Awkward Black Girl creator Issa Rae is making a show for HBO

Issa Rae, creator and star of The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, a web series that I reviewed a bit here on NWN, just landed a development deal with HBO. H. B. O. And I could not be happier.

Not much is known about the show except that it’s a comedy and will deal with the highs and lows of being a black woman. Yes, it sounds a bit like Awkward Black Girl, but I’m OK with that. Issa Rae will co-executive produce and star in the project, with writer Larry Wilmore as exec producer.

It’s weird to feel a sense of joy for someone I’ve never met and probably never will, but I’ve been watching Awkward Black Girl since its inception, and I’ve obviously been a big fan, to boot. Rae has spoken in the past about how she’s always wanted ABG to go to series on TV, but hopefully on a premier network that would be hands-off and could allow her to be uncensored. In fact, she specifically mentioned HBO as being her most-favored network for any project. I imagine that’s true for any creative person in the industry right now. HBO is so incredibly well-respected and hands-off that Rae could run wild. And I desperately want to watch that on my television this instant. I can picture the Emmys now! Big things are coming and it makes me feel very hopeful about content in the future and how people can breakout if they have the drive, the will, and believe in their work.

I don’t know what this means for Rae’s other venture, I Hate L.A. Dudes, which she was developing with Shonda Rhimes for ABC, but I haven’t heard news of that in a while. I hope this HBO project pulls through!

Source: Deadline