I was writing a pretty depressing piece for today about why I’m not voting for Obama in 2012 but I’m still a bit skittish about comments post Kreayshawn so I need another month or two to mentally prepare for what I anticipate will be some serious backlash. Plus, I’m tired of being sad and overwhelmed by what’s happening in the world so I thought I’d spotlight something that makes me smile!
I’m talking about The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, an amazing web series that we’ve mentioned several times on the blog, facebook and tumblr! Writer/director/actress Issa Rae plays J, an awkward black girl with a penchant for writing violent rhymes to blow off steam, a deep and abiding hate for spoken word, and the ability to clock and interrogate racism with righteous precision and be hilarious while doing it!
The cast and crew were worried that they’d have to stop the show because they had run out of money so they started a Kickstarter and have raised over $50,000 with an initial $30,000 goal!
The success of the show and the fundraising effort comfort me and suggest that the announcement of a possible Tyler Perry TV channel doesn’t have to mean that the apocalypse is upon us. It is possible for independent awesomeness to survive and thrive if we are willing to support it and it looks like we are!
Just started watching the series, and I’m in love with it. She is so funny and awkward but in a real way. Not that shitty Hollywood let’s make the girl fall down way. Love her.
ABG is hilarious! So glad they were able to get the funding to continue their season.
I LOVE ABG. That is all.
I’m watching it at work and trying not to die holding in my laughter.
Congratulations to ABG; I look forward to your piece on Obama.
I hate most spoken word too. :-/
I love this series, I hope Issa can make 7 more seasons. <3
not to start another whole thing, but I just wanted to say that I’m sorry you received a lot of backlash about your Kreayshawn post. I thought it was *fantastic*.
xoxo
I love this series and most of my friends do too. Good luck to Issa!
I just found your blog a few days ago and thought I’d found home. I love your writing and witty posts. It was like in ABG where J says, “You get me!” However, I was a little nervous when I read your introduction to this post. Slighty anxious to read your Obama post although the knot in my stomach is already tightening…
I am so glad Issa Rae is getting (and continuing to recieve) so much positive press and review from everyone who watches. Personally im in love with the entire thing, and I hope it does become and official show.
Your post on Kreyshawn was brilliant! I watched her freestyle on a blog the other day and was thankful that you’d prepared me.
OK. I have been reading so much about ABG, and I have finally watched: It’s amazing! Love her just from watching this one episode. I hope it all goes well and they can continue with this series!
For those who haven’t heard, there’s another show, done by Robert Townsend called Diary of a Single Mom…don’t let the title scare you, it’s very well done!
http://pic.tv/singlemom/2010/09/27/life-raft/
There are so many things I love about her show. The writing is out of this world.
I love her facial expressions and the way she goes back and forth between the awkward moments where she’s obviously trying to grin and bear a situation and then the moments where she says what she’s got to say. It’s a brilliant balance. And it’s is much more relatable than anything I’ve seen recently.
If they do turn this into a TV series I hope they dont add laugh tracks and all of the over the top production that goes into big money ventures.