"Three Busy Debras" Was Too Good For This World
The Absurdist, Surrealist TV Comedy Has Gone The Way of "Firefly" and "Community"
I am from the upper-middle-class, white suburbs of the American Midwest. Its cul-de-sacs were, it is true, brimming with unfulfilled human potential, codependence, frenemies, self-loathing, and women who lunch. Having lived in New York for thirty years, however, I can confirm Overland Park, Kansas is to Lemoncurd, Connecticut what Cabribi Greens is to Winnetka.
The Stepford Wives
Three Busy Debras mines much of the same feminist, horror vein first exposed by Ira Levin’s 1972 novel, “The Stepford Wives” and its 1975 eponymous movie. I include the trailer from the 2004 remake because . . . OK, because Nicole Kidman.
The genius is in the writing, which somehow finds meaning and pathos in a world that pretends they don’t exist
Get Rid Of The Men. Fill The Space With Comedy.
“Three Busy Debras” eliminates the entirety of “The Stepford Wives” war-of-sexes plot and shows us the surrealism of Debras in their tragic, sterile luxury. Husbands are occasionally referenced but never actually seen in Lemoncurd and we are left to watch the ever-smiling but badly broken Debras as they go about their lives.
Fifteen-Minute Episodes Made for Cable
Three Busy Debras was created as a fifteen-minute comedy made for Adult Swim which has midwifed some of TV’s most creative endeavors (ever heard of Rick and Morty?). I assume this was because the format was cheaper to produce, but any resource-based limitations were overcome by sheer creative momentum.
Each episode’s plot seems derived from standard-issue writer’s room index cards: Debras have a sleepover, Debras get jobs, Debra gets depressed and Debras go the mall. The genius is in the writing, which somehow finds meaning and pathos in a world that pretends they don’t exist.
This is best expressed in the show’s two best episodes: “Sleepover” (Season 1) and “To Have Debra, to Hold Debra, (A Story in Three Brunches)” (Season 2).
Sleepover
“Sleepover” mocks Debra’s (Mitra Jouhari) need for human interaction as a risible weakness while Debra (Sandy Honig) and Debra (Alyssa Stonoha) rudely insult her (also, the doorbell is the sound of knocking. It’s just funny).
To Have Debra, To Hold Debra (A Story in Three Brunches)
In this eleven-minute, post-modern masterpiece, the Debras form a love triangle whereby Debras (Mitra Jouhari and Alyssa Stonoha) enter into a marriage only to be destroyed by the cynical adultery of Debra (Sandy Honig) who seeks to retain her alpha status in the codependent trio. Click here for a trailer.
Perhaps it is poetic justice that “Debras” is interred in the mass grave of unfulfilled TV potential, with Firefly and Community. I don’t know. Anyway, there’s always brunch.
Nothing Gold Can Stay
As if we needed a reminder of late capitalism’s casual cruelty, Three Busy Debras was canceled after two seasons. I don’t even want to know why; whatever the reason it would just piss me off. Let’s just say that the fate of the arts in 21st Century USA may well rely upon what happens on the TV writer’s picket lines in NY and LA.
Perhaps it is poetic justice that Debras is interred in the mass grave of unfulfilled TV potential, with Firefly and Community. I don’t know. Anyway, there’s always brunch.
cancellation after two seasons is the best compliment you can get from a network. Of course I have my own reasons for believing this. 3 Debs rocks! Thank you for this.