“Girls5eva’s” second season proves that the Tina Fey comedy is anything but a one-hit wonder. From creator Meredith Scardino and exec produced by Fey, the Peacock series sees its titular girl group vowing to make “the most undeniable album of all-time.” Dawn (Sara Bareilles), Wickie (Renée Elise Goldsberry), Summer (Busy Philipps), and Gloria (Paula Pell) are returning to the studio with the hopes of recapturing their ’90s glory days. This time around, things are different: the foursome, and particularly Dawn, are determined to have more creative control, and won’t be collaborating with the kind of guys who sniff their chairs. And now they’re up against sexism and ageism.
Like “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” Fey and Scardino’s first collaboration, the quality and quantity of “Girls5eva’s” jokes impress. Each rapid-fire one-liner is more quotable than the last, with hilarious pop culture references weaved throughout. The members of Girls5eva are by turns described as “best known for each being engaged to Carson Daly” and “the first women to wear thongs to the White House.” At one point the foursome discuss whether any of them are “not blocked” by Daly or “willing to unblock Fred Durst” on social media.
Wickie in particular delivers laugh after laugh. When Dawn asks if she’s underdressed, Wickie doesn’t skip a beat: “Even for a scarecrow,” she deadpans. The most image-conscious member of the group enters crisis mode when an unexpected gust of wind jeopardizes one of her prized claims to fame: the highest possible WikiFeet rating, an honor shared with Mariah Carey and Eliza Dushku “before baby.” For years, Wickie has been going to great lengths to conceal the fact that one of her feet, “though fully functional, is far from beautiful.” It’s just the kind of delightfully absurd storyline that feels at home with “Kimmy Schmidt” and Fey’s first series, “30 Rock.”
Season 2 of “Girls5eva” is now streaming on Peacock.