ThinkFest Preview: Abbi Jacobson Discusses Her Journey From Broad Street to Broad City


Abbi Jacobson and Jennifer Weiner.

Abbi Jacobson and Jennifer Weiner.

Philly-born comedian Abbi Jacobson will sit down with local author/producer Jennifer Weiner during ThinkFest to chat about her journey from Philadelphia to becoming one of the most talked about—and laughed at—personalities on TV.

Jacobson was born in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where she attended Valley Forge Middle School and Conestoga High School. From there, she went on to study comedy at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Later, after moving to New York, she honed her skills with the Upright Citizens Brigade, where she met fellow comedian Illana Glazer. LOLs ensued.

The pair started a web series called Broad City that focused on their experience being poor—and constantly stoned—in New York City. It eventually caught the eye of Amy Poehler, and before they knew it they had a deal with Comedy Central. That show—seriously one of the funniest things on TV—is about to enter its third season.

At ThinkFest, Weiner will interview Jacobson in a discussion called “From Broad Street to Broad City: Lessons from the New World of Entertainment.” The pair should have fascinating stories to impart—Jacobson about navigating new media to find her way to TV, and Weiner having monstrous success in publishing and entertainment, namely when her 2002 book, In Her Shoes, was turned into a major motion picture. This is one not to miss—especially for those of you who want a little pizazz sprinkled into your ThinkFest experience.

Join us on November 6th at Drexel’s LeBow College of Business for a day of the city’s smartest people sharing their biggest ideas. Read all of our ThinkFest 2015 previews here, and get your tickets today.