In Difficult People, the Hulu original series created by Julie Klausner — who stars alongside Billy Eichner — Julie and Billy play a couple of jaded New York City comedians who worship at the altar of celebrity. The show’s bread and butter are its biting allusions to the business we call show. We’ve compiled the 10 best showbiz references from the eighth episode of Season 2, streaming on Hulu as of today.
Season 2, Episode 8: “Hashtag Cats”
1. “I do not approve of all these Broadway reboots. I mean, do we need an all-white Dreamgirls? Yes, but Paula Deen can’t sing.” – Matthew (Cole Escola) “Well, this [musical Hashtag Cats] is gonna be amazing. Grumpy Cat is a character, and naturally Sasha Grey is playing Grizabella. I’m already squirming in my seat.” – Julie “Wow, not since Gina Gershon’s star turn in Bye Bye Birdie has the town been so loudly ambivalent.” – Billy
2. “Sasha Grey. It’s so sad to go from doing porn to something as degrading as Entourage.” – Billy
3. “So what kind of TV you guys want to do? Sitcom? Talk show? Maybe one of those streaming joints that claims to be a comedy but no one on the staff truly knows how to write a joke even if you put a gun to their head?” – Method Man
4. “I want him to suffer, and I want to be the one that causes it! This must be what it’s like to be Ryan Murphy in the American Horror Story writer’s room.” – Julie “Julie, you should know better than that. Ryan Murphy is never in the American Horror Story writer’s room. I’m not even sure there is one.” – Billy
5. “It’s my Year of Yes, so I’m just gonna keep saying yes in the hopes that I will one day create Grey’s Anatomy.” – Billy
6. “What we’re proposing is a sketch show starring us on NBC. Now, I know what you’re thinking: NBC already has Saturday Night Live. But does it?” – Julie “Julie and I want to do a show like Key and Peele, except we’re not black or even biracial.” – Billy
7. “NBC is rethinking its commitment to comedy, in the way you take break from an ex who’s already decided to dump you.” – Kevin the NBC executive (Griffin Newman)
8. “I think he just wants to be my friend.” – Billy “Billy, I promise you, there is no such thing as being friends with someone you are employing. Have we learned nothing from Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes?” – Julie
9. “I’m not losing weight, I’m gaining it. But Felix says that’s because muscle weighs more than fat.” – Billy “Oh, I’ve heard that one before. That and, ‘Keep watching Mad Men, it gets less boring.'” – Julie
10. “I’ve met a lot of people over the years. But Shonda Rhimes helped me realize something. One: That there are limits to what even Viola Davis can make seem plausible. And two: The best way to say yes to yourself is to forgive your enemies.” – Method Man