🔗 Share this article Rachel Sennott exploring the hilarious comedy portraying that chaotic appeal of today's youth life The star appears on the video call and immediately begins an explanation. “I can’t believe I’m late!” she exclaims, seeming truly apologetic. Despite being only a bit behind, she feels compelled to explain. “I have such a problem, because I’m a yapper on the phone. “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Fortunately, for a writer, that’s just what one hopes to hear. Moreover, it’s pretty predictable. Those who know the fearlessly LGBTQ+ and unapologetically crass movie Bottoms—which Sennott co-wrote with the director and starred in with close companion The Bear’s standout—would already know that Sennott has plenty to say, be it about identity, relationships, or the pros of forming a high-school fight club. Plus, by the end her new seasonal HBO series titled I Love LA, it becomes obvious that she holds even more insights about the darker side of modern youth (As a millennial, Sennott is a bridge for this generation, straddling eras skilled for bridging millennials and Gen Z). Guiding Lights and Artistic Direction Likenesses to the iconic series Girls naturally arise and the actress readily acknowledges a fan, referencing it in addition to the classic series, Issa Rae’s show and the innovative program as guides for I Love LA, which details the struggles of a social media star Tallulah and ally who is also new representative Maia. Perhaps, the biggest presence on concept went to Entourage, the program focusing on an up-and-coming A-list actor navigating in a gritty LA scene (memorable line: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). She began viewing it during the pandemic, became “captivated”, and decided 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 notes. The idea for I Love LA emerged—to some extent—from personal, initially fractious, transition to LA and from her astrological phase, a much-talked-about phenomenon for followers. This represented a time that saw her grasp major life lessons, work-wise and individually. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she admits. “After relocating to Los Angeles in my mid-twenties, I found stability, only for things to crumble. It was almost like these biblical tests …” Starting Out Growing up in Connecticut, the star started developing and showcasing humor while pursuing acting at a prestigious arts school. “Despite trying every conventional route, I couldn’t find my footing,” she says. “Auditions for university comedy troupes led to universal rejection. “None of the university plays cast me either.” “I wondered why I was even there at all.” She took matters into her own hands, appearing at live shows with Ayo and uploading hilarious (and very) unconventional online content on the internet. One, titled Baby Cult, centered on characters obsessively obsessed with motherhood; another portrayed working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as similar to being stuck in a horror film. Interestingly, she met Emma through NYU’s movie community and ultimately starring in her directorial debut, titled Shiva Baby, a stressful film set at a Jewish wake with hints of the intense thriller. The big theme of her career, she notes, has been people her own age offering opportunities, rather than the industry at large. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “They were not involved”, she emphasizes, continuing with a laugh: “They don’t want us to win.” Rising Success Those who had doubts regarding Sennott previously will likely be regretting it now. As part of she describes as a “wild, full-circle” turn of events, she seems to have manifested her dream vehicle. A few years back she posted a clip named “it’s LA” online, in which she parodied movie previews (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s the co-showrunner (with her partner) of a comedy about LA residents managing advantages of online celebrity (such as partying at a famous actor’s house) with drawbacks (your friend being labeled as being a substance-abusing thief, and possibly becoming a unreliable pariah). Some could simple to create a show about online fame that was extremely idealized—or, worse, one that mocked at its subjects. This show steers clear of each, creating a portrait of affluent twentysomething living that’s frank about the grot and the appeal. Empathetic Approach “Many programs portray youth and online life with disdain and mockery,” 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