Before there was HBO’s Girls, there was Williamsburg/Bushwick-based web series I Hate Being Single from creator Rob Michael Hugel.  The series hilariously captures the exasperation of being a single and lonely hipster in New York, as well as the struggles of financially surviving as a freelancer – all within five-minute webisodes. The show has been compared to the likes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Portlandia, Louie, Flight of the Concords, and of course, the inevitable referral to Girls. Unlike Girls, however, I Hate Being Single is from a low-budget show from a man’s point of view, more like two dudes gathering laundry and complaining about how dirty the subway is.

Season one, which first aired in January last year, begins with the end of Rob’s relationship, where he is shoved into the depths of the big New York singles sea. This quote, from the protagonist, sums up the sappy view this sensitive guy has on true love:

“I hate parties. I don’t want to do that. I want to go home, stay at home,” Rob sulks to a friend in episode one. “The other day, together, we baked two pumpkin pies and ate both of them in two days – that’s love.”