Don’t miss Season 2 finale of “The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl,” set to hit the web this coming Friday, just in time for an awkward Valentine’s Day. The successful web series follows the hijinks of twenty-something J, as she navigates the twisted roads of love, work and life one awkward and hilarious step at a time.
Self-described as ‘awkward and black,’ J is a passive-aggressive young woman who works as a pill-pusher for the dismal weight-loss company, Gutbusters, while having to deal with office intrigues perpetrated by her rival co-worker, Nina, and J’s own various and sundry work place crushes on co-workers Fred and White J.
The “Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” is the brainchild of writer, actress and creator Issa Rae. And it’s been quite the journey from what was once a fleeting idea to a successful and critically acclaimed web series.
Rae had the idea for the series back in 2009 when she personally experienced the difficulties of meeting people and the awkwardness that can ensue while trying to navigate life in a big city. She decided that it would be interesting to depict these situations on screen. But she also noticed something else; there were no characters that looked like her on mainstream television. Where were all the black female nerds? After all, nerd chic was in, if the success of such programs as “The Big Bang Theory” was any indication. Inspired by the dearth and absence of black female nerd characters, Issa Rae, buckled down and started her web series, entitled “The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl.”
Since then, there’s been no looking back. “Awkward Black Girl” has received praises from critics. In March of 2012, the series won the coveted Best Web Show at the fourth annual Shorty Awards, often known as the Academy Awards of social media. The show also does consistently well with viewers, often pulling in 450,000 viewers per webisode.
Issa Rae has been in talks with networks, securing a writing deal with Shonda Rhimes and ABC on a new series currently titled “I Hate L.A. Dudes.”
Considering all her successes, if Issa Rae has anything to do with it, these days, being awkward and black maybe the best thing to be.
You can catch up with the show and stay tuned for the season finale. “The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl.”