For once, TV has delivered something truly eventful. The HBO comedy series I Love LA has catapulted into the spotlight, captivating audiences with its refreshingly cringe-free portrayal of wannabe Gen Z influencers. After a year of lackluster programming, this eight-episode show is already being hailed as the best of the year.
Creator and star Rachel Sennott's vision for the show - likening it to "Entourage for internet girls" - has proven astute, capturing the essence of a tiny world in east LA where young, ambitious individuals navigate the cutthroat landscape of social media fame. Gone are the days of millennial writers relying on tired tropes; Sennott's writing is authentic, drawing from her own experiences as a newcomer to LA.
I Love LA tells the story of Maia, an entertainment manager trying to mold her old pal Tallulah into a viral sensation, along with her quirky stylist Charlie and Alani, a nepo baby-turned-influencer. While its creators' youthful energy is undeniable, the show's sensibility sets it apart from other Gen Z comedies. Its humor feels more akin to Platonic, an Apple TV+ hit about middle age, than its younger counterparts.
The show has benefited from the TV landscape's current glut of subpar programming. I Love LA's confident writing and relatable characters have made recent hits like Hacks seem stagey by comparison. It assumes viewers will be familiar with references to Diddy and Kramer vs Kramer, never feeling the need to explain itself.
Ultimately, I Love LA occupies a world its creators inhabit, where cultural touchstones are implicit rather than expounded upon. If you don't grasp certain lines of dialogue, the show politely invites you to return to more conventional fare. With its refreshingly honest portrayal of social media and Gen Z culture, this show has cemented its place as one of the year's standout series.
Creator and star Rachel Sennott's vision for the show - likening it to "Entourage for internet girls" - has proven astute, capturing the essence of a tiny world in east LA where young, ambitious individuals navigate the cutthroat landscape of social media fame. Gone are the days of millennial writers relying on tired tropes; Sennott's writing is authentic, drawing from her own experiences as a newcomer to LA.
I Love LA tells the story of Maia, an entertainment manager trying to mold her old pal Tallulah into a viral sensation, along with her quirky stylist Charlie and Alani, a nepo baby-turned-influencer. While its creators' youthful energy is undeniable, the show's sensibility sets it apart from other Gen Z comedies. Its humor feels more akin to Platonic, an Apple TV+ hit about middle age, than its younger counterparts.
The show has benefited from the TV landscape's current glut of subpar programming. I Love LA's confident writing and relatable characters have made recent hits like Hacks seem stagey by comparison. It assumes viewers will be familiar with references to Diddy and Kramer vs Kramer, never feeling the need to explain itself.
Ultimately, I Love LA occupies a world its creators inhabit, where cultural touchstones are implicit rather than expounded upon. If you don't grasp certain lines of dialogue, the show politely invites you to return to more conventional fare. With its refreshingly honest portrayal of social media and Gen Z culture, this show has cemented its place as one of the year's standout series.
I'm loving this HBO show I Love LA so far! 
It's like they're speaking my language - all about the struggles of navigating social media fame and trying to stay relevant in a crazy industry. The characters are so relatable, I feel like I'm watching myself (or my friends) on screen 
.
- it's like they're speaking directly to us, but not too condescendingly. I mean, who hasn't been there at some point? The cast is great, especially the supporting characters, and Rachel Sennott's writing is so on point, it feels like she's having an inside joke with us 
. But what's really interesting is how they're subverting our expectations of what Gen Z comedy should be - I mean, who needs loud laughs when you can have quiet, cringe-worthy moments? It's like they're saying, 'Hey, we get it, you've seen the same memes 500 times.' The show's got this effortless vibe that makes me wanna binge-watch the whole thing 
My kid's friends are always trying to get more followers on TikTok, and now I see where all that drama comes from. The show's got a great cast of characters too, like Tallulah - she's literally the opposite of my teenager, but you can't help but root for her! 
. They're not afraid to poke fun at themselves and their own generation's quirks 
. What I love about this show is that it acknowledges its own shortcomings - no one's trying to force anything or pretend they're something they're not 
. It's just... real 
.
i love how this show just assumes you're a part of their world and gets back to making you laugh 
. The way it seamlessly incorporates references without needing explicit explanations is a masterclass in subtle storytelling 
. It's definitely giving me some Platonic vibes with its sophisticated humor 
️. And the writing? Genius 
. The characters are lovably cringey, just like us millennials 
. I'm hooked on this show and I think it's a game-changer for comedy 
. and i love how it doesn't spoon-feed you the references - if you don't get some lines, oh well, move on 
. it's just... really good at being itself, you know? 
the writers got it so right, like they're not afraid to poke fun at their own privileged upbringing (I'm talking to u Rachel Sennott!! 
) and the show just has this perfect balance of sass and sincerity. And can we talk about Tallulah's character? She's literally my spirit animal 
.