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Original Canadian Series The L.A. Complex Acquired By The CW for U.S. Broadcast

bell media [1]Bell Media [1] has announced that its sexy new Canadian drama The L.A. Complex [2] has become its latest original series to be acquired by a U.S. network. The CW has picked up the existing six episodes of the one-hour series, which was ordered by Bell Media in August 2010 and shot in Toronto and Los Angeles last summer.

Produced by Emmy®-nominated Epitome Pictures [3] (DeGrassi) and executive produced, written, and directed by Martin Gero (HBO’s Bored To Death), The L.A. Complex is a no-holds-barred, character-driven relationship drama that follows the exploits of six attractive, young hopefuls in search of stardom in Hollywood. A MuchMusic Original Series, The L.A. Complex has its world premiere tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT (8 p.m. CT, 10 p.m. MT/AT), in simulcast on CTV and MuchMusic. Subsequent episodes air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on MuchMusic. The CW has announced plans for its American premiere later this spring.

“We’re very happy The CW has recognized the potential in what we hope is another long-running franchise from our partners at Epitome Pictures,” said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. “The L.A. Complex has international characters and a U.S. setting, but tells a familiar Canadian story. With tonight’s world premiere just around the corner, today’s announcement bodes well for the future of this homegrown series.”

“Collaborating with Bell Media has been an excellent experience right from the get-go, and to have this announcement come the day of The L.A. Complex premiere on CTV and MuchMusic, makes it even better,” said Executive Producer and CEO of Epitome Pictures Inc., Linda Schuyler. “For so many years, we’ve been working with young Canadian actors who venture to L.A. for pilot season, some of whom have even landed series on The CW! To tell stories like theirs is so much fun.”

Full of new relationships, salacious temptations and make-it-or-break it decisions, TThe L.A. Complex’s coming-of-age dwellers grapple with life’s defining moments as they deal with the unreality of the show-biz industry.

The L.A. Complex stars Canadian Jewel Staite (Firefly, Stargate Atlantis) as the street-smart Haligonian Raquel, who’s frightened of becoming yesterday’s news; Jonathan Patrick Moore (Neighbours, All Saints) as Connor, a break-out Australian with drop-dead good looks and a dark past; Canadian Joe Dinicol (Murdoch Mysteries, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) as “nice guy” Nick, a struggling stand-up comedian from Edmonton who is always the best friend and never the boyfriend; Andra Fuller (The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Entourage) as Kaldrick, the extremely successful Hip-Hop artist hailing from the streets of Oakland; Canadian Chelan Simmons (Smallville, Supernatural, Kyle XY) as Alicia, a sensitive, aspiring dancer from Regina who will do whatever it takes to make ends meet; Canadian Cassie Steele (DeGrassi, Relic Hunter) as Abby, the naïve Toronto actor who is ready to fight to get to the top; and Canadian Benjamin Charles Watson (Todd and the Book of Pure Evil, The Listener) as Tariq, the confident and talented Montreal hip-hop artist with a secret.