2 Broke Girls
Encyclopedia
2 Broke Girls is an North American television comedy series that debuted on CBS during the 2011–12 television season. The first episode aired at 9:30 pm (E/P) after Two and a Half Men
on September 19, 2011. Later episodes followed How I Met Your Mother
on Monday nights at 8:30 pm (E/P). The series was created by Michael Patrick King
and Whitney Cummings
for Warner Bros. Television
. On October 5, 2011 CBS gave a full-season order to the freshman comedy.
of the New York City
borough
of Brooklyn
, the series chronicles the lives of two waitresses in their early twenties—Max (Kat Dennings
), who comes from a poor working-class family (and works an additional job as a nanny for a spoiled, obnoxious Manhattan
socialite's babies), and Caroline (Beth Behrs
), who was born rich but is now disgraced and penniless due to her father being caught operating a Bernard Madoff
-esque Ponzi scheme
—working together at a Brooklyn restaurant. The two become friends and build their dream of one day opening a cupcake shop (for which they need to raise $250,000), although they can barely afford anything with the pay they receive at work, and must continually find ways to make ends meet. Among those working with them at the restaurant are their boss, Han Lee (Matthew Moy
); Oleg (Jonathan Kite
), an upbeat Ukrainian cook; and Earl (Garrett Morris
), the cashier. At the start of each episode Max is shown serving a table and at the end of each episode, a tally shows how much of the $250,000 goal they have earned so far.
, which was picked up by NBC
.
Dennings was the first to be cast in role of Max on February 18, 2011. A week later on February 25, 2011, Behrs won an audition to land the role of Caroline, beating out other established actresses. Moy, Morris and Kite were the last three to be cast on March 16, 2011.
. Hank Stuever found the series to be dull, and claimed that it had a few "cheap laughs" but that it was ultimately "a lukewarm revamp of 'The Odd Couple.'"
The series received a B+ from The Boston Globe
TV critic Matthew Gilbert, who was impressed with the casting and production: "The actresses—especially the Gwen Stefani
-esque Dennings—transcend their types, and the pop-savvy humor has spirit thanks to producer Michael Patrick King from Sex and the City. After the forced opening minutes, it’s the best multi-cam-com of the season."
The series received some fairly positive reviews from Entertainment Weekly
, praising Dennings and Behrs on their acting and chemistry.
The series drew a similarly positive response from Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times
, who stated, "But meat-and-potatoes remain popular for a reason, and amid the parade of bunnies, angels, stewardesses and princesses tromping across the screen this season, a couple of smart, sassy waitresses from the opposite sides of the tracks are as welcome as a cup of hot coffee in a white diner cup."
Alan Pergament, former critic for The Buffalo News
, gave the show three stars out of four, but warned "This comedy—which has made many TV critics Top 10 lists—is a taste test really. If raunchy and stereotypes aren't your thing, you will run away from it."
Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter
said the show had potential but "squandered it away every week on cheap, predictable and unfunny jokes" and noted that many jokes were of a racist or sexual nature.
Emily Nussbaum of The New Yorker
wrote that while the way the supporting characters are written is "so racist it is less offensive than baffling", she noted that the show has "so much potential", and compared it favorably to Cummings's other show Whitney
.
2 Broke Girls has received a nomination for Favorite New TV Comedy at the 38th People's Choice Awards
.
without Charlie Sheen
. This marked the highest rating for a fall premiere of a comedy series since Fall 2001. It scored a 7.1 rating in Adults 18-49.
Two and a Half Men
Two and a Half Men is an American television sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2003. Starring Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, and Angus T. Jones, the show was originally about a hedonistic jingle writer, Charlie Harper; his uptight brother, Alan; and Alan's growing son, Jake...
on September 19, 2011. Later episodes followed How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
on Monday nights at 8:30 pm (E/P). The series was created by Michael Patrick King
Michael Patrick King
Michael Patrick King is an American director, writer and producer for television shows.-Life and career:King was born to an Irish American family in Scranton, Pennsylvania and was raised as a Roman Catholic...
and Whitney Cummings
Whitney Cummings
Whitney Cummings is an American comedian and actress. She was formerly a cast member of the MTV television show Punk'd and currently stars in the NBC sitcom Whitney.-Early life:...
for Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television is the television production arm of Warner Bros. Entertainment, itself part of Time Warner. Alongside CBS Television Studios, it serves as a television production arm of The CW Television Network , though it also produces shows for other networks, such as Shameless on...
. On October 5, 2011 CBS gave a full-season order to the freshman comedy.
Series synopsis
Set in the Williamsburg neighborhoodWilliamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, the series chronicles the lives of two waitresses in their early twenties—Max (Kat Dennings
Kat Dennings
Katherine Litwack , better known by the stage name Kat Dennings, is an American actress. Emerging with a role in an episode of the HBO dramedy series Sex and the City, Dennings has since appeared in the films The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Big Momma's House 2, Charlie Bartlett, Raise Your Voice, The House...
), who comes from a poor working-class family (and works an additional job as a nanny for a spoiled, obnoxious Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
socialite's babies), and Caroline (Beth Behrs
Beth Behrs
Beth Behrs is an American actress. She starred in the 2009 direct-to-video comedy film, American Pie Presents: The Book of Love, and stars in the CBS sitcom, 2 Broke Girls.-Early life:...
), who was born rich but is now disgraced and penniless due to her father being caught operating a Bernard Madoff
Bernard Madoff
Bernard Lawrence "Bernie" Madoff is a former American businessman, stockbroker, investment advisor, and financier. He is the former non-executive chairman of the NASDAQ stock market, and the admitted operator of a Ponzi scheme that is considered to be the largest financial fraud in U.S...
-esque Ponzi scheme
Ponzi scheme
A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to its investors from their own money or the money paid by subsequent investors, rather than from any actual profit earned by the individual or organization running the operation...
—working together at a Brooklyn restaurant. The two become friends and build their dream of one day opening a cupcake shop (for which they need to raise $250,000), although they can barely afford anything with the pay they receive at work, and must continually find ways to make ends meet. Among those working with them at the restaurant are their boss, Han Lee (Matthew Moy
Matthew Moy
Matthew Moy is an American actor.-Television:Moy has appeared in several television shows, including Criminal Minds, Good Luck Charlie, How I Met Your Mother, Zeke and Luther, and a recurring role as Shawn the Mathlete on iCarly...
); Oleg (Jonathan Kite
Jonathan Kite
Jonathan Kite is an American actor and comedian. He is cast as Oleg in the CBS comedy, 2 Broke Girls.His previous work includes being the outrageous sports anchor on Muscle Milk commercials featuring popular sports figures, an appearance on Raising Hope and recurring appearances on In the Flow...
), an upbeat Ukrainian cook; and Earl (Garrett Morris
Garrett Morris
Garrett Gonzalez Morris is an American comedian and actor from New Orleans. He was part of the original cast of the sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live, appearing from 1975 to 1980.-Early life and career:...
), the cashier. At the start of each episode Max is shown serving a table and at the end of each episode, a tally shows how much of the $250,000 goal they have earned so far.
Main cast
- Kat DenningsKat DenningsKatherine Litwack , better known by the stage name Kat Dennings, is an American actress. Emerging with a role in an episode of the HBO dramedy series Sex and the City, Dennings has since appeared in the films The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Big Momma's House 2, Charlie Bartlett, Raise Your Voice, The House...
as Max Black - Beth BehrsBeth BehrsBeth Behrs is an American actress. She starred in the 2009 direct-to-video comedy film, American Pie Presents: The Book of Love, and stars in the CBS sitcom, 2 Broke Girls.-Early life:...
as Caroline Channing - Garrett MorrisGarrett MorrisGarrett Gonzalez Morris is an American comedian and actor from New Orleans. He was part of the original cast of the sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live, appearing from 1975 to 1980.-Early life and career:...
as Earl - Jonathan KiteJonathan KiteJonathan Kite is an American actor and comedian. He is cast as Oleg in the CBS comedy, 2 Broke Girls.His previous work includes being the outrageous sports anchor on Muscle Milk commercials featuring popular sports figures, an appearance on Raising Hope and recurring appearances on In the Flow...
as Oleg - Matthew MoyMatthew MoyMatthew Moy is an American actor.-Television:Moy has appeared in several television shows, including Criminal Minds, Good Luck Charlie, How I Met Your Mother, Zeke and Luther, and a recurring role as Shawn the Mathlete on iCarly...
as Han "Bryce" Lee
Recurring cast
- Nick ZanoNick ZanoNick Zano is an American actor and producer. He is best known for having played Vince in The WB's sitcom What I Like About You...
as Johnny - Brooke LyonsBrooke LyonsBrooke Lyons is an American film and television actress.-Filmography:*The Trap as Erica*Protecting the King as Monica*X's & O's as Hazel*Dark Reel as Tanya Kismen*Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins as Amy...
as Peach Landis - Jennifer CoolidgeJennifer CoolidgeJennifer Coolidge is an American actress best known for playing "Stifler's mom," the older woman in the film American Pie ; Hilary Duff's stepmother in A Cinderella Story ; Paulette, the manicurist in Legally Blonde and its sequel; the voice of Aunt Fanny in the animated feature Robots ; for her...
as Sophie
Development and production
Even before it went to series, the then-undeveloped pilot was the subject of a bidding war, with CBS landing the deal on December 10, 2010, and ordering it to series on May 13, 2011. It is one of two shows commissioned for the 2011-12 TV season in which Whitney Cummings is serving as producer and co-creator, the other being WhitneyWhitney (TV series)
Whitney is an American sitcom that premiered on NBC on September 22, 2011, where it airs in the 9:30 pm /8:30 pm Thursday night timeslot. The show stars Whitney Cummings...
, which was picked up by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
Dennings was the first to be cast in role of Max on February 18, 2011. A week later on February 25, 2011, Behrs won an audition to land the role of Caroline, beating out other established actresses. Moy, Morris and Kite were the last three to be cast on March 16, 2011.
Reception
The series received a C from The Washington PostThe Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
. Hank Stuever found the series to be dull, and claimed that it had a few "cheap laughs" but that it was ultimately "a lukewarm revamp of 'The Odd Couple.'"
The series received a B+ from The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
TV critic Matthew Gilbert, who was impressed with the casting and production: "The actresses—especially the Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
-esque Dennings—transcend their types, and the pop-savvy humor has spirit thanks to producer Michael Patrick King from Sex and the City. After the forced opening minutes, it’s the best multi-cam-com of the season."
The series received some fairly positive reviews from Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, praising Dennings and Behrs on their acting and chemistry.
The series drew a similarly positive response from Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, who stated, "But meat-and-potatoes remain popular for a reason, and amid the parade of bunnies, angels, stewardesses and princesses tromping across the screen this season, a couple of smart, sassy waitresses from the opposite sides of the tracks are as welcome as a cup of hot coffee in a white diner cup."
Alan Pergament, former critic for The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News is the primary newspaper of the Buffalo – Niagara Falls metropolitan area, and the area's only daily newspaper. It is the only newspaper owned by Berkshire Hathaway.-History:...
, gave the show three stars out of four, but warned "This comedy—which has made many TV critics Top 10 lists—is a taste test really. If raunchy and stereotypes aren't your thing, you will run away from it."
Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
said the show had potential but "squandered it away every week on cheap, predictable and unfunny jokes" and noted that many jokes were of a racist or sexual nature.
Emily Nussbaum of The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
wrote that while the way the supporting characters are written is "so racist it is less offensive than baffling", she noted that the show has "so much potential", and compared it favorably to Cummings's other show Whitney
Whitney (TV series)
Whitney is an American sitcom that premiered on NBC on September 22, 2011, where it airs in the 9:30 pm /8:30 pm Thursday night timeslot. The show stars Whitney Cummings...
.
2 Broke Girls has received a nomination for Favorite New TV Comedy at the 38th People's Choice Awards
38th People's Choice Awards
The 38th People's Choice Awards, honoring the best in popular culture for 2011, will be held on January 11, 2012 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California, and were broadcast live on CBS at 9:00 pm ET.On November 8, the nominees were announced...
.
Ratings
The series premiere was watched by 19.2 million viewers after its lead-in, the first episode of Two and a Half MenTwo and a Half Men
Two and a Half Men is an American television sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2003. Starring Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, and Angus T. Jones, the show was originally about a hedonistic jingle writer, Charlie Harper; his uptight brother, Alan; and Alan's growing son, Jake...
without Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen
Carlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
. This marked the highest rating for a fall premiere of a comedy series since Fall 2001. It scored a 7.1 rating in Adults 18-49.
| Season | Timeslot (EDT) | Season premiere | Season finale | TV season | Rank | Viewers (millions) (to date) |
18–49 viewers (to date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monday 9:30 P.M (pilot) Monday 8.30 P.M. |
September 19, 2011 | 2012 | 2011–2012 | TBA | 12.17 | 4.8 |
International broadcasts
The series has been picked up in these following countries:- In CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
by CitytvCitytvCitytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
, airing on the same night as the CBS telecasts, but in different timeslots, airing at 9:30 pm in Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg, and 10:30 pm in Calgary and Edmonton. - In Britain the series will be airing on E4.
- In AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
by Nine NetworkNine NetworkThe Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
. - In BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
by Warner ChannelWarner ChannelWarner Channel is a Latin American and Asian cable television channel owned by Time Warner's HBO Asia/HBO Latin America Group Warner Channel (commonly shortened to WBTV, but not to be confused with the WB Television Network or Charlotte, North Carolina station WBTV, and currently referred to in...
. - In SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
by TNT España. - In the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
by ETC. - In Venezuela by Warner Channel
- In ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
by Warner Channel - In GuatemalaGuatemalaGuatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
by Warner Channel - In ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
by Warner Channel - In PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
by Warner Channel - In Mexico by Warner Channel