holding her own
in the world of comedy.
Abbi Jacobson always had a flair for the creative.
Growing up in Wayne, Pennsylvania, she first realized
that she might have a future on stage while hosting the
Junior Cabaret at her high school. It was her first time performing
in front of such a large crowd,
She attended Maryland Institute College of Art with the idea that
she would follow in the footsteps of her artistic parents
and become an illustrator,
After graduation, Abbi moved to New York City and joined the
Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in 2006. While there, she met
Ilana Glazer in a practice group. When a fellow UCB member
working with Abbi quit a sketch show they had been working on,
Ilana suggested the two of them combine forces.
“We have these similar fundamental values,
and one of them is like
Glazer says.
Like Ilana said
we were both sorta frustrated creating our own material,
it came to this point where we were like,
our dynamic,"
Glazer says.
With her new partner in crime, Abbi began working
on something risky, but worth it.
Abbi and Ilana premiered ‘Broad City' on YouTube in 2010.
Oh I don't have any cash man, I'm sorry.
[Alright, well you have a wonderful day.]
Um, I actually, I have a ten. If you could give me eight back. we're good.
Each episode chronicles a day in the lives of fictional
Abbi and Ilana as they hilariously tackle
friendship, love and financial issues.
I feel like taller and leaner and organic.
I just farted.
Okay, why do you say this to me right now.
It wasn’t necessarily a viral sensation, so, for the most part,
at the Iron Mule Short Comedy Screening Series, and while the
show’s small-time success reassured their parents
that they might be onto something with this comedy thing,
while finishing up the second season of their web series and drafting
a pitch to bring ‘Broad City’ to TV, Abbi and Ilana called upon
UCB alum Amy Poehler for a cameo.
Poehler could tell that Abbi and Ilana had
“very obvious talent and chemistry.” So when they stepped out
on a limb to ask her to executive produce their budding TV venture,
she was happy to help.
They initially pitched the show to FX, who passed, but Poehler
believes that they benefited from being underestimated.
She reached out to connections at Comedy Central to make sure
the project got in the right hands, and
Despite hitting it big, this broad is committed to keeping it real
The world of Fictional Abbi and Ilana on "Broad City'
Abbi’s Fictional counterpart’s job at the gym is loosely based
on a job that she really had in her early 20s passing
out flyers for Equinox outside of Grand Central Terminal.
Fictional Abbi is obsessed with Bed Bath & Beyond because
real Abbi’s mother worked at
two of the stores in her hometown.
How often d you come in here? [Not that much]
Well look what the cat dragged in.
[Oh my God. The planning this takes is unbelievable.]
They also pull from shows that they love, such as
‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,’ ‘Friends,’ and ‘Seinfeld’
for inspiration. Abbi’s perpetually absent roommate is said to be
a homage to Maris Crane, Niles' wife on ‘Frasier’
that the audience never meets.
The attention to detail and relatable storylines have hit
fast forward on the show’s trajectory for success.
Sorry. we are just so excited.
That's alright, just take your time.
The success of ‘Broad City’ has also opened the door for Abbi
to pursue other opportunities in Hollywood, including
A cameo in ‘Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,’
and voicework for Netflix’s ‘BoJack Horseman’
and ‘The Lego Ninjago Movie’
People say, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it,”
but Abbi is always looking toward what’s next.
Despite a growing, cult-like fandom, ‘Broad City’
will voluntarily shutter after 2019’s fifth season.
since we started as a web series,” the queens said.
“It’s been a phenomenal experience, and we’ve put
ourselves into it completely.
Broad City‘s always had a spontaneous pace and feeling,
Do I need to keep going?
However, the two are still working with Viacom and
Comedy Central moving forward to bring more
projects to the network. Personally, Abbi is
keeping busy with solo projects such as Netflix’s
‘Disenchantment,’ from the creator
of ‘The Simpsons,’ Matt Groening.
She’s also maintained her chops as an artist by
publishing two self-drawn coloring books:
‘Color This Book: New York City’
and ‘Color This Book: San Francisco.’
Abbi Jacobson is a self- described workaholic
and clearly her determination has paid off.
She’s stretching her legs around the entertainment industry,
but to her fans,