HBO Unveils First Look at Rachel Sennott’s Wild New Comedy I LOVE LA

The grungy, sleazy queen of sidesplitting insanity is back and this time she rules LA, the city of angels.

The first look photos from HBO’s new scripted comedy series I LOVE LA, created by and starring Rachel Sennott, have been released. She’s clearly here to remind TV of its place and make it her playground. It premieres Sunday, Nov. 2 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and is available to stream on HBO Max. The eight-episode season premieres weekly to the Dec. 21 series finale, just in time for you to have a new holiday depression to blame things on instead of in-laws.

The Premise: Friendship, Sex, and Delusions of Stardom

At its center, I LOVE LA is a show about a cast of striving friends who fight their way through love and life in LA. Translation: a lot of cringeworthy hook-ups, disastrous auditions, too many oat milk lattes, and at least one crazy rooftop fight over a Silver Lake party house.

Rachel Sennott is Maia, the delicate fantasist who can’t “make it” and stay vertical. And, naturally, comedic wit Jordan Firstman as Charlie, Josh Hutcherson (aka Peeta from The Hunger Games) as Dylan, Odessa A’zion as Tallulah, and True Whitaker as Alani. That’s enough zaniness to explode a group message, but HBO had more tricks up its sleeve. Guest stars include Leighton Meester, Moses Ingram, Elijah Wood, Quenlin Blackwell, and others. Imagining Elijah Wood crashing a drum circle in Echo Park and that’s the level of enthusiasm.

Behind the Camera: A Murderers Row of Comedy/Layout Talent

Sennott not only directs but, as creator and executive producer, as well, although she’s assisted in the latter by Emma Barrie, Aida Rodgers, Max Silvestri, and Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers). The roster of directors is no less impressive, with Sennott herself, Scafaria, Bill Benz, and Kevin Bray at the helm. If there were ever promises that LA delusion could be filmable and side-splittingly hilarious, this is it.

First Look: Sunsets, Sweat, and Savage Humor

The first photos deliver what Sennott’s fans are already waiting eagerly for: rumpled hairdo, acerbic humor, and unashamed adoration of Angeleno teenage desperation and poverty. Photos propose rooftop shots under smoggy sunset skies, rager party sequences out of control, and group photographs that yell toxic but party.

If you’ve been holding out for the ultimate follow-up to Bottoms and Shiva Baby with more palm trees, more traffic, and more unabashed hot people, then you’re in luck.

Josh Hutcherson, Rachel Sennott