Your favorite comediennes (be sure to over-pronounce that for me), Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, are up for a pretty cool honor this weekend that could take them from gif-able dorks to critically acclaimed actresses and writers. Broad City is nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best Comedy of the Year and they should totally win.
The other nominees are Jane the Virgin, Mom, Silicon Valley, Transparent, Veep, and You’re the Worst. It's fascinating to me that only two of these are on a major primetime network. Transparent is the first big hit from Amazon Prime, Veep and Silicon Valley are HBO, and You're the Worst airs on FX. I would be down with a win for Jane the Virgin. It had one of the strongest first seasons for a comedy in a while, and Gina Rodriguez took home a Golden Globe to everyone's surprise and delight. Most of the reasons why I'm rooting for Broad City also apply to Jane the Virgin, so I don't want to look like a hypocrite.
However, the weird nontraditional comedy that is Broad City has been going for two years strong, and definitely deserves this critical win. The writing is sharp, the performances are unexpected, and I can't stop telling my friends to watch. That plus these reasons are the formula for winning when it comes to Broad City.
Ladies, Ladies, Ladies
Broad City is brave and "goes there" in a way that a lot of shows don't, which is important for a sitcom that was created by and stars two female comedians. Even the way they embrace immaturity and making mistakes isn't often seen or celebrated with female characters on television. It's a refreshing feminist energy that deserves accolades.
It's Got A Lot Of Heart
For a show set in New York City and featuring a mostly millennial cast, this show could easily become a hipster pit of irony and disconnected sadness. However, both the characters of Abbi and Ilana are sincere and relatable. They don't rely on being mean and taking others down to get a laugh.
Comedy Central Deserves It
I want this win not only for Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, but for their network as well. How great has Comedy Central become in the last few years? I used to avoid this channel unless The Daily Show was on — as much as I love to laugh, South Park and Daniel Tosh are not really my thing. However, now we've got Broad City, Key & Peele, Inside Amy Schumer, Drunk History, and so many options that offer different kinds of comedy to different kinds of comedy lovers. Comedy Central has worked hard to diversify and they need this recognition too.
They Keep Friends Close
The show feels homegrown in the best possible way. The Broad City costumes are realistic. Another big part of the reason why is that each episode is a "Who's Who" of comedians in New York and L.A. that have worked with Jacobson and Glazer in the past. Whether it's standup artists like Hannibal Buress, cable talk show host Chris Gethard, or regulars at the Upright Citizen's Brigade such as Connor Ratliff, D'Arcy Carden, Tim Martin, Nicole Drespel, and Morgan Grace Jarrett, you can tell that the show cares about showcasing the best talent out there. It also sends a pretty clear message — support Broad City and it will support you back.
Images: Lane Savage/Comedy Central; Giphy (4)
