The performer joins the digital interview and right away launches into an excuse. “Apologies for the delay!” she says, sounding truly apologetic. Despite being only a bit behind, she needs to explain. “I have such a problem, because I’m a yapper on the phone. “Earlier calls made me late—I just can’t stop chatting!” Thankfully, for a writer, this is exactly what is ideal to encounter. Besides, it’s quite expected. Viewers who know the fearlessly openly gay and unapologetically crass film Bottoms—which she collaborated on with Emma Seligman and appeared in together with close companion The Bear’s standout—will already know that Sennott has much to discuss, be it about roles, relationships, or the merits of creating a teen fight club. And, after watching her recent seasonal show titled I Love LA, it is clear that the star carries even more thoughts about the challenges of young adulthood (As a millennial, Sennott serves as an honorary member for this generation, on the cusp adept for connecting different age groups).
Influences and Artistic Direction
The comparisons to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show can’t be avoided and Sennott admits to being a fan, naming the show in addition to Sex and the City, Issa Rae’s show and the innovative program as inspirations for I Love LA, which tracks the travails of a social media star played by Odessa A’Zion and close companion and aspiring talent manager Maia. Perhaps, the biggest spot on the moodboard belonged to Entourage, that program depicting an emerging celebrity navigating in a gritty Hollywood (choice quote: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). Sennott began viewing it amid the pandemic, became “obsessed”, and resolved to add a fresh perspective on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.
“I sought to highlight online platforms as the new industry, since my professional journey launched there,” she says. The inspiration for the series came—partly—from personal, originally difficult, transition to Tinseltown and from the cosmic event, a popular phenomenon for enthusiasts. It was a phase that saw her grasp some big life lessons, work-wise and in private life. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she recalls. “After relocating to Los Angeles in my mid-twenties, I found stability, only for things to crumble. “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”
Humble Origins
Growing up in New England, the star commenced developing and showcasing humor while enrolled in performance at NYU’s Tisch. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she states. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” “Theatre productions at school also didn’t accept me. “I wondered why I was even there at all.”
She took matters into her own hands, performing at live shows with Edebiri and posting hilarious (and very) weird comedy videos online. One, titled Baby Cult, depicted several females obsessively drawn to pregnancy; a different one envisioned working at the brand Hollister as similar to being stuck in a scary movie. In a neat twist of fate, she met Emma through campus film circles and eventually starring in her directorial debut, titled Shiva Baby, a stressful dramedy set at a religious event with echoes of the intense thriller. A recurring idea of her path, she says, has been people her own age offering opportunities, instead of established gatekeepers. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “Not the gatekeepers”, she repeats, stating humorously: “They prefer we don’t succeed.”
Rising Success
Individuals who questioned regarding her earlier will certainly be regretting it now. In what she calls a “incredibly circular” story, she has created her dream vehicle. In 2019 she shared a clip called “it’s LA” online, in which she mocked movie previews (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Six years on, she’s executive producer (with her partner) of a comedy about city dwellers balancing the perks of online celebrity (such as socializing at a famous actor’s house) with downsides (your client being suspected of being a drug-addled thief, and perhaps becoming a risky pariah). Some could easy to create a show about internet celebrity that was extremely glamorous—or, more problematic, one that belittled at the characters. This show does neither, resulting in a portrait of privileged young adult living that’s candid about the mess and the shine.
Nuanced Portrayal
“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
