Abbi Jacobson, best known for co-creating and starring in the hit Comedy Central show "Broad City," has carved a unique space in the entertainment world. From addressing taboo topics with humor and heart to exploring personal vulnerabilities in her writing, Jacobson consistently challenges norms and connects with audiences on a deeply relatable level.
Broad City: Redefining Comedy and Normalizing the Quirky
During its five-season run, "Broad City," co-created with Ilana Glazer, fearlessly tackled a wide range of topics, from the mundane to the controversial. Bed bugs, bad bosses, street harassment, subway struggles, feminism, and sexual escapades were all fair game, establishing the show as a platform for honest and hilarious storytelling about the realities of being a young woman in New York City.
Beyond Taboos: A Feminist Spin on Gut Health
Recently, Jacobson and Glazer reprised their roles for a MiraLAX campaign that addresses "The Gut Gap," a disparity where women are twice as likely to experience constipation than men, often due to stress. This collaboration exemplifies their commitment to destigmatizing important conversations, even those considered taboo.
Jacobson noted that The Gut Gap reminded her of many of the situations they covered on “Broad City” that normalized the quirky bits of life. “I don't think we intentionally were trying to destigmatize things, but that was something that we kept doing, and what it was like to be a person and human being and female presenting into the New York of it all,” Jacobson says.
A Natural Fit: Humor Meets Women's Health
The MiraLAX spot feels like a natural extension of "Broad City," blending humor with a message about women's health and stress. The campaign feels organic, which is exactly what everyone involved wanted. “Neither of us do a ton of ads and we haven't done anything together since ‘Broad City,’” Jacobson says. “It just felt right on the money.” Glazer adds, “It was so fun to be genuinely giggling about it.”
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The duo brought back much of their original crew, including hair, makeup, wardrobe, and production design. “It was pretty rad to be back together,” Jacobson says.
I Might Regret This: Embracing Vulnerability and Self-Discovery
In her book, "I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff," Jacobson takes readers on a personal journey of self-discovery following a difficult breakup. The book documents a three-week road trip across the country, offering a raw and honest look at heartbreak, healing, and the complexities of identity.
From Heartbreak to Self-Reflection: A Road Trip of Healing
The collection of confessional essays, anecdotes, and personal drawings offers a relatable-yet-specific point-of-view as a queer woman who came to that realization later in life.
Jacobson, 34, first dated a woman when she was 32 - and it was the end of that relationship that sparked her journey across the country. Still, she wasn't nervous to talk about it. "Besides the breakup part of it, the actual coming to terms with that part of who I am was fairly easy."
Coming Out and Finding Her Voice
Jacobson publicly came out last year in an interview with Vanity Fair. Opening up about her sexual orientation gave Jacobson an opportunity to talk very publicly about her private life - which is exactly what she does in her book.
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Embracing the Things That Scare You
Putting "I Might Regret This" into the world frightened her. "Writing the book was one of the most terrifying [things] - today, I've been terrified that this is out there - but I know how important it was for me," she says. "A lot of my life seems to be me forcing myself to do things that scare me. It's the only thing I have. It's just a good tool. If this scares me, I think those are the things you have to run toward."
The Vulnerability of the Final Season
The personal nature of "I Might Regret This," she says, is different than Broad City, which will end after its fifth season. But she adds this season, which will delve into Abbi and Ilana's friendship, is its most vulnerable. "There are still so many things that are in the show that are about me, and I tackle it in a more humorous way on the show - but I'm really excited about the season. I infuse a lot of things I'm really proud of."
The Keys to Overcoming Insecurities
That night and my inability to throw those stupid fucking keys reminded me just how shaken I’ve been the past six months, how no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get over this heartbreak, couldn’t stop feeling insignificant in general or shitty about ways in which I could have reacted differently. Physically I was fine, but my mind and heart, emotionally, were not, and no new environment or vast amount of space in the sky was going to fix me. It was just going to take time. I thought driving as far away from my life as I could would release the things I was struggling with, but it seems I’d come all this way only to drive more directly into them.
Beyond the Screen: A Multi-Faceted Artist
Jacobson's talents extend beyond acting and writing. She is also a skilled illustrator, incorporating her artwork into her book and other projects. Her willingness to explore different creative outlets demonstrates her versatility and passion for storytelling in all its forms.
Finding Comfort in Solitude
A big chunk of it is you being comfortable being alone, traveling alone, eating alone, being alone in public. There's this scene where you talk about going to eat a meal alone on this road trip, as one would do on a solo road trip, and you're incredibly self-conscious about it.
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There's this push and pull I have with loving being alone. I need - even when I have been in relationships, I need my - like, I'm one of those people where I'm like, let's be alone together. I, like, need space so much.
The journey and the book and the process change the way you think about being alone? Did it?
It definitely allowed me the opportunity to write about all the nuances of feeling that way. Just the act of writing this and finishing it and really being - like, I really like it…Even though I'm scared - it kind of terrifies me that it's out into the world. I do really like it. So I think I'm just secure with my insecurities. Like, I feel OK with them.