In the Hulu series Difficult People, Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner play Julie Kessler and Billy Epstein, best friends and struggling, snarky New York comedians with a tendency to blurt out whatever they're thinking. Their outbursts frequently get them in trouble with everyone around them, but only strengthen their own bond.
Klausner, who created the show, is not exactly playing herself, but she can certainly draw on her experience as a comedian in New York. She started out taking classes offered by the Upright Citizen's Brigade in the late 90's, just as key members the improv troupe moved from Chicago to Manhattan, including Amy Poehler, who serves as the show's executive producer.
Klausner has done all kinds of comedic writing and performing -- books, television, podcasts and even recaps of Bravo reality shows for Vulture.
She tells us how her experience as a recapper worked its way into her character on the show, and why television is the perfect medium to portray deep friendships, rather than traditional love stories. She also addresses her complicated relationship with social media and what she learned from a Twitter spat that gained a lot of attention several months ago.
Season 2 of Difficult People premieres on Hulu on July 12.