Broad City: How Abbi’s Alter Ego Val Came To Be On Show

Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer did not disappoint at the Broad City Panel at San Diego Comic Con 2017. The ladies dropped some sweet behind-the-scenes details to fans about the show, including how one of its iconic characters came to life.

Broad City Season 2 episode 5 introduced us to Val, Abbi’s alter ego that only comes out when she’s blackout drunk. Abbi takes Ilana on an adventure that leads her to a speakeasy. There we learn her alter ego “Val” is a regular and a legend at this club. Val sings, mingles with patrons and the life of the party.

A fan asked Glazer and Jacobson how Val came to be on the show. The ladies of Broad City are also writers on the show and openly pull from their own life experiences. Val was no exception.

“Well how we ‘came’ up with her,” Jacobson said with a bit of hesitation,“When I was drinking in college I would drink Southern Comfort, which is disgusting. Disgusting! Me and my friend Mike would drink and I would blackout basically. And he would be like, Val’s coming out tonight. Val in the show is way more fun than Val in real life. I remember I got into a fight with a friend of mine that was staying in my apartment.

“She was in from out of town staying with me and we had gone out. We’re in the lobby, inside my front door. And she reenacted [the fight] for me the next day. And [drunk Abbi] I was like, ‘I do not live here. I don’t know what you’re saying. You don’t live in the city man. I don’t live here. Why are we in this.’ [My friend] was like, ‘This is your key. We’re in the building. You live upstairs. You gotta stop.’ And so that was my ‘real’ Val. [Show Val] sings.”

The audience erupted in laughs and applause after hearing the story of Val. Jacobson prefers show Val over real Val any day. Glazer added that they may bring back Val on the show. She also later on in the panel joked to watch how much you drink. Panel attendees also watch the show’s sixth episode

Broad City Season 4 premieres Sept. 13 on Comedy Central.