The comedy series is created, written, and directed by Nicole Higgins who also stars alongside David Brown , Will Madden , and Ben Weaver
Marni is doing her best: she’s sober, she’s scrappy, and she would do anything for her baby daughter Mila. So when a surprise daycare bill hits and every door slams shut, she finds her solution in the most unexpected Craigslist ad she’s ever seen. Armed with a frozen milk stash, a ride-or-die best friend, and the street smarts she picked up in a past life, Marni pulls off a hustle that’s equal parts absurd, resourceful, and deeply human.
Movie interview / Rhonda at Ouch Magazine
Among the buzziest premieres at this year's Tribeca Festival, CVNT arrives with a title designed to provoke and a story that quickly proves there's much more beneath the shock value. Created, written, directed by, and starring Nicole Higgins, this wildly original comedy pilot transforms financial desperation into a deeply funny, surprisingly moving portrait of modern motherhood.
Higgins stars as Marni, a recovering addict and devoted single mother who is trying to keep her life together one impossible day at a time. She's sober, fiercely protective of her young daughter Mila, and constantly navigating a world that seems determined to punish anyone already struggling. When an unexpected daycare bill threatens to derail everything, Marni stumbles upon an unconventional opportunity through Craigslist that launches the series into delightfully absurd territory.
What makes CVNT stand out isn't simply its outrageous premise—it's the humanity woven throughout every joke. Higgins understands that comedy works best when it's grounded in truth, and Marni's circumstances feel painfully familiar even as the plot veers into wonderfully ridiculous territory. The script balances razor-sharp humor with genuine empathy, never reducing its characters to punchlines.
The chemistry between Higgins and her supporting cast is another major strength. David Brown, Will Madden, and Ben Weaver each contribute memorable performances that amplify the show's chaotic energy while keeping it emotionally anchored. Particularly effective is the friendship dynamic at the story's center, offering a refreshing reminder that survival often depends on the people willing to stand beside us when everything falls apart.
Visually, the pilot embraces a gritty, lived-in realism that contrasts beautifully with its increasingly outrageous situations. The result feels contemporary, authentic, and distinctly New York—a comedy that understands both the absurdity and the resilience required to navigate modern life.
At its core, CVNT is about resourcefulness. It's about women making impossible calculations, finding creative solutions, and refusing to be defeated by systems that offer little support. Higgins has crafted a comedy that is fearless in its humor but generous in its heart.
Bold, irreverent, and unexpectedly touching, CVNT is exactly the kind of fresh voice television needs right now. If this pilot is any indication, Nicole Higgins has created a series that audiences will be talking about long after Tribeca's closing night.
