News that The L.A. Complex has been picked up for an additional 13 episodes did not come as a total surprise today–even though the series was not exactly a ratings smash.
The drama, about young Canadian wannabes struggling to make it in Hollywood, premiered Jan. 10. It drew 351,000 viewers on CTV in overnight estimates. An additional 60,000 were counted the same night on MuchMusic.
The five subsequent episodes aired only on Much. It drew 87,000 there for the second episode, 40,000 for the third, 44,000 for the fourth.
Epitome Pictures invested heavily in the series, creating a Hollywood style back lot at their production centre in Toronto. An outdoor recreation of the infamous Hyland Gardens motel in Hollywood was also constructed, complete with swimming pool.
The series was executive produced and directed by Martin Gero, who helmed the Canadian feature Young People F–king. The L.A. Complex pretty much covers similar ground.
The timing of CTV’s renewal is all about the launch of the series in the U.S. next month. It premieres on The CW April 24.
Programming officials there were very high on the series when I spoke with them in January, bumping it up from a proposed summer slot to directly follow the final episode of their long-running series One Tree Hill.
“We loved it,” said Thom Sherman, Head of Development at The CW. “It’s an authentic look at people trying to make it in
Networks on both sides of the border are looking to reduce risk and share costs. The L.A. Complex seems like a good fit with that formula; now it just needs viewers to sign off on the deal.
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1 Comment
I think this is a sign that people watching (or not watching) is not always any sort of indication whatsoever as to the fate of a show. I was thinking this was a certain cancellation and The CW would publicise it as a mini-series.