The L.A. Complex has a "Vacancy"

After a (thankfully) brief hiatus, The L.A. Complex returns for a second season with "Vacancy." This episode picks up right after season one ends, and while some of the characters begin new arcs, others have to deal with the fallout from the old ones. At least in L.A., things are never boring!

Nick (Joe Dinicol) gets an interview as a writer for Paul F. Tompkins' new series, even though Paul (himself) hates Nick. To overcome this bias and get on staff, Nick uses his chemistry with Sabrina (Georgina Reilly), who is also interviewing, and they are both hired. Then he returns home to Abby (Cassie Steele), whom he is now officially dating, and lies about working with anyone that he knows.

This cannot end well on either count for Nick. If Abby finds out Nick lied about Sabrina, their relationship is over before it starts. Yes, Abby may have dumped Nick anyway, since Nick slept with Sabrina so recently before her. But lying does not improve the situation, and will only make her madder. Similarly, being in close quarters might reignite things with Sabrina enough for her to forgive Nick for his theft of her jokes. If she acts on it and Nick rejects her because of Abby, she will go ballistic, and one or both of them will have to leave the show. Most likely, both women will find out what Nick did soon enough. There is just no way to foresee a happy ending here

Abby is finally learning the game. Auditioning before a religion-themed series star and creator named Donald (Alan Thicke, Growing Pains), she quickly realizes that she has screwed up with her wardrobe, which she probably didn't have time to change. So she lays into Donald instead, claiming piety and passion for the project. It's a fake-it-'til-you-make-it moment, and one where Abby shines. Though, admittedly, if she's a good enough actress to fool Donald here, doesn't that make her good enough for his show?

Sadly, Eddie (Ennis Esmer), who usually seems like a good guy in The L.A. Complex, acting as not just their landlord, but also their mentor and friend, comes off as cruel in "Vacancy." It's one thing to demand that Abby pay extra rent to live with Nick, an understandable rule. It's another to not make his cleaning gig offer clear to Abby, who works six hours when Eddie is only willing to pay for two. Maybe the slight isn't intentional, but Eddie comes across as a total jerk in the way he talks to her. Is the lesson that you can't trust anyone in L.A.? Or is Eddie just having a bad day? He didn't look like that was the case...

Connor (Jonathan Patrick Moore) probably won't have a show much longer if he keeps on the path he's heading down. Drunk in the middle of the day, jumping off balconies into the pool, his behavior is reckless. There is a hint of salvation as he enters into a real relationship with Raquel (the fabulous Jewel Staite). Having her to care about might calm him down, especially when she gets around to telling him that she's pregnant with his(?) child. Maybe Connor will invest in these two people, and being back at the apartments, he will find himself again. Or maybe he will keep getting worse, and Raquel will be left heartbroken, as well as knocked up.

There is a "Vacancy" at the complex that Connor can use, now that Alicia (Chelan Simmons) has hit the road. She says goodbye at the beginning of the episode, and isn't seen again for the entire hour. She remains a main character, so whether The L.A. Complex will follow her on the road or bring her home soon is the only mystery here.

There are also two new characters, a young homeless woman named Beth (Dayle McLeod) and her little brother Simon (Michael Levinson), whom she is caring for. Viewers are introduced to the pair in "Vacancy," but there hasn't been enough development to really understand who they are and what they are about yet. Might Simon land an acting gig, paying just enough to get them into the complex?

Finally, the real emotional heft of the hour comes with Tariq (Benjamin Charles Watson) and Kaldrick (Andra Fuller). Tariq is hurt and unwilling to forgive Kaldrick, especially if Kaldrick won't go public with their relationship. Kaldrick is willing to do anything for Tariq to make up for beating him except tell people that he's gay, as it would effectively end his career, though that's the only thing Tariq wants. So what we get is two heartsick men that cannot maintain the connection they so desperately desire. To cope, Tariq heads home and Kaldrick slits his wrists.

Will Kaldrick die? Or will he come out of this a new man, understanding that he must be true to himself. We know Tariq, a main character, won't really be leaving The L.A. Complex. Either of those outcomes for Kaldrick will allow Tariq to stay. The question is, will Tariq be happy or grieving next week?

Don't miss the summer's guilty pleasure Canadian drama, The L.A. Complex, airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on the CW.

Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com. If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published on TheTVKing

Move into 'The L.A. Complex'

Premiering last night on the CW (though the first episode was already available on Hulu) is Canadian series The L.A. Complex. Think of it as a sort of Melrose Place, where a bunch of people who want to be famous in Hollywood live in a motel together. There's the actress, the dancer, the stand up comedian, the music mixer, the new star, and the aging performer. Well, aging by Los Angeles standards, which means she's almost 30. Will any of them succeed?

Despite this being a Canadian show, The L.A. Complex feels like it takes place in Hollywood. And why not? Film and television types have been taking advantage of the tax breaks in our northern neighbor for years. The people who work up there have a pretty good idea of what they are doing.

"Down in L.A." starts a little rough. Perhaps to introduce the characters quickly, small snippets of each are shown, with their names flashing across the screen. These moments are meant to highlight the main cast, and they do, but only in retrospect. They do not last long enough to make a memorable impression, and though only six players are featured, it feels like more, and a bit overwhelming, as before viewers can get an idea of who one person is, the episode is on to the next one.

That being said, it settles down relatively quickly after that, and it has a nice little spice. The cast is mostly young, which one would expect for the CW, but they aren't all gorgeous. Some are, but some are around normal levels of attractiveness. The writing is also sharper, and the personalities more layered, than the typical CW fare. Which means The L.A. Complex should still appeal to CW's bread and butter demographic, but perhaps introduce a little more quality than one might expect from most (not all) of the shows on the network.

There are many flavors at work here. There's a bit of Melrose Place, as mentioned above, because of the basic set up. There's also a little of Undeclared, given the naive eagerness of several of the characters, who haven't yet found their groove. Fame could also be mentioned, because of those trying so hard to get their big break. Though, only parts of the first episode seem like a retread, as other scenes feel fresh and original. The L.A. Complex is a new twist on a classic set up. In all, it's a satisfying mix.

The biggest obstacle to reaching a large audience may be the network airing it. Although The L.A. Complex fits on the CW, it would also fit nicely on other networks, too. Hey, FOX and NBC, do you need their number? With the edgy content of some scenes, however, the series might play best on Showtime, as toning things down actually hurts the mood a little bit. And with a few tweaks, it could be another How to Make It in America-type series for HBO.

The cast is more than capable. While a couple of the players seem interchangeable with other television performers, several do stand out, and it leads one to believe that The L.A. Complex could help several careers along.

Leading this pack is welcoming familiar face Jewel Staite (Firefly, Stargate: Atlantis). Though not even thirty yet herself, Staite makes Raquel a relatable character. Wrestling with the failure of an early hit show called Teenage Wasteland (interestingly, the original title of That '70s Show), Raquel now can't get another part, and casting directors keep wanting her to play the mom. She clings to her youth, and her actions seem desperate and pathetic. Yet, Staite somehow makes Raquel likeable, and viewers will root for her. She can be refreshingly honest, such as when she asks a room full of black girls if any of them has a white best friend, playing on a television trope. And though she is not a mentor to the younger ones yet, there are hints that she might be in time, once she finds her path a little bit better.

Chelan Simmons plays Alicia Lowe, the dancer. At first glance, she might seem like just a hot blond, but she is also really nice, which comes a little bit out of left field. Simmons' work in The L.A. Complex calls to mind her previous series Kyle XY, and makes one wonder why ABC Family hasn't made another decent show in awhile. Which is a tangent, to be sure, but Alicia doesn't get a lot of her own story in "Down in L.A.," so it's hard to go anywhere else with her yet.

Nick (Joe Dinicol, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) has the best scenes in "Down in L.A." Hopelessly unfunny, despite living and breathing stand up, he is thrown completely off of his game by meeting Mary Lynn Rajskub (herself, 24), who is very rude to him, in line with her own comedic sensibilities. Adding insult to injury, Rajskub and Paul F. Tompkins (himself, Best Week Ever) lambast Nick after the show. Somehow this sequence is hilarious, despite its cruelty.

The young lovers are Abby (Cassie Steele, Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Connor (Jonathan Patrick Moore, Neighbours). He has just made it big through dumb luck, and she is failing miserable. He is kind to her, but in retrospect, he sleeps with a girl he knows has a boyfriend, so is his nice guy thing just an act? It's hard to tell, especially as he sadly moves into his empty house. Both of these characters are going to be the focus of many teenage crushes, and the reason young girls tune in week after week.

Sadly, Tariq's (Benjamin Charles Watson) tale is the one that fails to resonate. He desperately wants to be respected, and makes a bold move to do so. However, he also comes across as someone not willing to pay his dues before he finds recognition, already refusing to keep his head down in "Down in L.A." Not that his boss, Dynasty (Dayo Ade), isn't unnecessarily harsh, because he is. But will Tariq's character turn this around? Let's hope so.


The L.A. Complex has already been given a second season in Canada. Hopefully, the CW will continue to air it, as "Down in L.A." is a promising start. Tune in Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on the CW.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published as TV Review: The L.A. Complex - "Down in L.A." on Blogcritics.

Curb Your Enthusiasm goes through "The Divorce"

     Season eight of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm begins with "The Divorce." As the title implies, Larry (Larry David) and Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) make the decision to end their marriage. The half hour begins right where season seven ends, and their bickering causes them, many months later, to dissolve the union. Larry has a great attorney (Paul F. Tompkins), but when he learns the man is only leading people to believe he's Jewish, Larry fires him. Which leads to Larry hiring a Jewish, but much worse, lawyer, who gives Cheryl the house. After an inadvertent comment by Larry, Funkhouser (Bob Einstein) also decides to get divorced. Larry also cancels a girl scout cookie order after misunderstanding with the girlscout's father (Gary Cole, The Good Wife, Entourage).


      Divorce hangs heavy in "The Divorce," but rather than be a bad thing, it is celebrated. Larry and Cheryl manage to remain friends, and are happy they will no longer be together. Funkhouser embraces the freedom from his boring union. Even Jeff (Jeff Garlin) wishes to end his marriage, but his wife, Susie (Susie Essman) would make the process far too painful for him to seriously consider it. Why does Curb Your Enthusiasm embrace such a bleak outlook? Perhaps it is the central character's attitude that influences the most. While Larry loves Cheryl, he tends to roll with the punches, and stay relatively happy. He gets frustrated, but his belief that he almost always right usually keeps him from being too upset. With Larry getting divorced, rather than have the character sink into sad depression, he weathers it as he does everything else.

     The humor comes from the problems that Larry gets himself into. These problems fall into one of two categories: misunderstandings, and the things he brings on himself with his inability to let anything go. "The Divorce" has examples of each. Firmly in the misunderstanding category is the disagreement Larry has with the girl scout's father. While at Larry's house to sell him cookies, the girl (Kaitlyn Dever, Justified) begins her first period. Larry assists her to the best of his ability, while also keeping a door between them. Her father doesn't understand what happens, and so he denies Larry box seats to a sporting event.

     From there, things go into the Larry's fault side. Larry decides that if he's not on good terms with the girl's father, and not getting the favor he desires, he won't do any favors back. He cancels his cookie order, which the girl scouts are flummoxed by. It goes from bad to worse when not just three girl scouts, but a whole troop of them show up at his door. Larry trying to close the door on a bunch of angry young girls is hilarious!

     Larry's divorce problems are also his own fault, since he fires a perfectly competent lawyer to prove a point. This backfires, and Larry ends up with no home, as does Leon (J.B. Smoove), who still lives with Larry. It would not be a good episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm unless the ending was not in Larry's favor, and having twenty-four hours to vacate his home certainly isn't. It will be very interesting to see what happens next.

     Curb Your Enthusiasm airs Sunday nights at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.

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