Broad City is one of Comedy Central's most popular shows. It centers on two best friends, Abby and Illana, who are trying to navigate New York city in a time between jobs, relationships, and their early 20s. While most sitcoms focus on homogeneous friend groups, the Broad City stars and creators (Abby & Illana themselves) have created a diverse central cast. Hannibal Burris plays Illana's casual hookup and prominent dentist. The only stably employed member of the entourage, Burris breaks normal stereotypes of the out of work and irresponsible black man. Additionally, Jamie, Illana's gay Latino roommate provides another unique intersectional element to the show. Played by a straight male, Jamie provides a quintessential nuance to the show. His humility and soft spoken demeanor undercut the stereotyped flamboyant gay man. These images of diversity remind the viewer of the benefits of inclusion. Additionally, Abby and Illana's commitment to writing these characters, not as cameos, but as recurring principles proves that including diverse characters is critical to a successful series.
No comments:
Post a Comment