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Pen15
Pen15 is an American cringe comedy television series, created by Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, and Sam Zvibleman, that premiered on February 8, 2019, on Hulu. The series stars Erskine and Konkle, who also serve as executive producers alongside Zvibleman, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, Becky Sloviter, Marc Provissiero, Brooke Pobjoy, Debbie Liebling, and Gabe Liedman.
In May 2019, Hulu renewed the series for a second season of fifteen episodes, the first half of which premiered on September 18, 2020. In November 2021, it was reported that the series' second season would be its last.
Pen15 is described as "middle school as it really happened". Erskine and Konkle – who were both 31 years old at the start of season one – "play versions of themselves as 13-year-old social outcasts in the year 2000, surrounded by actual 13-year-olds, where the best day of your life can turn into your worst with the stroke of a gel pen." The show takes its name from a school prank involving tricking someone into writing the word "PEN15" (which looks like the word "penis") on their hands by asking if they want to join the "Pen 15 Club".
On April 19, 2018, Hulu announced that it had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. Erskine and Konkle were also expected to write for the series and Zvibleman was set to direct multiple episodes. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of The Lonely Island, Party Over Here, Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment, and AwesomenessTV. On November 19, 2018, it was announced that the series would premiere on February 8, 2019. Alongside the announcement of the series order, it was confirmed that Erskine and Konkle would star in the series as well. Erskine and Konkle also served as co-showrunners; Zvibleman and Gabe Liedman were also co-showrunners for the first season. On May 1, 2019, it was reported that Hulu renewed the series for a second season, of which the first seven episodes were released on September 18, 2020. The first episode from the second set of seven episodes premiered on August 27, 2021. Originally intended to run for three seasons, the filming of the second season was severely delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and by the conclusion both Erskine and Konkle had new acting roles, as well as parental responsibilities. On November 29, 2021, it was reported that the series' second season would be its final season.
The show is based on the childhood experiences of creators Erskine and Konkle, although in reality they did not meet until they were in college. Erskine, Konkle and Zvibleman originally wanted other teenage characters to be played by adult actors as well, but it was decided that Maya and Anna would be the only ones, as it "just further made [them] like aliens". In sexual scenes, underage actors were switched with adult stunt doubles.
To reflect the year the show was set in, production designer Grace Alie and set decorator Ali Rubinfeld took inspiration from their own childhoods, using details from their own and their siblings' childhood bedrooms. Inspiration was also taken from old magazines at a library in downtown Los Angeles, along with T.V. shows from the early 2000s, such as Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Lizzie McGuire. Many items and props were bought from thrift stores in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, and some items, such as Teen Beat magazines and a vintage Unisonic phone, were bought on eBay. The rooms of Anna and Maya were made to reflect the characters; Maya's room was more messy due to her being "more out-there and experimenting with what is going on inside of her", and the rest of the house "is indicative of a homey and harmonious partnership". Anna's house was designed to reflect her parents slowly divorcing, while her room "became, by design, a safe haven".
Budget restraints during season one were "the biggest challenge" according to Alie, who said they "had to be really resourceful and crafty with how we spent our money", while for season two, "we had more money and we got to build all these amazing sets on stage". Location scouting was thus also a challenge due to the budget restraints. When filming scenes in the middle school, whiteboards were replaced with chalkboards.
On November 19, 2018, a video was released announcing the premiere date of the series. On December 20, 2018, a teaser trailer for the series was released. On January 18, 2019, an official trailer and poster were released. The first season was released on Hulu on February 8, 2019, and the first seven episodes of the second season were released on September 18, 2020. The eighth episode of the season was released on August 27, 2021, and the rest premiered on December 3, 2021.
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Pen15
Pen15 is an American cringe comedy television series, created by Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, and Sam Zvibleman, that premiered on February 8, 2019, on Hulu. The series stars Erskine and Konkle, who also serve as executive producers alongside Zvibleman, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, Becky Sloviter, Marc Provissiero, Brooke Pobjoy, Debbie Liebling, and Gabe Liedman.
In May 2019, Hulu renewed the series for a second season of fifteen episodes, the first half of which premiered on September 18, 2020. In November 2021, it was reported that the series' second season would be its last.
Pen15 is described as "middle school as it really happened". Erskine and Konkle – who were both 31 years old at the start of season one – "play versions of themselves as 13-year-old social outcasts in the year 2000, surrounded by actual 13-year-olds, where the best day of your life can turn into your worst with the stroke of a gel pen." The show takes its name from a school prank involving tricking someone into writing the word "PEN15" (which looks like the word "penis") on their hands by asking if they want to join the "Pen 15 Club".
On April 19, 2018, Hulu announced that it had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. Erskine and Konkle were also expected to write for the series and Zvibleman was set to direct multiple episodes. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of The Lonely Island, Party Over Here, Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment, and AwesomenessTV. On November 19, 2018, it was announced that the series would premiere on February 8, 2019. Alongside the announcement of the series order, it was confirmed that Erskine and Konkle would star in the series as well. Erskine and Konkle also served as co-showrunners; Zvibleman and Gabe Liedman were also co-showrunners for the first season. On May 1, 2019, it was reported that Hulu renewed the series for a second season, of which the first seven episodes were released on September 18, 2020. The first episode from the second set of seven episodes premiered on August 27, 2021. Originally intended to run for three seasons, the filming of the second season was severely delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and by the conclusion both Erskine and Konkle had new acting roles, as well as parental responsibilities. On November 29, 2021, it was reported that the series' second season would be its final season.
The show is based on the childhood experiences of creators Erskine and Konkle, although in reality they did not meet until they were in college. Erskine, Konkle and Zvibleman originally wanted other teenage characters to be played by adult actors as well, but it was decided that Maya and Anna would be the only ones, as it "just further made [them] like aliens". In sexual scenes, underage actors were switched with adult stunt doubles.
To reflect the year the show was set in, production designer Grace Alie and set decorator Ali Rubinfeld took inspiration from their own childhoods, using details from their own and their siblings' childhood bedrooms. Inspiration was also taken from old magazines at a library in downtown Los Angeles, along with T.V. shows from the early 2000s, such as Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Lizzie McGuire. Many items and props were bought from thrift stores in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, and some items, such as Teen Beat magazines and a vintage Unisonic phone, were bought on eBay. The rooms of Anna and Maya were made to reflect the characters; Maya's room was more messy due to her being "more out-there and experimenting with what is going on inside of her", and the rest of the house "is indicative of a homey and harmonious partnership". Anna's house was designed to reflect her parents slowly divorcing, while her room "became, by design, a safe haven".
Budget restraints during season one were "the biggest challenge" according to Alie, who said they "had to be really resourceful and crafty with how we spent our money", while for season two, "we had more money and we got to build all these amazing sets on stage". Location scouting was thus also a challenge due to the budget restraints. When filming scenes in the middle school, whiteboards were replaced with chalkboards.
On November 19, 2018, a video was released announcing the premiere date of the series. On December 20, 2018, a teaser trailer for the series was released. On January 18, 2019, an official trailer and poster were released. The first season was released on Hulu on February 8, 2019, and the first seven episodes of the second season were released on September 18, 2020. The eighth episode of the season was released on August 27, 2021, and the rest premiered on December 3, 2021.