For the cast of Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, the setting isn't just a backdrop. It’s a policy statement. As the production gears up for its third season, stars Jackie Tohn and Timothy Simons are using their platform to advocate for a simple but increasingly rare reality in modern television: filming in Los Angeles.

While many productions chase tax incentives to Vancouver or Atlanta, the Nobody Wants This team is doubling down on the city where the industry was born. It’s a choice that goes beyond aesthetics. It’s about the people behind the camera.

"This is an industry town," Tohn told Deadline at the 2026 Las Culturistas Culture Awards. "So many people have moved here, live here — their livelihoods are here."

For Tohn, the issue is personal. She points to the thousands of crew members who face a recurring dilemma: leave their families for months at a time to find work in cheaper jurisdictions, or risk unemployment at home. The infrastructure is already here. The studios are here. The talent is here. Yet, the cost of doing business in California remains a formidable barrier.

The Economic Ripple Effect

Timothy Simons, Tohn’s co-star, takes the argument a step further. He views the flight of production as a direct hit to the local economy that goes far beyond the soundstage.

"If you keep the money here, the money stays here," Simons said. "Did your favorite restaurant close down? I’m really sorry that happened, but if you were one of the people that decided to send money to a different city, the crews and the people here don’t have money to spend at a restaurant."

It’s a blunt assessment of the industry’s "runaway production" problem. When studios prioritize short-term tax breaks over local stability, the surrounding ecosystem suffers. Simons argues that those who complain about the decline of local businesses while simultaneously greenlighting projects that ship jobs out of state are ignoring the connection between the two.

Why LA Remains the Gold Standard

Beyond the economics, there is the matter of craft. Simons is quick to praise the local workforce, noting that the "best crews are in Los Angeles."

There is also a practical efficiency to shooting on location. Los Angeles looks like Los Angeles. When a show is set in the city, the need for expensive set decoration and artificial world-building drops significantly. It’s an authentic look that is hard to replicate elsewhere.

Yet, the pressure to leave remains. Tohn and Simons are part of a growing chorus of actors and producers calling for more aggressive tax breaks to keep the industry anchored. They aren't just asking for convenience. They are asking for a sustainable model that allows the people who build Hollywood to actually live in it.

Key Takeaways

  • Human Cost: Tohn emphasizes that filming in LA allows crew members to remain with their families instead of spending months on location in other countries.
  • Economic Impact: Simons argues that exporting production jobs directly harms local businesses, creating a cycle of decline in the city that hosts the industry.
  • Infrastructure Advantage: Both actors highlight that Los Angeles already possesses the world-class studios and talent necessary for high-end production, making the flight to other regions a policy failure rather than a lack of resources.

As Netflix moves forward with the ten-episode order for Season 3, the show serves as a test case for whether a major streamer can prioritize local production while maintaining its bottom line. The next major decision point arrives when the California legislature reviews its expiring film tax credit program later this year. The outcome of that vote will determine if more shows follow the Nobody Wants This model, or if the industry's exodus from its own backyard will only accelerate.