Save BFF - Blog Posts

Save BFF: A Treatise

     In a year of television with more complete bombs than any in recent memory, only a few new comedies were truly successful at bringing fresh perspective and actual, deep belly laughs. NBC's "Up All Night" really worked for me and I'm glad to hear it's coming back for a second full season, and, while it's not my personal cup of tea, Fox's "New Girl" has really taken hold. This is great for single-camera comedies as we move farther away from the traditional multi-cam sit-coms, despite "Whitney" somehow scrabbling its way to a renewal.

And we also saw a lot of really offensively unfunny shows go the way of the dodo: ABC's "Work It", NBC's "Are You There, Chelsea?", to name two. But one new show has met an untimely end, an unjust cut-off to what was a really strong start.

That show is NBCs "Best Friends Forever" created by, written by, and starring Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair. After the first four episodes aired they were put on indefinite hiatus, and were dealt the final cancellation blow in May.Thanks to some serious internet presence and insistence, Parham and St. Clair were gifted the airing of the final two episodes Friday, June 1st.

              I started watching this show the fourth week in and consumed all four episodes one right after the other because I fell in love instantly. The relationships are lively and realistic; everyone loves each other but fights happen, characters get mad, characters screw up, and then they make it up to each other like only a best friend forever knows how. This is all handled with emotional honesty and integrity; which is why when a line like "Jess, if you show me on my face, these nerds' penises will go insane" happens, you snort pop up your nose laughing.

So here's what I propose: Click here to watch the pilot episode of "Best Friends Forever" on Hulu. It is 23 minutes long, so if you hate it, you've only spent 23 minutes. And if you hate it, then you can tell me that you don't relate at all to those two women, you don't find Joe to be a loveable guy's guy, that you don't want to see what happens with Rav, and that Quenetta is horrible. You can walk away and tell me to shut it.

But if you love it, which I think you will, you will then be able to watch the remaining five episodes at breakneck speed in a joyous television binge. And if you love it like I love it, then maybe you'll click here and sign this online petition to SAVE BFF! And maybe you'll share it with your Twitter and Facebook friends, and they'll do the same. And maybe, just maybe, in a time not too far from right now, a great cable company like TBS or TNT or USA even will pick up this incredible show and give it the fair shot it truly deserves.

            I mean, look at that crew! Don't you want to watch them and laugh and cry a little and laugh some more and then buy a cart-load of scoops and cinnamon rolls?!?!?!

SAVE BFF!