Canadian TV

In Canada: Tuesdays, 9pm ET, CTV/MuchMusic
In the US: Acquired by The CW for spring 2012

So here’s how TV normally works: you come up with a pilot episode and then you cast it. Normally, you’ll slip in a few Australians or Canadians because they’re cheaper. Then, to save more money, although your show is supposedly set in the US, you’ll film your show in Canada, with most of the supporting cast being Canadian, with just the occasional American flown in for luck. Once your show is made, you’ll then sell it to Canadian TV companies.

Now imagine the craftiness of the Canadians who have inverted that entire process with The LA Complex. It features a big group of Canadian actors – as well as an Australian – some of them famous from US shows, Jewel Staite (Firefly, Stargate: Atlantis) and Chelan Simmons (Kyle XY), some from Canadian shows (Cassie Steele from Degrassi: The Next Generation). They all play Canadians (apart from the Australian) – actors, dancers, singers, comedians and musicians who have all come to LA for a shot at the big time. Rather than being shot in Canada, it’s shot in LA and there’s the occasional American added for good luck (Mary Lynn Rajskub as herself). And now it’s been sold to The CW.

And despite the fact it’s largely about young, pretty actors, it’s really quite good and has an unexpected edge.

Continue reading “Review: The LA Complex (CTV/MuchMusic/The CW) 1×1-1×2”