Broad City

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this show.

From the outset it seems like a very traditional sitcom set-up; two women living in a big city, in their 20s, stuck in limbo struggling to 'do what adults do' (see '2 Broke Girls').

But this is so much more charming and funny than the usual sitcoms churned out by the dozen in America... perhaps because the web-series it was inspired by was an indie project from the outset, and relied on the chemistry of everybody involved.

There's plenty of awkwardness, but the cringe-worthy situations are offset by the friendship-cum-platonic-marriage Ilana and Abbi have. Every episode is hilarious, and set to some pretty cool music, too.

And they've had the series renewed for another couple of seasons! I only hope they can maintain the high standard set in the first couple. Definitely watch this if you like your comedy small-scale, indie and with a healthy dose of weird.

Broad City came out of no where for me which might have something to do with why I like it so much. At this point only 4 or 5 episodes have aired but excluding the possibility that the show takes a 180 degree turn South, I can say with some certainty that this show is nothing short of awesome.

I've been a loyal workaholics fan for 4 seasons now, which has the time slot on Comedy Central just before Broad city, but already I prefer the latter. After the season 4 premiere of Workaholics, the channel simply wasn't changed and my roommate and I found ourselves watching Broad City. Normally we would change the channel because generally when we watch TV we don't just watch random shows. The only time we watch new shows is when it's a conscious decision. HOWEVER, Broad City had enough humor and wit packed into the first minute that we were hooked enough to watch the entire episode. Now, 4 episodes later, he and I make sure to tune into Comedy Central every Wednesday at 10:30.

The show rests on the shoulders of its 2 leads, Abbi and Ilana, who bounce off each other perfectly. Abbi is the more awkward, reserved pushover who takes sh*t from all angles (her roommate's super-mooch boyfriend, her boss, etc.). Ilana, on the other hand, does everything in her power at all times to take advantage of people because she's struggling to get by. But so is Abbi, which is why they make such a great team. They complete each other. When they're not together, they're on the phone or video chatting with one another. Ilana provides the more outrageous, in-your-face humor, while Abbi brings the more subtle, charming humor - but again, their collective humor makes for one of the most well-rounded female driven comedies.

Naturally a comparison to Girls comes up precisely because it's a female driven comedy television show - not to mention it's revolves around young women struggling to get by in New York City. Girls has its own brilliance in its wit and deeper nuanced characters, but it also has a very dramatic side, which often borders on ridiculous. Broad City takes a completely different and refreshing approach. Like Workaholics, it shoots for raunchy comedic gags and very rarely stumbles into dramatic territory. Unlike Workaholics, it never becomes TOO stupid or TOO ridiculous. The guys of Workaholics are essentially caricatures, which can be very funny, but it also leaves you disconnected from them. The only reason we like them is because they're funny, but otherwise there is zero depth to any of them. That's where Broad City has the obvious upper hand on Workaholics. After a few episodes you already have a feel for who the girls are, which allows you to laugh even harder at their misfortune.

I honestly don't get why anyone would give this show a negative rating. I guess different people find different things funny. I am a fan of Workaholics and Always Sunny... but where those shows use impossible situations and unrealistic scenarios, Broad City is very different. Maybe you have to be a chick living in the city, but no, my husband sitting next to me watching is laughing his butt off too. Awkward and stupid is funny, and I so get these broads. The first show I watched had me laughing to tears, and I thought maybe it might have been a fluke, but every episode I have watched since has been just as funny. I also want to point out that while many shows are funny, you have to admit the characters are so horrible as human beings that you really wish the worst fate on them. Not these girls... Their friendship is actually kind of sweet, and you are always really cheering for them. They also have some of the best friends ever, and I would give anything for the chance to party with this bunch.

I have seen the commercials promoting the show and didn't bother to watch for it--it's not that it looked 'bad,' just that it didn't appear to cater to me. I happened to catch episode seven, though, and it had me laughing several times with its circumstantial comedy. I decided to seek out the rest of the series and have seen up to episode three so far--I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I've noted some people liken it to Workaholics and I can attest that it has that pace and comedic tone. Though frankly, Workaholics has lost its luster to me after season two and I no longer look forward to new episodes. I do, however, look forward to continue watching this show. I could also see it compared somewhat to New Girl. If you like either of those shows, Broad City is worth a try.

If you hate the idea of hipsters (as so many other reviews have pointed out and because of which have given scalding ratings), don't be put off--it's very easy to overlook once you get into it. Rather than the whole condescending, superiority-complex-laden attitude of the prototypical hipster, the two main characters set a vibe that they're just being the way they are.

I was skeptical at first but now I'm hooked. I found it completely refreshing to have a female lead series that has a broad sense of humor that isn't gender specific. The show is basically about two women in their twenties living in New York City and the hassle that comes with it. Imagine the HBO series Girls but way funnier and more realistic. The show is carried by the 2 lead characters Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson. Their chemistry and comedic timing throughout the series suits them well.I found their friendship with one another completely authentic and truly charming. Although their roles are minor, support actors like Hannibal Buress, John Gemberling, and Chris Gethard help create funny characters for Ilana and Abbi to interact with. The scenarios are hilarious, the dialog is funny and the acting is great. As much as I personally enjoyed the first episode it wasn't until the second episode "Pu$$y Weed" that I became hooked. If you like workaholics or it's always sunny you'll definitely enjoy this. Comedy Central seriously has potential hit on their hands. I seriously recommend watching a few episodes before making your judgment.