Jackie Tohn & Timothy Simons On ‘Nobody Wants This’ Filming In LA & Why It’s So Important: “The Infrastructure Already Exists”

Los Angeles’ grip on the entertainment industry is more than a matter of geography—it’s a symbiotic relationship built over a century of collaboration between filmmakers, crews, and the city’s unique infrastructure. The decision to keep productions like *Nobody Wants This* rooted in LA isn’t just about avoiding logistical headaches; it’s a recognition that the city’s ecosystem is irreplaceable. From soundstages to post-production houses, the infrastructure already exists here in a way it doesn’t anywhere else, making relocation costly and inefficient for most productions. This isn’t just convenience—it’s economic necessity. The ripple effects extend beyond Hollywood, touching local businesses, from caterers to trucking companies, all of which rely on steady work from these productions. When studios threaten to leave, they’re not just moving sets; they’re uprooting entire communities that depend on the industry’s presence. Yet the conversation around keeping productions in LA also highlights a tension. The city’s high costs—rent, permits, labor—have made it a prime target for productions eyeing cheaper alternatives in Georgia, New Mexico, or Canada. The state’s tax incentives have lured away projects that once would have stayed local, forcing a reckoning: Can LA afford to be the creative hub it’s always been if the math no longer adds up? The return of *Nobody Wants This* is a quiet defiance against that trend, a reminder that some things can’t be replicated in a soundstage in Albuquerque or a backlot in Toronto. The infrastructure isn’t just physical; it’s cultural, built by generations of talent who call LA home. What comes next may hinge on whether the industry can strike a balance between preserving its historic home and adapting to a fragmented production landscape. Will more studios double down on LA, or will the exodus continue? The answer could reshape not just Hollywood, but the broader media landscape, determining whether the next golden age of television is made in the same places as the last—or if the industry’s center of gravity has permanently shifted.