Abbi Jacobson
Jacobson at the 2015 PaleyFest
EducationMaryland Institute College of Art (BFA)
Emerson College
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actress
  • writer
  • illustrator
Years active2009–present
SpouseJodi Balfour[1]

Abbi Jacobson is an American comedian, actress, writer, producer, and illustrator. She co-created and co-starred in the Comedy Central series Broad City (2014–2019) with Ilana Glazer, based on the web series of the same name.[2] Her other roles include voicing Katie Mitchell in The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021), Nya in The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017), and Princess Bean in the series Disenchantment (2018–2023), in addition to appearing in the live-action films Person to Person (2017) and 6 Balloons (2018). She is a writer and co-creator of the Amazon Prime series A League of Their Own (2022), in which she also stars as Carson Shaw, a baseball player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Early life

Abbi Jacobson is the daughter of Susan Komm, an artist, and Alan Jacobson, a graphic designer.[3][4] She is Jewish.[5] She was raised in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where she attended Valley Forge Middle School and Conestoga High School.[6][7]

She studied fine arts and video production at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), graduating in 2006 with a B.F.A. in General Fine Arts.[8][9] While at MICA, she studied stand-up comedy for one year with poet Jeremy Sigler, having transferred for a term to study acting at Emerson College.[10]

Jacobson moved to New York City after graduating from MICA. She began taking classes with the Atlantic Theater Company and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, where she met Ilana Glazer.[11][12][13]

Career

Broad City

From 2009 to 2011, Jacobson and Glazer wrote and performed in a web series titled Broad City, which focused on their lives in New York. The series was nominated for an ECNY Award for Best Web Series.[11] It was well received by critics and developed a cult following.[14] At the Upright Citizens Brigade, Jacobson and Glazer adapted the series into a live show that they performed in, called Broad City Live.[11]

In 2011, cable network FX, working with Amy Poehler as the producer, purchased a script commitment for the series from Glazer and Jacobson. However, the network did not approve the script and decided not to proceed with development. Glazer and Jacobson then approached Comedy Central, who agreed to purchase the script from FX and order a pilot.[15][16]

Jacobson and Glazer at Internet Week in 2015

Broad City made its broadcast television premiere in January 2014 and was received with positive reviews and strong ratings, becoming Comedy Central's highest-rated first season since 2012 among the younger demographics, including adults 18–34, with an average of 1.2 million viewers.[17]

The show has received critical acclaim from fans and critics alike. Review aggregation website Metacritic noted season 1 received "generally favorable reviews", giving it a score of 75 out of 100, based on reviews from 14 critics.[18] Karen Valby from Entertainment Weekly described the show as a "deeply weird, weirdly sweet, and completely hilarious comedy".[19] The Wall Street Journal referred to the show as "Sneak Attack Feminism". Critic Megan Angelo quotes Abbi Jacobson: "If you watch one of our episodes, there's not a big message, but if you watch all of them, I think, they're empowering to women."[20] The A.V. Club critic Caroline Framke wrote that Broad City was "worth watching" despite its "well-trod premise", and that the series is "remarkably self-possessed, even in its first episode".[21] Jacobson was a fan of bands like Phish growing up and would often spoof her jamband fandom on Broad City.[22]

Season one of the show received a 96% rating from Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from 23 critics, with the site's consensus stating, "From its talented producers to its clever writing and superb leads, Broad City boasts an uncommonly fine pedigree."[23] The A.V. Club named Broad City the second best TV show of 2014 for its first season.[24]

In February 2014, Comedy Central renewed the show for a second season.[25] Season two received positive reviews, with Metacritic giving it a score of 89 out of 100, based on reviews from 8 critics.[26] Rotten Tomatoes gave the second season a rating of 100%, based on reviews from 11 critics, with the site's consensus: "Led by two of the funniest women on TV, Broad City uses its stars' vibrant chemistry to lend an element of authenticity to the show's chaotic yet enlightening brand of comedy."[27]

In January 2015, the series was then renewed for a third season, which premiered on February 17, 2016.[28] In January 2016, the series was renewed for a fourth and a final, fifth season.[29]

Other work

In 2011, Jacobson wrote and performed in a solo show called Welcome to Camp, which ran in New York and Los Angeles.[30]

In December 2015, Jacobson was cast in the film Person to Person, opposite Michael Cera and Phillip Baker Hall, written and directed by Dustin Guy Defa.[31] Jacobson also starred in The Lego Ninjago Movie, released on September 22, 2017.[32]

Her first appearance in BoJack Horseman was in the 2016 episode "The Bojack Horseman Show", in which she voiced Emily.

In 2017, Jacobson hosted a 10-episode podcast about modern and contemporary art called A Piece of Work co-produced by The Museum of Modern Art and WNYC Studios.[33] She plans to do a second season.[34]

From 2018 to 2023, she voiced Princess Bean in Matt Groening's Disenchantment.[35]

Jacobson appeared in a March 2020 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.[36]

In 2021, Jacobson voiced Katie Mitchell in the Sony Pictures Animation film The Mitchells vs. the Machines.[37]

In 2022 she served as a writer, producer, co-creator and star of the Amazon series A League of Their Own, based on the 1992 film of the same name, where she plays catcher Carson Shaw.[38]

Books

In 2013, Jacobson published two coloring books with Chronicle Books: Color This Book: New York City and Color This Book: San Francisco.[11] Jacobson also illustrated a book titled Carry This Book, published October 2016 by Viking Press.[39] It features colorful, humorous illustrations of the imagined contents of various celebrities' bags. "I have always been intrigued by what people carry around with them. It can tell you everything" says Jacobson in the book's introduction.[40] Well received by critics, Carry This Book was a New York Times bestseller.[41]

Jacobson published another book, I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff. The book was published on October 30, 2018, with Grand Central Publishing.[42] With drawings throughout, the book of personal essays is centered around Jacobson's solo three week cross-country road trip.[43] The 320 pages of personal essays and various short stories, although some are comical in nature, largely focus on Jacobson getting over her first love, first relationship with a woman, and general issues of identity.[44] According to Jacobson, the book is centered around self-reflection: "It's about how I've felt like an internal outsider for my entire life because I just never understood what love was, that I would never get to experience it, and being a public figure only heightened that anxiety."[45]

Advocacy

In October 2023, Jacobson signed an open letter to Joe Biden, President of the United States, of artists calling for a ceasefire of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.[46]

Personal life

In an April 2018 interview, Jacobson stated that she dates men and women but "they have to be funny, doing something they love".[47]

She has been in a relationship with actress Jodi Balfour since October 2020.[48] As of August 2022, Jacobson and Balfour are engaged.[49]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Revelation 13 Danielle
2011 Special Things to Do Mary Short film
2011 Upload Elaine Short film
2014 High and Dry Studio Mate Short film
2016 Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising Jessica Baiers
2016 The Master Chicken (voice) Short film
2017 Person to Person Claire
2017 The Lego Ninjago Movie Nya (voice)
2018 6 Balloons Katie
2021 The Mitchells vs. the Machines Katie Mitchell (voice)
2021 Dog Cop 7: The Final Chapter Dog Cop/Katie (voice)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Vag Magazine Moon Cup Episode: "Feminist Sweepstakes"
2010–2011 Broad City Abbi Abrams Web series; 15 episodes; also creator
2012 Jest Originals Reenactment Amanda Episode: "I Didn't Know I Was Gilbert Gottfried"
2012 Moms V. Pros 4 episodes
2013 CollegeHumor Episode: "Jake and Amir/All-Nighter: Jake and Amir's Dream"
2013 Annie and a Side of Fries Annie Leonard Web series; 10 episodes; also creator
2014–2019 Broad City Abbi Abrams 50 episodes; also creator, writer, executive producer, director
Nominated – MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Comedic Performance (with Ilana Glazer) (2017)[50]
2015 Lucas Bros. Moving Co. Sister Sister (voice) Episode: "Sister Sister Sister"
2015 Inside Amy Schumer Herself Episode: "80s Ladies"
2015 The Untitled Web Series That Morgan Evans Is Doing for MTV Blanche 1 episode
2015–2018 Pickle and Peanut Sneaky Patty (voice) 5 episodes
2015 Lip Sync Battle Herself Episode: "Ilana Glazer vs. Abbi Jacobson"
2016–2018 BoJack Horseman Emily (voice) 7 episodes
2017 Portlandia Burning Man Girl 2 episodes
2018 Drunk History Gloria Steinem Episode: "Sex"
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself, guest judge Episode: "Breastworld" (season 10)[51]
2018–2023 Disenchantment Princess Bean, Bad Bean (voice) 50 episodes
2019–2020 Crank Yankers Cheryl (voice) 2 episodes
2020 Bob's Burgers Megan (voice) Episode: "Three Girls and a Little Wharfy"
2020 Curb Your Enthusiasm Diane Episode: "Beep Panic"
2022 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Guest 1 episode
2022 A League of Their Own Carson Shaw Also creator, writer, and executive producer

References

  1. ↑ "J.Hannah Instagram post".
  2. ↑ "Talking 'Broad City' with Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer". Splitsider. June 21, 2014. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Wayne Native Behind Comedy Central's Broad City". www.mainlinetoday.com. February 27, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Wayne native stars in new 'Broad City'". Philly.com. January 23, 2014.
  5. ↑ Butnick, Stephanie (January 23, 2014). "On Comedy Central's Broad City, Two Jewesses Just Want To Have Fun". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  6. ↑ magazine, Nicole Dumheller GargusTicket. "Conestoga grad Abbi Jacobson stars on Comedy Central's 'Broad City'". Main Line Media News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  7. ↑ magazine, Nicole Dumheller GargusTicket. "Conestoga grad Abbi Jacobson stars on Comedy Central's 'Broad City'". Main Line Media News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  8. ↑ Case, Wesley (February 26, 2016). "'Broad City' star Abbi Jacobson talks seeing a Baltimore mugging on podcast". BaltimoreSun.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  9. ↑ BROAD CITY's ILANA GLAZER & ABBI JACOBSON talk about Craigslist, interning, and home videos., November 12, 2014, retrieved November 14, 2019
  10. ↑ "Q&A: 'Broad City' writer and star Abbi Jacobson talks about her time at MICA, Lady Gaga, and more". February 12, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Drumheller Gargus, Nicole (January 16, 2014). "Local star Abbi Jacobson appearing on Comedy Central". Montgomery News. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  12. ↑ Case, Wesley (March 24, 2014). "Abbi Jacobson, from MICA to 'Broad City'". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  13. ↑ Liebman, Lisa (April 6, 2018). "Abbi Jacobson Travels Far from Broad City in Heroin Drama 6 Balloons". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Abbi Jacobson '06". Maryland Institute College of Art. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  15. ↑ "FX Developing TV Version Of Web Series 'Broad City' With Amy Poehler Producing". Deadline Hollywood. November 22, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Talking to Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson of 'Broad City' About Their Upcoming Comedy Central Show". Splitsider. March 20, 2013. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Comedy Central Renews 'Broad City' for Second Season". The Hollywood Reporter. February 24, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  18. ↑ Broad City at Metacritic , Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  19. ↑ Karen Valby (March 13, 2014). "Broad City". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  20. ↑ Angelo, Megan (February 14, 2011). "The Sneak-Attack Feminism of 'Broad City'". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  21. ↑ Framke, Caroline (January 22, 2014). "Broad City: 'What A Wonderful World'". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  22. ↑ Greenhaus, Mike https://relix.com/articles/detail/interview-abbi-jacobson-phish-broad-city/ Relix
  23. ↑ "Broad City: Season 1". rottentomatoes.com. January 22, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  24. ↑ Erik Adams; Joshua Alston; Gwen Ihnat; Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya; Myles McNutt; Genevieve Valentine & Scott Von Doviak (December 11, 2014). "The best TV shows of 2014 (part 2)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Comedy Central Renews 'Broad City' for Second Season". The Hollywood Reporter. February 24, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Broad City". Metacritic. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Broad City: Season 2". rottentomatoes.com. January 14, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  28. ↑ "'Broad City' Gets Season 3 Pickup From Comedy Central". Deadline Hollywood. January 14, 2015.
  29. ↑ Petski, Denise (January 6, 2016). "'Broad City' Gets 2-Season Renewal On Comedy Central; Pot Comedy Gets Green Light". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Abbi Jacobson". Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  31. ↑ McNary, Dave (December 3, 2015). "Michael Cera, Tavi Gevinson, Abbi Jacobson Starring in 'Human People'". Variety.com. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  32. ↑ Lyttelton, Oliver (June 27, 2016). "Jackie Chan, Dave Franco, Michael Peña & Abbi Jacobson To Voice 'Lego Movie' Spin-Off 'The Lego Ninjago Movie'". The Playlist. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Rolling Stone". Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Broad City's Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer Bring the Art World Back to Earth". Cultured Magazine. February 4, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Josh Weinstein on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  36. ↑ ""Beep Panic" gets the best of Abbi Jacobson in Curb Your Enthusiasm's penultimate episode". AV Club. March 16, 2020.
  37. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (February 19, 2020). "Abbi Jacobson To Star In Sony Animated Film 'The Mitchells Vs. The Machines' From Producers Chris Miller & Phil Lord". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  38. ↑ "2019 Commencement Honorees". MICA. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  39. ↑ Biedenharn, Isabella (March 3, 2016). "Broad City's Abbi Jacobson to publish illustrated book – exclusive". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  40. ↑ Bloom, Jessica (October 21, 2016). "Broad City's Abbi Jacobson Publishes Book of Illustrations". Format Magazine. Format. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Carry This Book". Penguin Random House. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  42. ↑ Jacobson, Abbi (October 30, 2018). I Might Regret This. Little, Brown Book Group Limited. ISBN 978-0-349-01087-8.
  43. ↑ "Review | 'Broad City's' Abbi Jacobson hits the road". Washington Post. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  44. ↑ Weaver, Hilary. "Abbi Jacobson on Why Now Is the Time to Be Vulnerable". Vanities. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  45. ↑ "Riding in Abbi Jacobson's Passenger Seat". PAPER. October 31, 2018. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  46. ↑ "Artists4Ceasefire". Artists4Ceasefire. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  47. ↑ Liebman, Lisa (April 6, 2018). "Abbi Jacobson Travels Far from Broad City in Heroin Drama 6 Balloons". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022.
  48. ↑ Rude, Mey (October 25, 2021). "Abbi Jacobson Just Revealed She's Been Dating Jodi Balfour For a Year". Out. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  49. ↑ Soloski, Alexis (August 5, 2022). "In 'A League of Their Own,' Abbi Jacobson Makes the Team". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  50. ↑ "Get Out Leads the Nominations for MTV's First Ever Movie & TV Awards". PEOPLE.com. April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  51. ↑ "Shania Twain, "Broad City" Stars And More Join The Judges' Panel On "Drag Race" Season 10".
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