Friday, June 01, 2012

Issa Rae isn't Awkward

Me & Issa Rae

Hello Meltingpot Readers,

Remember back in the fall, I wrote about the popular new web series, The Mis-Adventures of the Awkward Black Girl (ABG)? Well the writer, creator, and star of the under-the-radar hit spoke last night in Philadelphia as part of the Celebration of Black Writing and yours truly was in the audience.

Hearing Issa Rae talk about her reasons for starting the show -- because she couldn't find anything on regular television that featured smart, snarky humor and Black characters -- and her grassroots source of funding (hello Kickstarter),  made me a fan for life. Last night I went and watched some new episodes and found myself laughing more than I did the first time. Regardless, I'm going to be a fan of Issa Rae's for life. She really isn't waiting for something to happen, she's making it happen, for herself and all of the other actors and crew on the show. Tonight she announced that the entire second season -- which will premiere on June 14 -- has been fully financed by Pharrell Williams and will air on his I am Other YouTube Channel.  Woot! Woot!

And the good news doesn't stop there. ABG just picked up a Shorty Award for best web series.  A Shorty Award is like the Oscars of stuff that happens online. Seriously. And you know there's lots of stuff online, so that fact that ABG beat through the clutter to get nominated and win is pretty awesome.

So, dear readers, I am inspired. I hope you are too.

Have a great weekend.

Peace!

6 comments:

Michelle said...

Wow! I had no idea that Pharrell financed the whole second season. That's the kind of cool stuff I would like to imagine other money-fortunate celebs pay it forward. I'm so sad to be missing Blogging While Brown! Really poor planning on my behalf.

Anonymous said...

Pharrell is from my hometown. I appreciate him for being a blazing his own trail.

Ola said...

I absolutely in love with ABG! I"m so happy and a bit jealous you got to meet her.

Anonymous said...

hahaha! I just watched the first episode! I loved it! I really am awkward, so I can relate.

Anonymous said...

Hi LT,

I just wanted to leave a link of a new study about African-American women and weight. I thought it would interest you since, last month, you had a post about an interesting op-ed written by Alice Randall.

http://www.bcm.edu/news/item.cfm?newsID=5779

Mi

Unknown said...

Bravo for Issa Rae's success and for her ambition. Great results!