We need We Need Girlfriends

-Katherine Kloc

I confess. I am one of the many “U.S. Americans” who spends far too much time surfing the YouTube waves of mortifying celebrity interviews, undiscovered talents, enthusiastic fan videos and copyright-infringing NBC television shows. And to think, if only I spent all this time doing something more productive, like such as buying maps for the Iraq’s underprivileged.

But if it wasn’t for YouTube and the obsessive dedication of its followers, I wouldn’t have found We Need Girlfriends, a web series that follows the lives of three recent college graduates, sans their long-time college girlfriends. The show documents the friends’ awkward re-introduction into the world of dating in New York City, while of course stalking their ex-girlfriends via Myspace.

Henry, Rod and Tom have nothing in common, with the exception of their relationship status. Henry, with his adorably geeky personality and endearing lack of social skills, is by far my favorite. Rod is the polar opposite of Henry. “Is there anything more to you than a DVD collection, a frat boy sense of humor and those stupid aviators?” another character once asked him, basically summing up the essence of Rod. Tom is the typical nice guy, likable yet far less interesting than his two friends. The three play off each other’s flaws to provide an interesting and often hilarious dynamic.

We Need Girlfriends was created by Steven Tsapelas, who based the series on his own post-college experiences. The three main characters are loosely based on Tsapelas and his two friends, Angel Acevedo and Brian Amyot, who also work on the show.

With its clever and quotable script (written by Tsapelas) and relatable plot lines, We Need Girlfriends is the indie, amazingly low-budget equivalent to The Office. And much like The Office, it may become a popular television show before long. The three producers recently took a trip to Los Angeles to discuss the future of We Need Girlfriends as more than just a YouTube phenomenon. As long as We Need Girlfriends continues, whether online or on television, this fan is happy.