Hollywood gets a gritty, no-holds-barred treatment in The CWs new drama The L.A. Complex.
Debuting Tuesday evening, the Canadian series centers on a group of 20-somethings led by Degrassi alumna Cassie Steele and Stargate: Atlantis Jewel Staite with ambitious goals of making it big in the competitive entertainment industry and they all happen to have connections to a hoppin Los Angeles hotel.
As creator Martin Gero tells The Hollywood Reporter, the genesis for the show which sees its main ensemble deal with the morning after pill, self-mutilation and struggling to land gigs came from the desire to tell a community story, similar in vein to Friday Night Lights and Parenthood, for the Hollywood set.
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We wanted to give a cross-section of the industry, Gero said. From the second the first episode airs, its clear the characters struggles are dramatic and, oftentimes, life-changing.
Because The L.A. Complex features a slew of characters in each episode, THR breaks down just who these guys and girls are and why theyre sticking around Hollywood.
[Warning: Some spoilers ahead.]
The Successful Actor:
Connor Lake (played by Aussie actor Jonathan Patrick Moore) is one of the lucky ones. For him, fame happened quickly perhaps too fast. He hasnt really done anything, he hasnt done a guest spot on a show and books this lead [on a medical drama], which is incredible, Moore told THR. As the playboy (and viewers) quickly discover, being No. 1 on the call sheet isnt all fun and games. It brings with it a lot of pressures and stresses hes not used to dealing with and the fact that hes deeply insecure about himself and he has a messy family life, hes not comfortable with himself to navigate through these stressful environments, he explained. So much so that by episode 3, how Connor deals with the stress will be revealed and it may spiral out of control by episode 6.
The Struggling Actress:
After starring in a hugely popular TV show, Teenage Wasteland, Raquel Westbrook (played by Staite) finds herself unable to book even the smallest of parts. Shes sort of at her wits end, Staite tells THR. Since shes had success before and she knows what it tastes and feels like, she wants it back so badly. Shes in a desperate state of mind, shes willing to do and say pretty much anything to get to where she wants to be. Early on, Raquel who also has a friends with benefits thing going on with Connor persuades two neighbors to allow her to play the lead role (and not another A-list actress) for their unproduced movie and things start to get complicated when other players come into the mix.
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The Hot Young Thing:
Abby Vargas (played by Steele) has what could be the most dramatic introduction out of all the characters, when a landlord smashes the back window of her raggedy-old car. What fuels Abby are her dreams; they affect her. Everything shes feeling and everything we see from her emotionally is all dictated by her dreams, by her job, Steele tells THR. Thats what drives her. I think in this industry, you really have that end goal. There arent certain steps you have to take, lot of people have different ways of getting there. Though she seems to be on the rise, unlike Raquel for instance, Abby deals with a multitude of problems, one that includes her lack of finances.
The Hip-Hop Star:
Kaldrick King (played by Andra Fuller) may be tough on the outside, but as is uncovered during the season, the music megastar is holding a sacred secret, Fuller tells THR. From Oakland, Calif. and raised by the streets, Kaldrick is the way he is because of what hes keeping inside. He talks about packing guns, hitting streets and beating people up. Thats real. If you dont believe me, get in my face and Ill show you its real, Fuller said of his alter-egos persona. On the other end, hes rapping about being with all these women and thats the furthest thing from the truth. Somehow he finds solace in an unsuspecting person, but will it end pretty?
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The Music Intern:
How do you stand out from the rest? Go against the grain even if that means breaking the rules, as music intern Tariq Muhammad (played by Benjamin Charles Watson) does at a hotshot label. Friends with Abby, he has a secret himself that if discovered could ruin lives and careers.
The Geeky Comedian Wannabe:
Secretly in love with Abby, Nick Wagner (played by Joe Dinicol) wears his thick-rimmed glasses proudly. The antithesis to Connor, Nick has girl problems like no other and his nonexistent comedy career is floundering like a dead fish. Could appearances by some well-known comedians help Nicks career get off the ground?
The Nave Dancer:
Think of Alicia Lowe (played by Chelan Simmons) like the dance-version of Raquel. After auditioning left and right, things arent looking up. With her patience wearing thin, Alicia takes a leap of faith when she opts to do something her friends have hesitations about. How this may affect her dance career will remain to be seen.
Will you check out The L.A. Complex when it debuts in the U.S.?
The L.A. Complex airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on the CW.
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