The comedic talent discussing her uproarious series portraying that messy allure of today's youth lifestyle

The performer appears on the online meeting and right away starts an apology. “I can’t believe I’m late!” she exclaims, seeming really regretful. Despite being only slightly delayed, she wants to clarify. “My phone conversations always run long.” I had two calls before this, and I’m like, I’ve gotta stop talking!” Thankfully, for a writer, that’s exactly what you want to experience. Besides, it’s pretty predictable. Viewers familiar with the unapologetically openly gay and outspoken movie titled Bottoms—which Sennott penned with Emma Seligman and featured in alongside close companion the talented actress—can be aware that she has much to say, be it about identity, sex, or the merits of creating a high-school fight club. Furthermore, after watching her latest multi-episode program I Love LA, it is clear that the star carries further thoughts on the struggles of young adulthood (Now in her thirties, Sennott is an honorary member to younger audiences, straddling eras skilled for straddling different age groups).

Guiding Lights and Creative Vision

Parallels to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show can’t be avoided and Sennott admits to being enthusiastic, citing the show alongside the HBO hit, Issa Rae’s show and the innovative program as guides for the project, which tracks the travails of online personality Tallulah and her friend who is also new agent Sennott’s character. Perhaps, the largest spot on creative vision went to Entourage, that HBO sitcom focusing on a rising Hollywood star making his way in a corrupt entertainment industry (memorable line: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). She started watching it throughout COVID-19, became “captivated”, and decided to create a new version on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.

“My aim was to focus on digital fame over traditional entertainment, as my own beginnings were on the web,” she says. The idea for the series came—partly—from her own, initially difficult, move to LA and from her cosmic event, a frequently discussed event for astrology heads. It was a phase that involved her learn significant life lessons, in her career and in private life. “My twenties began with constant public emotional outbursts and disorganization,” she says. “In my mid-20s, I moved to LA and got settled. And then I felt like everything started to just fall apart. It was almost like these biblical tests …”

Early Beginnings

Growing up in New England, Sennott began creating and acting comedy while studying theatre at NYU’s Tisch. “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. “None of the university plays cast me either.” “I wondered why I was even there at all.”

Sennott took matters into her own hands, taking the stage at open mics with her friend and sharing hysterical (and decidedly) unconventional online content digitally. One, Baby Cult, centered on several females intensely obsessed with pregnancy; a different one imagined being employed at the preppy clothing store Hollister as akin to being stuck in a thriller. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Seligman through NYU’s movie community and ended up starring in her first film, titled Shiva Baby, an anxious comedy set at a funeral gathering with echoes of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The central motif of her path, she notes, has been people her own age offering opportunities, as opposed to traditional networks. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “They were not involved”, she emphasizes, continuing amusedly: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Career Breakthrough

Those who had doubts regarding Sennott earlier will surely be regretting it today. Through she labels a “incredibly circular” development, she seems to have achieved the perfect project. Previously she uploaded a video called on LA life on the internet, in which she parodied Hollywood trailers (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s a lead creator (with her partner) of a comedy about city dwellers balancing benefits of digital stardom (such as socializing at a famous actor’s house) with downsides (your friend being accused of being a drug-addled stealer, and potentially becoming a unreliable pariah). One might tempting to create a series about online fame that was horribly idealized—or, worse, one that belittled at its subjects. The series steers clear of each, creating a depiction of advantaged young adult life that’s honest about the chaos and the glamour.

Balanced Perspective

“There have been a lot of shows that depict young people and their relationship to the internet in this very condescending, hateful way,” she observes. “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

Shelby Murray
Shelby Murray

Elara is a Swiss art curator and writer with a passion for modern art movements and digital creativity.