In a candid interview on NPR’s “Wild Card with Rachel Martin,” Ilana Glazer described the evolution of “Broad City,” the smash Comedy Central series that accurately depicted young adult life in New York City. The sitcom ran for five seasons from 2014 to 2019, while being initially planned for seven.
Glazer, who co-created the sitcom with Abbi Jacobson, stated that they originally signed a contract for a lengthier run. However, both creators were unsure about continuing, prompting a choice that startled Comedy Central. “We were both ambivalent and unsure,” Glazer admitted, reflecting on their decision to conclude the event earlier than planned.
The choice to end “Broad City” was not easy. Glazer defined it as an “elegant” moment in which a creative undertaking comes to a natural completion. “I am confident that I will continue to generate new layers and act without thinking,” she stated, emphasizing the need to know when to move on.
For Glazer, “Broad City” was an important part of her twenties. “My entire 20s was ‘Broad City,'” she remarked. While scripted and acted out her experiences for the show, she claimed that she did not live them in real life. This reflection demonstrates the producers’ strong personal connection with the series.
“Broad City” began as a web series in 2009 and nearly had a different final season. Glazer revealed that the Season 3 conclusion would have occurred in Israel, with a noteworthy guest appearance by Zoë Kravitz. The ambitious program contained a sequence where “the Red Sea cures bacne,” and Kravitz might play Jesus in a desert mirage. However, the episode was eventually canceled due to rising tensions in the neighborhood
“It just got really scary at the last minute,” Glazer explained. The production team, which included director Lucia Aniello, was about to scout venues when they decided to cancel the film. Despite being granted military security, the creators were concerned about the filming conditions.
In a 2019 interview with IndieWire, Glazer hinted that the show’s brief lifespan was purposeful. “We always knew that this show had to end to still feel like this flash-in-the-pan experience,” she said, emphasizing their aim to preserve the series’ distinct vitality.
Despite its early cancellation, “Broad City” remains a beloved sitcom that caught the essence of millennial urban life. It stretched the boundaries and gave a raw, honest look at friendship and young adulthood, cementing its position in television history.
