Television networks have loved shows about young people for as long as ad sales have made them profitable — behold the eternal success of Gen-X chronicle Friends, even though it was written by boomers. By the 2010s, the cool 20-somethings you saw on television were millennials, catering to an audience that had just left college and come of spending age: The gang on New Girl sang along to Wicked, Broad City’s Abbi and Ilana marveled at the Gowanus Whole Foods, Hannah and the Girls girls moved to Greenpoint. Now, viewers in their 20s are mostly zoomers. This summer, television comedy is doing its best to catch up with them, releasing a series of shows aiming at the zillennial cusp and trying to depict what it’s like to be a young (or, in the case of Too Much, youngish) person right now.
Overcompensating
Setting: “College” 🍺
What it’s like: American Pie, Van Wilder, Greek
Generation depicted: Characters are freely assigned millennial (loving Britney Spears, referencing Glee) and Gen-Z traits (loving Charli XCX, using the word rizz).
Character age: 18 to 22
Actor age: Wally Baram, 28
Creator age: Benito Skinner, 31
Is it funny? Well, sometimes: Think sophomoric comedy crossed with sincere coming-out story.
“It” girl cameo: Charli XCX, resentful that she has to play a gig at a college. When referred to by first name, often mistaken for Charlie Puth. Again, what year is it?
Is Owen Thiele in it? Yes, as a supporting character. He’s an out gay guy who works at a college shop and gives Benny advice and Gatorade.
Is there a fire-related mishap? No.
Adults
Setting: NYC (but obviously filmed in Toronto) 🚕
What it’s like: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, New Girl, Girls
Generation depicted: A very online and niche-reference-prone version of Gen-Zers terrified of falling off their parents’ medical-insurance plans and attempting to enter their “roast-chicken era” of adulthood.
Character age: Early 20s
Actor age: Lucy Freyer, 29; Malik Elassal, 29
Creator age: Ben Kronengold, 28; Rebecca Shaw, 29
Is it funny? Very! There are jokes! They are goofy and rapid-fire. Not all of them hit, but enough of them do.
“It” girl cameo: Julia Fox, invited to a dinner party by a character who does not realize she is famous. “We volunteer together for Meals on Wheels. She’s meals, I’m wheels!”
Is Owen Thiele in it? Yes, as a main character named Anton. He’s desperate to seem cool but usually falls short.
Is there a fire-related mishap? In a way. A chicken is dramatically undercooked.
Too Much
Setting: London 🇬🇧
What it’s like: Bridget Jones, period dramas, Emily in Paris, also Girls
Generation depicted: Millennials who grew up on Bridget Jones’s Diary and What a Girl Wants, weathered a too-long entanglement in their 20s with a boyfriend who thought he should write for Pitchfork, and lurk on TikTok while too afraid to actually post.
Character age: 35 with flashbacks to 29
Actor age: Will Sharpe, 38; Megan Stalter, 34
Creator age: Lena Dunham, 39
Is it funny? Yes, but in a cringe-comedy way. Stalter’s character finds herself routinely subjected to mishaps, often due to misunderstanding British culture. Also, the British themselves are generally strange and amusing.
“It” girl cameo: Rita Ora, recruited to appear in an ad Stalter’s character is working on. She wears a Santa outfit and reveals that she does possess solid comedic timing.
Is Owen Thiele in it? Yes, in a brief cameo as himself, recording a front-facing camera video reacting to something that has gone viral.
Is there a fire-related mishap? Yes, Jessica sets herself on fire. 🔥
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