Rachel Sennott on the hilarious series about that grotty appeal of Gen Z life

The performer joins the online meeting and at once begins an apology. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she says, seeming truly regretful. Despite being only slightly delayed, she needs to explain. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Luckily, for a writer, this is just what one hopes to encounter. Moreover, it’s quite expected. Those familiar with the boldly openly gay and outspoken project titled Bottoms—that she penned with the director and featured in alongside collaborator Ayo Edebiri—would be aware that she has much to share, whether about identity, intimacy, or the merits of starting a teen combat group. Plus, after watching her new eight-part program I Love LA, viewers realize that she has even more thoughts about the challenges of Gen Z life (Now in her thirties, Sennott represents a relatable figure for this generation, on the cusp skilled for bridging both generations).

Inspirations and Artistic Direction

Parallels to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show naturally arise and Sennott is enthusiastic, referencing it in addition to the classic series, the acclaimed comedy and Donald Glover’s series as inspirations for the project, which tracks the struggles of online personality Tallulah and close companion who is also fledgling representative Maia. Perhaps, the biggest influence on the moodboard went to Entourage, the HBO sitcom about an up-and-coming Hollywood star succeeding in a corrupt Hollywood (choice quote: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). Sennott began viewing it amid lockdown, became “captivated”, and decided to add a fresh perspective on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.

“I wanted to make a show where the internet, not Hollywood, was the industry, because my career started online,” she explains. The concept for the series came—in part—from her own, initially fractious, transition to Tinseltown and from her cosmic event, a popular occurrence for followers. It was a time that involved her understand some big life lessons, professionally and personally. “In my early 20s I was so messy, crying in public everywhere, all the time,” she admits. “Settling in LA during my mid-twenties brought calm, but soon everything unraveled.” It was almost like these biblical tests …”

Starting Out

Raised in New England, the star commenced creating and acting humor while pursuing theatre at a prestigious arts school. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she explains. “I tried out for all the NYU comedy groups, and got rejected from all of them. 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, performing at live shows with her friend and posting hilarious (and decidedly) weird skits online. A particular video, Baby Cult, followed characters intensely obsessed with having babies; a different one imagined working at a trendy retail outlet as like being trapped in a horror film. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Seligman through NYU’s movie community and ultimately appearing in her initial project, titled Shiva Baby, a tense dramedy set at a funeral gathering with echoes of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The big theme of her career, she says, has been peers supporting her, instead of the industry at large. So, not the gatekeepers, then? “Definitely not them”, she confirms, continuing humorously: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Manifesting Dreams

Anyone who were skeptical regarding her previously will certainly be feeling foolish now. As part of she describes as a “wild, full-circle” story, she seems to have achieved the perfect project. In 2019 she posted a clip called “it’s LA” on social media, in which she parodied Hollywood trailers (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Now, she’s the co-showrunner (with her partner) of a show about LA residents juggling the perks of online celebrity (such as celebrating at a celebrity’s house) with downsides (your friend being suspected of being a substance-abusing stealer, and perhaps becoming a risky pariah). One might simple to create a program about internet celebrity that was overly glamorous—or, worse, one that punched down at its subjects. The series does neither, resulting in a representation of privileged young adult living that’s honest about the chaos and the glamour.

Balanced Perspective

“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

Linda Davis
Linda Davis

A tech enthusiast and digital strategist with over a decade of experience in analyzing emerging technologies and their impact on daily life.