The L.A. Complex
television series
The L.A. Complex (originally Highland Gardens) is a Canadian drama television series that premiered on CTV on January 10, 2012, subsequently airing on MuchMusic. It also began airing in the United States on April 24, 2012, on The CW. The series stars Cassie Steele as Abby Vargas, an aspiring actress who moves to Los Angeles with nothing but her Maple Leafs hockey bag and dreams of being a famous actress. As described in CTV publicity materials, "The L.A. Complex follows the lives of twenty year olds living in the same apartment complex in L.A. trying to make it as actors, dancers, producers and comedians. Relationships begin and end, the need to succeed is tested and all characters are pushed to their breaking points."
On December 3, 2012, it was announced that The L.A. Complex was not renewed for a third season by Much and Bell Media, but with a possibility that the series could be picked up by another network. On December 20, 2012, The CW announced that the series would not be picked up, making it officially canceled.
Cast and characters
Main
Jonathan Patrick Moore as Connor Lake, a good-looking and successful actor from Australia who suffers from depression and self-harming
Joe Dinicol as Nick Wagner, a geeky, socially awkward stand-up comedian originally from Calgary
Andra Fuller as Kaldrick King, real name Sean Dougan, a successful but troubled rapper originally from Oakland, California, who is secretly gay
Chelan Simmons as Alicia Lowe, an aspiring dancer from Regina who will "do whatever it takes" to make ends meet
Cassie Steele as Abby Vargas, an accident-prone aspiring actress from Toronto and illegal immigrant
Benjamin Charles Watson as Tariq Muhammad, an aspiring hip-hop music producer originally from Montreal who works as an intern for Kaldrick King, and eventually becomes his lover
Jewel Staite as Raquel Westbrook, a 30-year-old cynical, once successful actress from Halifax who fears her career is now over
Dayle McLeod as Beth Pirelli (season 2), a headstrong teenager from Winnipeg who moves into The Lux with her younger brother Simon, after their father abandons them
Michael Levinson as Simon Pirelli (season 2), a child actor who moves into The Lux with his older sister Beth
Georgina Reilly as Sabrina Reynolds (season 2; guest star season 1), a ruthless, LA-born comedian, who shares a rivalry with Nick
Recurring
Ennis Esmer as Eddie Demir, the landlord and manager of The Lux Motel
Paul F. Tompkins as himself, a straight-talking comedian
Dayo Ade as DyNasty, Kaldrick King's primary music producer, who helps cover up his homosexual affairs
Kristopher Turner and Jordan Johnson-Hinds as Cam Logan and Kevin Rainer, aspiring filmmakers who reside at the Lux and begin a collaboration with Raquel
Aaron Abrams as Ricky Lloyd, a once successful child actor and recovering drug addict, who makes a sex tape with Alicia to try and revitalise his career
Ryan Belleville as Scott Cray (season 2), Nick and Sabrina's lecherous, drug-addicted boss
Brett Dier and Megan Hutchings as Brandon Kelly and Laura Knight (season 2), actors on the Christian show Saving Grace, who engage in a three-way relationship with Abby
William Stewart as Rook (season 2), Kal's loyal friend, who shoots and kills his rival, Infinite Jest, in the series finale
Krista Allen as Jennifer Bell (season 2), a successful actress who starts a "show-mance" with Connor to remain relevant in the acting business
Eugene Clark as Walter Dougan (season 2), Kal's estranged father who runs a halfway house in Downtown Los Angeles for paroled ex-convicts and homeless teenage runaways
Stephan James as Infinite Jest (season 2), Kaldrick's rapper rival
Jarod Joseph as Christopher Taylor (season 2), Kaldrick King's openly gay lawyer boyfriend
Louis Ferreira as Dean Pirelli (season 2), Beth and Simon's estranged father
Steve Byers as Gray Sanders (season 2), Abby's serviceman boyfriend
Tori Anderson as Charlotte Lake (season 2), Connor's estranged sister
Matt Murray as Manny (season 2), Raquel's co-worker at the restaurant, who runs a credit card scam
Cast notes
Episodes
Season 1 (2012)
Season 2 (2012)
Production on the second and final season began in mid-April, and the season premiered in Canada on July 17, 2012. The 13-episode second and final season was simulcast by The CW. Alan Thicke joined the cast as Donald Gallagher, a hot-headed actor-director-producer. Also guest-starring is Louis Ferreira as Beth and Simon's father Dean Pirelli.
Development and production
CTV's parent company, Bell Media, ordered six episodes of the series in August 2011. Shooting and production of the series began in mid-2011, with both Toronto and Los Angeles as primary locations.
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