A month ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of recommending folks add a Peacock subscription to their already lengthy list of streaming options. But after the arrival of Rutherford Falls last week and Girls5eva this weekend, well, I think it might be time to pony up some cash – at least if you were a fan of NBC comedies from 2006-2015. I suppose it shouldn’t be a shock that the two best shows to come out of NBC’s nascent streaming service have two of the channel’s best comedic minds among their producers – Parks and Recreation‘s Mike Schur is a co-creator and executive producer on Rutherford Falls and 30 Rock‘s Tina Fey is an executive producer on Girls5eva – but if you are a fan of Parks and Rec, 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (which was showrun by Girls5eva‘s creator Meredith Scardino), these two shows are definitely for you.
So, what exactly is Girls5eva? The comedy follows four former members of a late 90s/early 00s girl group that had exactly one hit song – that would be Girls5eva, which serves as the series’ theme song and is ridiculously catchy – who find their way back into each other’s lives when a rapper samples their song.* There’s just enough of a nostalgia element to appeal to young GenXers and old Millennials with references to the days of TRL, atrocious fashion choices, and the troubling over sexualization of young pop princesses, while still telling an interesting story, having some interesting characters, and delivering jokes at a breakneck speed. Now, if you aren’t someone familiar with the narrative tricks of 30 Rock and Kimmy Schmidt (liberal use of flashbacks, exposition-laden storytelling within a half hour comedy, jokes that require a bit more thought to catch them all), you might not fall for the series as quickly as those who are. I would even say that the first season is laying the groundwork for seasons to come, taking the time to introduce us to each of its four stars and build their backstories before it sets them off on their real journey back to stardom – with plenty or stumbles along the way. But I wholly enjoyed the eight episode ride and think you will as well.
*The songs within the series – which are sung by the cast of the show – are from Jeff Richmond and Scardino (although series star Sara Bareilles wrote the lyrics to 4 Stars, the anthem that ties the season up). Richmond, in addition to being Fey’s husband, was responsible for the ear worms on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as well as the score for the Broadway musical adaptation of Mean Girls. These songs are incredibly catchy and you will be singing the theme song for days after watching the series.
Now, just who are these talented leading ladies? Well, this is the real coup for the series, as its managed to snag four sensational leads in Bareilles (yes, the incredibly talented singer-songwriter, and yes, she’s also a talented comedian and actress to boot), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schyler in the original cast of Hamilton, who is also a talented comedian and steals pretty much every scene she’s in), Paula Pell (one of the best comedic writers of the past 30 years, and she can also carry a tune), and Busy Philipps (again, she can actually sing and finds layers in her ditsy character that most other actors wouldn’t bother to search for). Yeah, the creative team is loaded, the songs are funny and smart, and the cast is a murderer’s row of talent (and that’s not even mentioning the guest stars, which include Fey, Bowen Yang, and Vanessa Williams). But here’s the best part of the series: it’s not just interested in delivering jokes and singing fun songs. There’s a heart within the series that grounds the comedy. By the end of the season, you are genuinely rooting for the characters to not only succeed but to build a lasting friendship with each other – particularly with Bareilles’s Dawn and Goldsberry’s Wickie, who have the most chemistry. My only complaint was that, upon reaching the end of the short first season, I wanted to spend more time with the characters and hear more delightful songs.
Considering the pedigree of the series, I would be shocked if it doesn’t get a second season order (and hopefully more episodes in that batch). As it stands, Girls5eva makes a really fun binge (and the quick, blink and you miss it, jokes make it a strong candidate for repeat viewing). This one is definitely a winner. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this middle-aged girl group.
Girls5eva is currently streaming its eight-episode first season on Peacock.
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