Rachel Sennott on the hilarious series about the chaotic allure of younger generation life

The star enters the video call and right away launches into an apology. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she states, appearing truly regretful. Although she's only slightly late, she needs to justify. “I have such a problem, because I’m a yapper on the phone. I had two calls before this, and I’m like, I’ve gotta stop talking!” Fortunately, during an interview, this is exactly what is ideal to hear. Moreover, it’s quite unsurprising. Viewers who have seen the unapologetically LGBTQ+ and outspoken movie Bottoms—which Sennott co-wrote with Emma Seligman and appeared in alongside collaborator the talented actress—would already know that she holds plenty to say, ranging from about identity, relationships, or the appeal of creating a teen combat group. Plus, after watching her latest eight-part show I Love LA, it is clear that the star carries further insights regarding the darker side of Gen Z life (At 30, Sennott serves as a relatable figure to younger audiences, on the cusp with a knack for straddling different age groups).

Guiding Lights and Creative Vision

Likenesses to the iconic series Girls are inevitable and the actress is enthusiastic, referencing the show in addition to the classic series, Insecure and Atlanta as guides for I Love LA, which follows the struggles of an influencer Tallulah and ally who is also new talent manager Sennott’s character. Perhaps, the most significant influence on the moodboard was reserved for the popular sitcom, the program focusing on an up-and-coming A-list actor making his way in a gritty Hollywood (notable statement: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). Sennott started watching it during COVID-19, became “obsessed”, and chose to add a fresh perspective on it “for the girls and the gays”.

“I wanted to make a show where the internet, not Hollywood, was the industry, because my career started online,” she explains. The idea for this project came—in part—from personal, originally rocky, transition to Tinseltown and from her cosmic event, a popular event for enthusiasts. That period marked an era that included her learn some big life lessons, work-wise and in private life. “My twenties began with constant public emotional outbursts and disorganization,” she recalls. “Settling in LA during my mid-twenties brought calm, but soon everything unraveled.” “It resembled a series of extreme challenges…”

Early Beginnings

Growing up in Connecticut, the star commenced writing and performing comedy while studying theatre at NYU’s Tisch. “Despite trying every conventional route, I couldn’t find my footing,” she states. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” I tried out for all the NYU plays and didn’t make it into any of them. “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”

Sennott seized control, taking the stage at amateur nights with Ayo and sharing hysterical (and decidedly) weird comedy videos on the internet. A particular video, Baby Cult, centered on characters obsessively fixated on motherhood; another imagined working at a trendy retail outlet as akin to being trapped in a thriller. By chance, she connected with Seligman through NYU’s movie community and eventually featuring in her initial project, titled Shiva Baby, a tense film set at a Jewish wake with shades of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The central motif of her journey, she explains, has been people her own age offering opportunities, instead of traditional networks. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “Not the gatekeepers”, she repeats, stating humorously: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Rising Success

Anyone who were skeptical regarding her earlier will certainly be kicking themselves currently. Through she labels a “wild, full-circle” turn of events, she seems to have created the perfect project. In 2019 she posted a video called “it’s LA” online, in which she parodied film promos (“Substance abuse is rampant here”). Now, she’s executive producer (with her partner) of a series about LA residents juggling the perks of digital stardom (such as celebrating at Elijah Wood’s house) with downsides (your associate being suspected of being a drug-addled criminal, and potentially becoming a unreliable pariah). Some could simple to create a series about digital influence that was overly aspirational—or, more problematic, one that mocked at those depicted. The series avoids both, creating a representation of advantaged millennial life that’s honest about the mess and the glamour.

Nuanced Portrayal

“Numerous series present younger generations and digital culture in a derogatory manner,” she says. “I think that young people have been through a lot – I’m mostly thinking of people younger than me, like my little sister, who went to college during Covid, so she had to come home, or my other sister who was doing school online.”|“The younger generation has faced significant

Brent Turner
Brent Turner

Elena Morris is a tech enthusiast and lifestyle writer with a passion for helping others navigate the digital world.