The CW made more news when they picked up Canadian show ‘The L.A. Complex‘ than when they actually launched. Now it’s more famous for getting the lowest ratings ever, but it’s definitely not the show’s fault. The CW fumbled big time on this one.
‘The L.A. Complex‘ is that show that was originally picked up by the CW for summer programming, but then the put it on the air in April against all the already running show which made this show’s chances of survival pretty small. The marketing for it was just awful, especially when you see more inferior shows like ‘The Ringer‘ get all the boosting because of it’s one star Sarah Michelle Gellar. Granted, we all love Buffy, but I just found it odd when I kept wondering when the Canadian import was going to air since I barely saw anything about it. I could understand if the CW got cold feet, but the show was a hit in its home country and has already been picked up for a second season.
Since ratings have barely picked up, I’m sure the CW will cancel it, but hopefully they’ll burn off the remaining episodes since they are well worth the watch. If this has waited for the summer to air, I really think it would have picked up a fan base. The show is described by many as a low-rent ‘Melrose Place‘ since the cast of aspiring artists all live in a shabby apartment complex that has a communal pool. Having seen nearly the entire first season, that’s an unfair description, and I also wonder why HBO or Showtime didn’t pick this up since it would have fit in perfectly there.
Unlike ‘Smash‘, which I do count as my guilty pleasure, ‘LA Complex’ paints a real portrait of what it’s like and what it sometimes takes to make it in the entertainment industry. NBC’s ‘Smash’ has some loopy moments like when Karen suddenly fantasized a Bollywood dance number, and many times you feel like the producers needed for someone to sing so they just forced a scene in to accommodate that need. With Complex, the storylines may not all be solid (like Connor, the vanilla stud man who’s the one in the group to make it out of the Complex), but they paint a rather vivid look at the double standards of this business. This show grows on you, and it could serve as a good vehicle for people wanting to break in the business to see that just because the media makes it look like overnight success happens, it rarely ever does and many times, kids with stars in their eyes wind up sacrificing much of their principles and themselves just to land a small part.
Another wonderful surprise is seeing ‘Firefly’s‘ tomboy mechanic Jewel Staite play an aging bitter actress who’s career stalled ala Johnny Drama on ‘Entourage’. ‘L.A. Complex’ is a little like the seedy underbelly of Hollywood that Mark Wahlberg’s show based on his own arrival in Hollywood didn’t show. That one was more feel good buddy’s sticking together, whereas the CW show is more about everyone out for themselves. Another great thing is that this show doesn’t always go where you expect it too which is a good thing. The Tariq (Ben Watson) & Kaldrick King storyline in episode 2 wasn’t near as shocking as it seemed to be in Canada, but the build up to it was the real gem of it all. This show has so many interesting moments that ring true, and it tells those seedy stories I’ve heard and experienced through my acting friends. This is an industry that makes you take a lot of shit and then say ‘thank you’ for it all.
Basically, I’m just saying that you all should give this show a watch for a few episodes, and you’ll understand why I’m frustrated with the CW for truly dropping the ball on what could have been a great summer watch. Below is that sweet Ben Watson who plays the closeted hip hop producer Tariq giving a shout out to all of you who are watching it. Read our interview with Ben who was just such a sweetie and a true catch for whichever team he plays on!
Ben Watson (Tariq From LA Complex) Shout Out To Fans – Best Movies Ever
The LA Complex Promo – Best Movies Ever
‘The LA Complex’: CW’s Fun Underrated Treasure That Came Too Soon – Best Movies Ever News
Related Articles
Shanka Cheryl
Facebook
Twitter
Google Plus
RSS Feed
