Julie Klausner Says Hollywood Needs Braver Sitcoms

Julie Klausner didn’t mince words about the state of television comedy during a live taping of podcast It Happened in Hollywood. Speaking with host Seth Abramovitch, the comedian and creator of the cult favorite Hulu series Difficult People argued that sitcoms have become too timid and that the industry desperately needs shows willing to take real creative chances.

Klausner created and starred in Difficult People alongside Billy Eichner, playing two ambitious but jaded New York comedians trying to build their careers while keeping their friendship intact. The show premiered in 2015 and ran for three seasons before ending in 2017. Though it only lasted a few years, the series built a devoted fanbase drawn to its biting humor and unabashedly flawed protagonists.

Even now, Klausner speaks fondly of the show. In recent interviews, she’s discussed the series’ continued relevance and has expressed interest in potentially revisiting those characters, including through an unmade film.

During the podcast event, Klausner made a case for comedies with real bite—shows willing to land “hard jokes” without worrying about offending everyone. She lamented how today’s television landscape has become increasingly cautious, with fewer shows willing to stake their identity on distinctive voices.

Her argument harkens back to Difficult People, which thrived precisely because its characters were selfish, ambitious and unapologetically provocative.

Klausner also took aim at how smartphones have reshaped comedy, calling phone-based comedy both “isolating” and “reductive.” As social media and short-form video have given comedians new platforms, Klausner suggested this shift has actually narrowed what comedy can be turning complex jokes into bite-sized content designed for quick digital consumption.

Traditional sitcoms, she argued, offer something fundamentally different: they allow characters and relationships to develop over time rather than get reduced to viral moments.

The conversation was part of It Happened in Hollywood, THR’s long-running podcast. Klausner’s appearance, announced in August, was billed as a special live celebration of Difficult People and her creative partnership with Eichner. The episode aired on August 20, 2026.

Ultimately, Klausner’s message was clear: give creators freedom to be bold, let sitcoms take risks, and don’t shy away from comedy that makes audiences uncomfortable.