposite sex. As a man it seems refreshing knowing that we’re all nervous no matter our age, and maybe just the fact that that is out there will cause us all to calm down a little bit more and just be ourselves.
There is so much more I could talk about but now I want to watch the show all day. So be ready to see more from these ‘Broads’. You can watch all episodes on Hulu Plus and ComedyCentral.com and expect to see the Second Season of ‘Broad City’ real soon!
-Matt Tapia
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