Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
“You’re not a celebrity, you’re just a person. Lame.” This is the predicament that Jennette McCurdy, the disgraced Nickelodeon star, currently finds herself in. After an embarrassing leak of some scantily-clad selfies put the tween-friendly star in the spotlight, her hit TV show Sam & Cat (which also starred the tiny, adorable pop star Ariana Grande) got cancelled by her network. After suffering personal and professional embarrassment, what is next for Jennette McCurdy?
The answer, which we spoiled in the headline of this article, is a show called What’s Next For Sarah?, a roman à clef about a popular actress who suddenly finds herself out of work. McCurdy writes, executive produces, edits and stars in this 4-episode web series, which can be found on Vimeo. It’s a funny, smart and surprisingly poignant exploration of what it’s like to be the Last Big Thing (as opposed to the Next Big Thing) in Hollywood, a town in which star power is the primary currency. As she attempts to navigate her way through a series of misadventures with a wide array of phonies—interviewers, talent reps, fans, co-stars, therapists, casting agents, juice saleswomen—she comes to realize that she has no real idea of what or who she wants to be. Should she become an alcoholic? A college student? A bride? Miley Cyrus?
The show has been attracting some gossipy press because of the way it showcases an Ariana Grande-esque character named Gloriana in a negative light, but there’s more to this show than that. Near the end of the show’s second episode—btw, we should mention that you can watch the entire series in about 22 minutes—McCurdy finds herself coping with her professional disappointment by getting shitfaced. As her bestie convinces her it’s time to go home and sober up, a wasted Sarah slurs her way through this mini-monologue that feels very, very real:
“I wanna go to see a therapist. ‘Cause I think I need help. My life’s in shambles. I don’t know what I’m doin’. Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh!”
If you’re looking for a quick distraction that’s both well-written and well-acted, we highly suggest What’s Next For Sarah. Check out Episode 1 below!
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