Rachel Sennott’s New HBO Comedy I Love LA Takes on Influencer Culture and Modern Fame

HBO’s upcoming comedy I Love LA, created by and starring Rachel Sennott, is set to premiere on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. The show will air weekly on HBO and stream on HBO Max, with eight episodes making up its first season. It’s already generating buzz for its sharp look at internet fame, Los Angeles culture, and the blurred lines between friendship and ambition.

The series centers on Maia, played by Sennott, a 20-something talent manager trying to make her mark in Los Angeles. Her life takes a turn when she decides to manage her former best friend, Tallulah, a rising social media star played by Odessa A’zion. The duo’s complicated friendship becomes the heart of the show — exploring what happens when personal history collides with professional ambition in a city built on image and hype.

The friend group also includes Charlie (played by Jordan Firstman), a stylish but insecure celebrity stylist desperate to climb LA’s social ladder, and Alani (True Whitaker), the group’s well-connected “nepo baby.” Maia’s grounded boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hutcherson) provides a voice of reason amid the chaos. There are even cameos from real-life online personalities like Quenlin Blackwell, tying the show even more closely to the digital world it’s satirizing.

Sennott, known for her breakout performances in Shiva Baby and Bottoms, makes her creator and directorial debut with I Love LA. As someone who first gained attention for her viral online comedy, she brings authenticity to a show that thrives on knowing its internet culture inside out. Her humor — quick, self-aware, and rooted in the absurdity of everyday LA life — drives the show’s tone.

According to Teen Vogue, I Love LA is not just about friendship; it’s about Los Angeles itself as a character. The city becomes a living force, shaping — and sometimes destroying — the ambitions of those who chase fame within it. The series leans heavily on modern references: astrology, TikTok fame, designer brands like Balenciaga, and even LA’s infamous private-school culture.

Early reviews, such as from The Guardian, describe the show as a “self-aware comedy for the chronically online.” Critics note that while its early episodes can feel scattershot — trying to stretch fast-paced, internet-style humor into full episodes — it ultimately grows into something more layered. The show balances laughs with commentary on fame, insecurity, and identity in a digital world obsessed with being seen.

The Financial Times praises Sennott for creating an “oddly humane satire” of Gen Z’s influencer generation. Meanwhile, TIME offers a more critical take, suggesting that the show “can’t decide if it’s spoofing superficiality or just shallow.” Still, most reviewers agree that it’s a bold and timely addition to HBO’s comedy lineup.

With its mix of insider references, social satire, and emotional depth, I Love LA feels like a natural evolution of Sennott’s career — a show made by someone who understands both the absurdity and allure of trying to “make it” in a city where clout is currency. As Maia puts it in one episode, “Hustle until your idols become your rivals.” That line sums up what I Love LA is all about — ambition, chaos, and the endless chase for validation under the warm, deceptive glow of the LA sun.

I Love LA premieres November 2 on HBO and HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday night.