HBO ordered a television pilot from Rachel Sennott, who created, wrote, and stars in the series, with the order reported in March 2024. The show was officially greenlit in September 2024.

Miles Robbins was originally cast as a main character in June 2024, but was replaced by Josh Hutcherson in May 2025 after the character and plot were changed.

Rachel Sennott said she cast Josh Hutcherson because she had been a fan of his since Bridge to Terabithia, finding him disarming, charming, and surprisingly funny despite knowing him mostly for dramatic roles.

Leighton Meester and Quenlin Blackwell joined the cast in guest roles as early as July 2024, well before the series' title and premiere date were announced.

The show's title, I Love LA, along with its November premiere date, was only revealed in late August 2025, meaning the series was in production under a different or undisclosed name for over a year.

The series holds an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 44 critic reviews, with critics praising creator Rachel Sennott's absurdist sensibility as speaking to Gen Z existentialism.

HBO renewed the series for a second season on November 20, 2025, just weeks after its premiere and before the first season finale had even aired.