AUSTIN, Texas — Four and three and two and one!
The voice of a generation is soon to be silenced. The broads are becoming adults. The shenanigans are about to be shunted. Sadly, “Broad City” is coming to an end.
Fans of Comedy Central’s hit series about two millennial broads living in New York City lined up hours early on Sunday in hopes of catching a first look at the series’ final three episodes. Creators and stars Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson hosted an official SXSW panel at the ZACH Theatre, and they even stuck around after the screening to discuss everything that went down in the making of “Broad City.”
While the show might not technically be a film, SXSW Director of Film Janet Pierson said it's such a "cultural juggernaut" they had to break the rules a little bit to let the finale screen during the film festival.
And while we were there to watch all the laughs and tears, we may not be allowed to tell you how it ends — Does Abbi finally get away from her naked roommate, Bevers, and get into art school in Colorado? Does Ilana’s New-York-City-AC-droplet-infected eye ever heal so she can realize her dreams of becoming a therapist? — we can certainly tell you what the broads had to say about watching the episodes premiere alongside their fans.
"I feel so privileged and lucky to have been able to share so much of myself and my friendship with Ilana with all of you, but this particular moment...that was such a special moment for us," said Jacobson to an eruption of applause.
"It's crazy," said Glazer while wiping away tears. "Every step of the way has been so beautiful."
While some parts of the show may seem satirical, whimsical or even downright disgusting, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer reluctantly said they relate to their characters, Abbi Abrams and Ilana Wexler, more than they'd care to admit.
Bringing up the series' most recent episode with her character's infected eye, Glazer said she grows concerned that people won't be able to distinguish herself and Jacobson as real-life people versus characters.
"Oh, what have we done," said Glazer. "That is who people think we are, that's what they see of us."
"I definitely don't fall in as many things," Jacobson chimed in as fans laughed. "Get stuck as much."
"That's what makes it art, when you let go into a project," said Glazer. "I am like, 'Ooph,' but it is vulnerable."
Jacobson continued by saying that she did try to mirror herself more in this final season. She touched on the fact that her character decides to date a woman instead of a man, a topic they discussed later during the panel.
"Something that we talk about increasingly is that we're queer," said Glazer after a fan asked about taking risks as females in the TV industry. "We're Jew-y queer gals, something we weren't [in a way] proud of until we wrote it, so I would say find what's unique about yourself and work to be actually proud of it...living from the inside out and not the outside in."
Fans weren't the only ones who popped questions to the stars. After waving his co-stars down from the corner of the audience, fellow comedian Hannibal Burress, who plays Ilana's boyfriend, snuck in the final surprise question. While we were sworn to secrecy about the final episodes, it's safe to only say it involved the topic of "twerking."
Whether it's twerking, Facetiming from the toilet, hookups or crying — yes, Jacobson and Glazer were seen in the audience embracing each other and tearing up during the last episode's final moments — these girls have opened up their hearts and infectious relationship for everyone, and in the process created a fan base that will treasure "Broad City" far beyond its airtime.
Throughout its five seasons, Jacobson and Glazer have become the voice of 20-somethings across the globe as fans followed Abbi and Ilana on harshly relatable misadventures across New York. From pain-medicine-induced trips to Whole Foods to getting locked out of your apartment after hours-long trips to BB&B to becoming “violently high” at the dentist office — “I am not a mom!” — the shenanigans may have only lasted for 50 episodes, but they’ll remain a piece of something greater. Something that’s equal parts relatable satire, equal parts a loveable reminder of life in your 20s.
Whichever way Glazer and Jacobson choose to go in their careers after “Broad City,” they will go down in TV history as the creators of one of the best comedies of all time.
“Yasss queens!”
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