{ "id": "ep78qm3eb2", "slug": "the-real-bros-of-simi-valley", "title": "The Real Bros of Simi Valley", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries", "label": "Comedy, drama, and general-genre web series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries.yr-2017-2021", "label": "Premiered 2017 to 2021", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries.yr-2017-2021" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries.yr-2017-2021", "label": "United States · 2001 to 2020: Premiered 2017 to 2021", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries.yr-2017-2021", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001", "label": "United States · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries", "label": "Comedy, drama, and general-genre web series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries.yr-2017-2021", "label": "Premiered 2017 to 2021", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries.yr-2017-2021" } ] } ], "excerpt": "The Real Bros of Simi Valley is a scripted comedy web series parodying reality TV, created by Jimmy Tatro and Christian A. Pierce. It ran on YouTube (2017) and Facebook Watch (2018–2020) for three seasons, then continued as a 2024 Roku Channel film.", "snippet": "The Real Bros of Simi Valley is a scripted comedy web series parodying reality TV, created by Jimmy Tatro and Christian A. Pierce. It ran on YouTube (2017) and Facebook Watch (2018–2020) for three seasons, then continued as a 2024 Roku Channel film.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.comedy_general_webseries.yr-2017-2021", "markdown": "# The Real Bros of Simi Valley\n\n**The Real Bros of Simi Valley** is an American scripted comedy web series that parodies reality television, following four friends in [Simi Valley, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/simi-valley-california), roughly a decade after they graduated from high school. It was created by [Jimmy Tatro](https://www.edgepedia.org/jimmy-tatro) and Christian A. Pierce, who had earlier built the YouTube sketch comedy channel LifeAccordingToJimmy, and it ran for three seasons between 2017 and 2020 before continuing as a 2024 feature film on [The Roku Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-roku-channel).[1](https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/11/15/facebook-watch-jimmy-tatro-comedy/) • [2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/so-many-options)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Format | Scripted comedy parodying reality shows such as the Real Housewives franchise and Jersey Shore[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/so-many-options) • [3](https://real-bros-of-simi-valley.fandom.com/wiki/Real_Bros_of_Simi_Valley_Wiki) |\n| First aired | April 10, 2017, on Tatro's YouTube channel LifeAccordingToJimmy; season 1 ran four episodes[4](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley) |\n| Later platforms | Seasons 2 and 3 on Facebook Watch (November 2018 to September 2020); the 2024 film on The Roku Channel[1](https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/11/15/facebook-watch-jimmy-tatro-comedy/) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_real_bros_of_simi_valley_the_movie) |\n| Main cast | Jimmy Tatro as Xander, Cody Ko as Wade, Nick Colletti as Duncan, Tanner Getter as Bryce, Colleen Donovan as Molly, Christian A. Pierce as Aldis[4](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley) |\n| Creators' roles | Tatro served as star, co-writer, director, and executive producer; Pierce is co-writer and co-creator[1](https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/11/15/facebook-watch-jimmy-tatro-comedy/) |\n| Filming location | None of the series is shot in Simi Valley; it is shot in the San Fernando Valley area, including Studio City[6](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-10-09/is-facebook-watch-real-bros-simi-valley-good-youtube) |\n| Recognition | Nominated for Best Web Series at the 10th Annual Shorty Awards[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/so-many-options) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and style\n\nThe series follows Xander (Tatro), his brother Wade ([Cody Ko](https://www.edgepedia.org/cody-ko)), and their friends Duncan (Nick Colletti) and Bryce (Tanner Getter), none of whom have matured much since graduating from high school nearly a decade earlier. Xander's girlfriend Molly (Colleen Donovan) is part of the circle, and as the story developed, Pierce joined the cast as Aldis, Wade's yogi college roommate.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/so-many-options)\n\nThe show is structured like a reality series, with direct-to-camera confessionals and a self-aware cast; Pierce has said the characters \"know they're in a show.\"[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/so-many-options) Plot material revolves around dating, babies, skate culture, kickbacks, trucks, boats, and what the Television Academy account describes as a lot of passive aggressive behavior, with every bump in the road treated as a major dramatic moment.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/so-many-options) Time also passes oddly: Molly's pregnancy goes full term in a matter of weeks, and her son Hawk reaches kindergarten shortly thereafter, a deliberately surreal timeline.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/so-many-options)\n\nThe Los Angeles Times critic Mary McNamara, a culture columnist and 2015 [Pulitzer Prize](https://www.edgepedia.org/pulitzer-prize) winner, called the show \"a very funny, occasionally pointed and essentially gentle-hearted satire of reality shows and Valley dudes,\" and noted that it is one of the still-rare shows in which young characters sound like young people rather than a middle-aged writer's idea of them.[6](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-10-09/is-facebook-watch-real-bros-simi-valley-good-youtube)\n\n## Origin\n\nPierce and Tatro met in their first week at the [University of Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-arizona) and began shooting scripted comedy videos together. While chatting about the flood of reality shows on television, they saw a sign for Simi Valley, just west of the [San Fernando Valley](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-fernando-valley) where Pierce grew up, and the idea clicked.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/so-many-options) They considered Santa Clarita or Valencia as the setting, Pierce told the Los Angeles Times, \"but Simi just sounded funnier.\"[6](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-10-09/is-facebook-watch-real-bros-simi-valley-good-youtube) Although the characters are not based on specific people, Pierce says they are inspired by real people and events from his life in the Valley.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/so-many-options)\n\nTatro funded the first season himself, and the success of Netflix's docu-spoof [American Vandal](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-vandal), in which he headlined the first season, helped make the series possible.[6](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-10-09/is-facebook-watch-real-bros-simi-valley-good-youtube)\n\n## Release history\n\n**Season 1 (2017).** Four episodes debuted on LifeAccordingToJimmy beginning April 10, 2017. Tubefilter reported in November 2018 that they had garnered upwards of 4.5 million collective views; PopCulture.com later put the first episode above 6 million views and all four at roughly 18 million.[4](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley) • [1](https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/11/15/facebook-watch-jimmy-tatro-comedy/) • [7](https://popculture.com/streaming/news/real-bros-simi-valley-cocreator-christian-pierce-series-youtube-facebook-watch-transition-ahead-season-3-premiere/) The venture was then put on hold amid the success of American Vandal.[1](https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/11/15/facebook-watch-jimmy-tatro-comedy/)\n\n**Season 2 (2018–2019).** Ten episodes debuted exclusively on [Facebook Watch](https://www.edgepedia.org/facebook-watch) starting November 30, 2018.[1](https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/11/15/facebook-watch-jimmy-tatro-comedy/) The first episode of the season drew more than 4 million views, with subsequent episodes averaging around 2 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.[6](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-10-09/is-facebook-watch-real-bros-simi-valley-good-youtube) The Facebook deal allowed Tatro and Pierce to pay cast members, many of whom had worked the first season for free, hire a union crew, and book guest stars including skateboarder [Nyjah Huston](https://www.edgepedia.org/nyjah-huston).[6](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-10-09/is-facebook-watch-real-bros-simi-valley-good-youtube)\n\n**Season 3 (2020).** Eleven episodes ran on Facebook Watch from February 14 to September 25, 2020, with the season taking the bros internationally.[4](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley) • [8](https://pop-culturalist.com/exclusive-interview-pop-culturalist-chats-with-the-real-bros-of-simi-valleys-christian-a-pierce/) In a later podcast interview, Tatro said the season did well on Facebook but that Facebook did not want a fourth season, and the platform subsequently wound down its video content business.[9](https://podscripts.co/podcasts/bussin-with-the-boys/jimmy-tatro-and-christian-pierce-talk-real-bros-of-simi-valley-movie-their-thoughts-on-beer-games)\n\n## The Roku Channel film\n\nIn March 2024, Roku announced the Roku Original feature *The Real Bros of Simi Valley: High School Reunion*, a continuation co-created by Tatro and Pierce that Roku said would bring the bros back together as the 10-year high school reunion approaches. The film streams exclusively on The Roku Channel.[10](https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/Roku/view/385013/) It premiered on July 5, 2024, runs 1 hour 46 minutes, was produced by Studio71, and was directed by Tatro from a screenplay by Tatro and Pierce.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_real_bros_of_simi_valley_the_movie) • [11](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31945450) The story follows Xander and his squad as they try to become the most impressive versions of themselves before the reunion, while a rival group threatens Xander's chances at the Truck of the Year award.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_real_bros_of_simi_valley_the_movie) The film adds guest cast members including [Zoey Deutch](https://www.edgepedia.org/zoey-deutch), Rob Riggle, Tyler Posey, Retta, and [Griffin Gluck](https://www.edgepedia.org/griffin-gluck).[11](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31945450)\n\nIn a ComicBook.com interview, Tatro and Pierce explained that they had originally pitched a fourth season and had mapped out storylines beyond season 3, with the reunion planned as a later chapter; when the series was not picked up but the movie opportunity came, \"I guess the reunion is now,\" Pierce said.[12](https://comicbook.com/movies/news/real-bros-of-simi-valley-movie-interview-jimmy-tatro-christian-pierce/)\n\n## Reception and reach\n\nRoku's press release described the original series as a social media phenomenon generating over a billion views across video platforms.[10](https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/Roku/view/385013/) Beyond the [Shorty Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/shorty-awards) nomination, the series drew praise for authenticity: Tatro attributed its appeal to characters who \"seem so real,\" noting that many high school and college-age characters on television are written by people far beyond that age.[6](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-10-09/is-facebook-watch-real-bros-simi-valley-good-youtube) The characters also maintain real Instagram accounts, run by Tatro and his staff to increase audience engagement.[6](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-10-09/is-facebook-watch-real-bros-simi-valley-good-youtube)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Facebook Watch Picks Up YouTube-Born Jimmy Tatro Comedy Series, Tubefilter (November 15, 2018)](https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/11/15/facebook-watch-jimmy-tatro-comedy/)\n2. [So Many Options! Christian A. Pierce just wants to create, Television Academy Online Originals (February 18, 2020)](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/online-originals/so-many-options)\n3. [Real Bros of Simi Valley Wiki, Fandom](https://real-bros-of-simi-valley.fandom.com/wiki/Real_Bros_of_Simi_Valley_Wiki)\n4. [The Real Bros of Simi Valley, TheTVDB.com](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley)\n5. [The Real Bros of Simi Valley: The Movie, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_real_bros_of_simi_valley_the_movie)\n6. [The surprising wisdom of Facebook's 'Real Bros of Simi Valley', Los Angeles Times (October 9, 2019)](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-10-09/is-facebook-watch-real-bros-simi-valley-good-youtube)\n7. ['Real Bros of Simi Valley' Co-Creator Christian A. Pierce Talks Series' Transition From YouTube to Facebook Watch, PopCulture.com (February 14, 2020)](https://popculture.com/streaming/news/real-bros-simi-valley-cocreator-christian-pierce-series-youtube-facebook-watch-transition-ahead-season-3-premiere/)\n8. [Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with The Real Bros of Simi Valley's Christian A. Pierce, Pop-Culturalist.com (February 14, 2020)](https://pop-culturalist.com/exclusive-interview-pop-culturalist-chats-with-the-real-bros-of-simi-valleys-christian-a-pierce/)\n9. [Bussin' With The Boys: Jimmy Tatro And Christian Pierce Talk Real Bros Of Simi Valley Movie, transcript](https://podscripts.co/podcasts/bussin-with-the-boys/jimmy-tatro-and-christian-pierce-talk-real-bros-of-simi-valley-movie-their-thoughts-on-beer-games)\n10. [Roku Originals Reunites \"The Real Bros of Simi Valley\" for New Movie; Directed by Jimmy Tatro, Pressparty/Roku press release (March 28, 2024)](https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/Roku/view/385013/)\n11. [The Real Bros of Simi Valley: The Movie (2024), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31945450)\n12. [Real Bros of Simi Valley Creators on Bringing the Fan-Favorite Series to a Feature Film, ComicBook.com (July 25, 2024)](https://comicbook.com/movies/news/real-bros-of-simi-valley-movie-interview-jimmy-tatro-christian-pierce/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Web-native and streaming-original series › Comedy, drama, and general-genre web series › Premiered 2017 to 2021*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"The Real Bros of Simi Valley\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[The Real Bros of Simi Valley](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"The Real Bros of Simi Valley\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-real-bros-of-simi-valley. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "The Real Bros of Simi Valley is a scripted comedy web series parodying reality TV, created by Jimmy Tatro and Christian A. Pierce." }