Show creators Amanda Joy and Samantha Wan met on the set of the 2014 film Devil's Mile. Tired of auditioning for the same stereotypical Asian roles, they discussed creating their own work together. Joy and Wan stated that their show was originally rejected at an unnamed Canadian pitch contest. It later went on to win Best Television Pitch at NexTV L.A. in 2013, before being picked up for development with Rogers. Joy wrote the original pilot script, with Wan directing alongside Joseph O'Brien. The original spec pilot screened at Toronto's Reelworld Film Festival in 2014, as well as Toronto's Asian Heritage Month.
Reception
Prior to the release of the show, Tony Wong of the Toronto Star published an article declaring Second Jen "groundbreaking" in its depiction of two female Asian leads "as if we had already arrived in a post-racial world." Brad Oswald of the Winnipeg Free Press praised Second Jen, calling it "Sharp, funny, slightly cheeky and smartly in tune with this country’s diverse demographic mix." Oswald wrote that "while it’s fair to say that attitude plays a bit part in this likable series’ early success, there are actually several elements that make Second Jen a must-see production." Oswald also praised the strength of the cast noting that Joy and Wan are particularly "likeable and relatable" in the lead roles of Jen and Mo. Toronto Life's Will Sloan complimented the show's light-hearted tone. He noted that, while "not necessarily laugh out loud funny," Second Jen is a pleasant watch, with strong moments carried by "the likability of its goofy cast, and the familiar streets, bars and houses of its Little Italy setting." Sloan also praised Joy and Wan's performances, calling them breakout stars. Brad Wheeler of The Globe and Mail hailed the show as "A Laverne & Shirley for the Digital Age" as it stars "two sparky second-generation Asian-Canadian millennial women coming of age in an era so economically challenging that Laverne and Shirley would be crying in their beers instead of merrily goofing off at the bottling plant." In contrast, John Doyle, also of The Globe and Mail, panned the show, calling it "light, slight, silly and only occasionally outright funny Second Jen is notable for having two female Asian lead characters but it is not notable, nor funny, as a comedy." The show was also viewed un-favourably by Quebecoise TV blog, Lady Teruki. The website noted its disappointment that despite the two leads being likeable and charming, and good ideas bubbling under the surface, Second Jen had clearly suffered from broadening, dated ideas, and an obvious lack of trust in its creators.
