In a compelling discussion in downtown Los Angeles, Julie Klausner, the creator of the cult Hulu comedy Difficult People, made a passionate case for what she believes is the future of comedy: a return to the hard-hitting sitcom format. Speaking to a sold-out audience at Televerse during the live episode of The Hollywood Reporter‘s It Happened in Hollywood, Klausner asserted that modern comedy, often consumed through phones, feels isolating and reductive. “If I want to canvass for one cause, it is for the return of the hard comedy sitcom,” she declared.
A Conversation About Difficult People
Klausner’s remarks came during an hour-long conversation centered on Difficult People, which she starred in alongside Billy Eichner. The discussion was supported by clips from the series, guiding a deeper exploration into its inception, its ahead-of-its-time reputation, and the transformed television landscape since its premiere in 2015.
The topic of phone-centered comedy emerged after a clip showcased the show’s main characters, Julie and Billy, confronting a rising digital creator. This face-off, notable when the show aired in 2015, has taken on new meaning as front-facing-camera content dominates today’s comedy landscape. Klausner lamented the shift, noting that “traditional television has moved away from tightly constructed joke machines” toward dramedies and longer comedic formats. She pointed out that critically acclaimed shows like Succession have found great comedy writing within their dramatic narratives.
The Console of Community
What Kamusner longs for in comedies isn’t just the familiar multicamera format or laugh track; it’s the communal and emotional connection found within joke-driven narratives. “Sitcoms with hard jokes and heart are beyond comforting,” she remarked. “They are a really, really important part of being connected.”
Highlighting the enduring appeal of classic ensemble comedies, she argued that even younger audiences—those born well after the ’90s—are captivated by reruns of Friends, Seinfeld, and Golden Girls. “We love and appreciate these rhythms,” Klausner noted, emphasizing that such friendship-based narratives foster connection across different worlds.
The Heart of Difficult People
Within Difficult People, the bond between Julie and Billy was built on unconditional loyalty, creating a foundation of friendship amidst the show’s often acerbic humor. Klausner explained that despite the show’s biting edges, one of her essential rules was that the characters would never seriously turn against each other. This special relationship reflects the dynamics queer individuals often share with their friends, a concept she lovingly referred to as the bond between queer people and their “hags.”
Setting Difficult People within the context of the Obama era, Klausner suggested this backdrop explains its prophetic nature. The characters’ cynicism resonated, “more like salt on chocolate than salt on an open wound.” The series engaged with complex issues—mocking predatory behavior before the #MeToo movement and celebrating online snark before it devolved into negativity.
A Blend of Old and New
Ironically, Klausner acknowledges that her own breakthrough came from a previous internet comedy landscape. She was initially Eichner’s writer on Billy on the Street before their collaboration led to the development of Difficult People with contributions from Amy Poehler as a producer. Hulu, at the time an emerging player in original programming, picked up the show after it faced setbacks from other networks.
During the discussion, clips illustrated the show’s diverse and intricate storytelling, which included Julie executing a Goodfellas parody and navigating various absurd scenarios, such as serving as court-mandated clowns. Klausner drew inspiration from Curb Your Enthusiasm, crafting separate storylines that would converge by the episode’s conclusion, describing the experience as akin to “sitcom ecstasy.”
Looking Ahead
Although Difficult People concluded after three seasons in 2017, Klausner remains dedicated to the characters. She revealed that a feature screenplay titled Difficult People: Ahead of Their Time, co-written with Alex Scordelis, has been commissioned by Universal. Scheduled for a reading at New York’s Town Hall on election night, the screenplay is set to capture the essence of the original show, but with a cinematic twist.
Klausner’s excitement for the project is palpable. “I hope it leads to something great happening,” she said, expressing a desire to revisit the richly developed world of her characters. Imagining new exploits, she teased how the characters could navigate contemporary absurdities like ‘nepo babies’ and brand integration, emphasizing that the humor of Julie and Billy feels more pertinent than ever.
In a world rife with the surreal demands of modern life, Klausner’s sentiments remind us that we’ve never needed the voice of Difficult People more.
