By Howard Campbell Observer senior writer

KINGSTON, Jamaica — For first-time visitors, Los Angeles’ sights can overwhelm, flashy cars, trendy restaurants and stores, famous Hollywood landmarks.

But for this writer, it is the multi-billion-dollar entertainment industry which attracts dreamers from around the world, that makes ‘La La land’, arguably, the greatest metropolis.

For three days in late July, I was part of a five-member cast of journalists who travelled to Los Angeles for a tour of the fabled Warner Bros studios, and attend a taping of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher at CBS studios.

Jason Donald, Online Editor of The Tribune in the Bahamas; Ian Bourne, editor-in-chief of Barbados’ The Bajan Reporter; Deon Ebanks, publisher/editor at Cayman Net News and Hayden Boyce, publisher/editor of the Turks & Caicos SUN, were also on the jaunt, made possible by HBO Latin America.

Javier Figueras, head of HBO Latin America, says the cable channel is on a campaign to stake a presence in the Caribbean market.

As part of that campaign, it re-broadcast the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony to Caribbean audiences in August; and aired the new season of ‘Real Time’, which marks Maher’s 20th year of brash political humour.

Women’s rights activist Sarah Slamen, theologian Jim Wallis, writer Reza Aslan, former Ohio Congressman Bob Ney and former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer were guests for Maher’s pipe-opener. 

Slamen’s courageous stand for abortion rights in the Texas state legislature, Spitzer’s run for New York City controller and the latest developments in the Anthony Weiner ‘sexting’ scandal, dominated a robust programme.

The Caribbean team got an opportunity to see up-close what goes into making a top-rated show. From pumped-up pitch men who get the audience hyped for its diminutive star to behind-the-scenes crew who ensure precise production.

For most LA tourists, a trip to Hollywood is high on any agenda. The Warner Bros tour is one of the town’s most popular.

Through knowledgeable tour guides, the visitor gets a glimpse of sets where movie classics like Casablanca were made. 

They also get a birds-eye view of the creativity (set design, lighting) that makes shows like Friends mega hits.

The movie industry, however, is not all glamour. Many dreams of stardom are dashed by the elusive break; it may be years for actors, producers and writers to revive a career if their show is cancelled after the first season.

HBO Latin America is an affiliate of cable conglomerate HBO. It is based in Coral Gables, Florida.