“It’s the Seventh Grade Dance in the Shed” — A Salute to Rachel Bloom
I think we could use a pick-me-up after that last post on depression. Anyway, I’m looking for an excuse to tout a comedy powerhouse. Plus she just celebrated her 30th birthday (on April 3rd).
Rachel Bloom grew up in Southern California but was something of a neurotic New Yorker at heart. In addition to a behind the scenes stint as an intern at Saturday Night Live, she cut her teeth with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, an improv troupe whose other graduates include Amy Poehler. Bloom first attracted widespread attention in 2010 with a rude song about wanting to have sex with the science fiction writer Ray Bradbury. It was in poor taste as she was 23 at the time while Bradbury was 90. But I reserve the right to change my mind about that some day in the distant future.
The following year, in 2011, Bloom hit her hit her stride with this video. Notice that she comes on like an (even more) over-the-top Rebecca Black before taking a bizarre turn:
Behind the laughter lurked a shadow. Back when Bloom herself was in 7th grade, she was