Those mortifying moments in life, the ones that make you shudder even years after they've happened, are the basis of Little Horribles, a comic series on the Web about a painfully awkward single woman in her 30s. Dubbed the lesbian answer to HBO's Girls, its central character, a smart cookie striving for an elusive "more" but courting miniature embarrassing disasters instead, is embodied by the series' creator, writer and star, Amy York Rubin.
A native New Yorker, Rubin, who started the series of seven-minute episodes a year ago and has since caught the eye of industry insiders, Los Angeles magazine, The Huffington Post and Variety, grew up in suburban D.C, graduated from Vassar, and toiled in Democratic politics in New York City and on Capitol Hill, where she started producing viral political videos. In 2010, she relocated to L.A, the setting for her less-competent, socially-challenged alter-ego, a highly intelligent, slightly overweight lesbian who seems to repel the very people she hopes to attract, and is often head-and-shoulders above the people around her. Unlike The L Word of a decade ago, Little Horribles doesn't trumpet the sexual content, or trade in fantasy or glamour. Amy makes clumsy attempts to connect, and just tries to get through the day.
Although the show's situations may draw on its creator's authentic feelings, it's no surprise to learn that Rubin is every bit as sharp as the fictional Amy, and a great deal more self-assured, A director who does stand-up on the side and runs her own branded entertainment company with clients such as Vanity Fair and Google, she's currently in "development" discussions for the show, though she won't divulge details. But the question remains: why summon those cringe-worthy moments �" from masturbating in her car, and comforting a hyper-emotional lover who's blowing her off, to ironing shut a bag of chips to cover up her bingeing at a hotel mini-bar, not to mention a habit of crying and scarfing down bakery goods while sitting on the toilet �" and reveal them to the world at large? Rubin talked about this and more in a recent conversation. She'll be the featured guest at an event coming up at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, where she'll discuss her work and screen a selection of clips.
Sura Wood: A number of gay and lesbian-themed series are popping up on the Web. Did you set out to make a lesbian-focused, female-centric series?
Amy York Rubin: Not really, but I'm a woman, I'm not straight, and I was writing something that came very much from my own point of view and personal experiences, so it was unavoidable. I don't really identify as gay or lesbian. Actually, I don't like any box. I like the idea of the spectrum of sexuality, which we play with in the series. I certainly searched on Netflix for lesbian movies or shows, and watched all of them. There wasn't a lot out there, or much that I liked.
Your character has a hard time reading signals, and has questionable judgment. For instance, she can't get a word in edgewise with a self-centered date, but she doesn't get up and leave, perhaps thinking things will improve if she hangs in there.
Yes, there's a fine line between being open-minded and being an idiot.
It may be one of the downsides of growing fame that people believe you and the character are one and the same. Does that bother you?
I don't care. When I wrote it, I just thought of it as moments that I wanted to play, and I never considered casting anyone else. The distinction is that usually the emotional nugget is true, but not the story. Like the mini-bar episode: the emotional backbone �" using food to deal with family issues �" is a big truth and part of my life, but that particular scenario never happened.
Journalists have spun Little Horribles as the lesbian equivalent of Girls. How do you feel about the comparison?
If I were skinny and wasn't a woman, I don't think they'd be compared. Girls feels much more like an indie, who am I, what do I want, coming-of-age ensemble show, while mine is a harder-edged comedy. Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm ) or Louie would be the more obvious tonal comparisons.
What are your favorite shows?
Veep may be my favorite right now. I like Broad City on Comedy Central, and I love the Amy Schumer show.
Is the creative atmosphere different when a woman is in charge?
Anytime someone has personal experience with being on the outside, being the other, of not being included, it changes the way they run things. Not always, though. I've certainly worked with some women I'd never want to work with again, but I think a white man in America doesn't have that experience. They tend to inherently believe they're right.
The show is often described as a chronicle of small humiliations. Why resurrect them?
Honestly, I didn't think through putting a scene online where I'm masturbating in my car and how awkward that could be, or how hard it was going to be reliving a shameful break-up. I wanted to explore moments in my life that were related to a larger theme and look at them.
What about the notion of over-sharing and too much disclosure?
For better or worse, I'm part of a generation that doesn't care about privacy. Of course, I care about the invasions by the NSA, but not about the stuff I put out there myself. Maybe I'll get that wall eventually. We'll see.
Little Horribles: An Evening with Amy York Rubin, Aug. 1 at 9 p.m., Rayko Photo Center, SF. Info: sfjff.org