A chance meeting at the corner of Clark and Winnemac. A one-woman show at iO Theater. A viral short film filled with local improvisers. In an alchemic combination, these quintessential Chicago events catapulted prolific Chicago comedian Abby McEnany into the national spotlight.
Among subplots addressing mental illness, suicidal ideation, and sizeism head-on, moments of hilarity emerge, from a therapist dying midsession to a bitchy coworker buying Abby a large, plot-critical tub of almonds. Her relationship with transgender man Chris (The Politician‘s Theo Germaine) takes her own self-examination to a deeper level, opening Abby’s eyes to today’s “queer wonderland,” nothing like her “very white and cis coming-out experience.” Chris thrives on new experiences and confrontation, in one instance bringing Abby face-to-face with her nemesis, Saturday Night Live alum Julia Sweeney, whose character “Pat” caused her nothing but emotional pain. In another, Abby faces her puritanical sexual views at a sex-positive party.
Sundays at 10 PM on Showtime
