Olivia James (née Baker) is a main character on The CW series All American. She is portrayed by Samantha Logan.
She's focused on making her mark in the journalism world at her job with the LA Tribune while attending classes at Golden Angeles University. Liv must find the balance between her relationship with Spencer, her friendships, and her sobriety as she pursues hard hitting stories that threaten to upend the lives of those she loves.
Season One[]
In "Pilot", it's clear that Beverly High is a completely different world. In Spencer's first class, everyone has a computer except him. The girl behind him, Olivia, offers to share and then shows him around school. Jordan, Beverly High's QB, introduces himself to Spencer. Turns out, Jordan, is Coach Baker's son. And Olivia is the coach's daughter.
Spencer walks off the field. He's headed towards Olivia, but Layla swoops in.
In "99 Problems", unbeknownst to Olivia, Spencer is taking a shower at the Baker's home in Beverly Hills. He steps out just as she walks in. It's an awkward moment that she can't shake. Also, Olivia secretly meets with Asher in his car and they reveal that they slept together a while back when Olivia was on drugs. This is what ended her friendship with Layla. Olivia is adamant on wanting nothing to do with Asher.
Before the Booster Party, Olivia finds one of her father's suits for Spencer to wear. During the Booster Party, Spencer clings to Olivia until Layla walks in. After the Booster Party, both Olivia and Jordan confront Billy about giving most of his attention to Spencer. They feel unimportant to their father but Billy tries to reassure them that's not the case. Finally, The Bakers have a family meeting to air out their feelings and reach a solution. Present at the family dinner.
"I", Olivia and Layla are "friendly" now. Olivia, in a desperate attempt to brush everything that happened during her period of drug abuse under the rug, inadvertently shuts Layla out. Later, Olivia tries to apologize; however, Layla flips the script by shutting her out. After Olivia and Layla commemorate the passing of Layla's mother, their friendship is re-established.
In "Lose Yourself", Olivia and Layla are friends again and Layla encourages Olivia to go to Asher's party by saying that she needs a "fresh start" since returning from rehab. Layla mentions that Olivia should show more interest in Spencer. Olivia finally agrees to go but shortly after arriving she and Spencer skinny dipped in a jacuzzi -- a dare brought on by Layla during a gambling game to get them together.
Jordan finds out that Billy has set up a Crenshaw Trust Fund account. Things get even dicier when Jordan spills the secret to a in-denial Olivia. Eventually, Olivia believes Jordan. They try to tag team Billy with questions, but of course, he turns them away, which only makes them more curious. Posing as her mother, Olivia calls the Crenshaw Bank -- it's revealed that Billy has been depositing $650 to a Trust Fund each month for the past 17 years.
In "All We Got", Olivia and Jordan meet their grandfather, Willy. It's revealed that, for the past 17 years, Billy has been supporting his father. The encounter is awkward; however, despite the obvious tension, Olivia invites Willy to Spencer's birthday party. Olivia and Jordan have differing views on the whole situation. Jordan feels stupid and guilty. Olivia just wants to keep the past in the past. Spencer's party is going smoothly until Willy appears and Billy is pissed; forcing Jordan and Olivia to finally come clean about their "investigation".
Olivia tells Jordan about her stint with Asher.
In "The Choice Is Yours", during the game against Culver City, Layla expresses her reservations in regards to JP's relationship with Chynna to Olivia.
Spencer's old friend, Chris, peaks interest in Olivia who is resistant but open. Chris is walking Olivia to her car and he's putting the moves on her but she's not interested. She explains that she's taking a break from boys to focus on herself, but Chris gives her his number just in case she changes her mind.
In the restaurant, Layla praises Spencer for being real and she kisses him, then they make out. Olivia is bawling outside.
In "California Love", Olivia, after school, finds Layla sitting outside of the restaurant. Olivia gives Layla some advice.
During the homecoming dance, Layla dumps Asher. A fragile ego partnered with Asher's drinking causes him to air everything out on stage in front of the whole school. The secret is out, now Layla knows Olivia and Asher slept together. In the hallway after Asher's fiasco, Layla calls Olivia a "treacherous bench" but Olivia calls her a "hypocrite" for kissing Spencer. Olivia was never oblivious to Layla's true intentions. She knew that Layla wanted Spencer since day one.
After the dance, Olivia gives Chris a kiss before ending the night early to comfort Asher.
In "Homecoming", after admitting that they've both made poor choices, Olivia and Layla make amends. It's gonna take some time for their friendship to get back on track; however, their willing to try.
Later, while at the game with Chris, Olivia questions him about his and Spencer's relationship with Shawn.
Personality[]
She is kind, smart, and fights fo what she believes. For a long time she felt invisible to her family as they became busy with their jobs and football. It wasn't until she met Spencer that she truly felt seen by someone. She cares for her friends and tries to help fix their problems. She cares deeply about others and will often sacrifice her own happiness for others.
On Came Back For You: Her normally accurate gut instincts were all wrong in a day, from accusing Wade Waters from sending defamatory and derogatory tweet about her (she is still technically correct, because he got a backup freshman player to take the blame for him), which could had sabotaged Spencer's on-field partnership with him, then assuming Jen was having a relapse on painkillers and alcohol, and assuming that Patience drank all her orange juice the day before when Layla confessed at night.
Relationships[]
Spencer James[]
- Main article: Spencer and Olivia
Since their first meeting, there was an instant connection between Spencer and Olivia, who immediately developed a close bond. Although it seemed they liked each other from the very beginning, they quickly backed off when Jordan came out claiming that Spencer was Billy's son. Then, Spencer soon started dating Olivia's best friend Layla, definitively shutting down the possibility for them to be together for the time being. They instead became really close friends, always being there for each other and becoming one another’s confidant and supporter. The turning point in their relationship came in "Roll the Dice" when Spencer finally realized he was in love with Olivia (whose feelings for him instead seemed to have remained in the back of her mind all along) and they shared their first kiss. From then on, they had some obstacles to overcome in order to get together (such as both being involved with other people at the time and Olivia's relapse), but eventually they found their way. They faced several other step backs even after they officially started dating, but they ultimately managed to settle into a committed, loving and happy relationship, which culminated in their marriage in the finale of season six.
Layla Keating[]
Feeling guilty over what happened with Asher the night that she overdosed, she distanced herself from Layla. They tried to rekindle their friendship, and after several missteps they finally do. Their relationship was strained when Layla finally found out what happened, but they made up soon after in hopes to move on from their mistakes and pasts.
Jordan Baker[]
Growing up, the twins were best friends. However, once they got to high school and Jordan became the starting quarterback, their relationship changed as he became popular and she started to feel alone. Jordan can be very oblivious to what is happening with his sister but occasionally when he notices what she is going through, he is there for her.
Asher Adams[]
- Main article: Asher and Olivia
Asher and Olivia have known each other for most of their lives as he is her twin brother Jordan's best friend since childhood and they were always schoolmates. Before Olivia went to rehab due to her addiction, they had a one night stand while she was drunk and he was still her best friend Layla's boyfriend. During season one, things were initially awkward between them when Olivia returned to school after she got clean due to what happened, but eventually they developed a strong friendship when Olivia started helping Asher with the difficult situation he was dealing with at home. As time went on, their bond grew increasingly stronger until Asher realized he had developed feelings for Olivia and she started liking him back. During season two, Asher confessed his feelings to Olivia, who initially wanted them to stay just friends out of fear of ruining their newfound friendship, until she eventually gave into her growing feelings for him too and they started dating. However, Asher's issues with football and his family made it difficult for him to handle his relationship with Olivia, which remained unstable, so the two decided to spend the summer in between junior and senior year apart while he left to reconnect with his mother. At the beginning of senior year in season three, however, both acknowledged that they had grown apart during the summer while Olivia had also realized Spencer was the one for her, leading them to break up, although they managed to remain friends from then on.
Laura Baker[]
She seems to look up to her mother and appreciates what she does for her and Jordan. Laura encouraged and convinced Olivia to join SoLa Muse in order to help her build her identity. The two of them are close even though Laura's job as a lawyer and district attorney sometimes puts a strain on it.
Billy Baker[]
According to Jordan, they always had a special "Daddy's Girl" bond. When she found out about his affair with Grace, she along with Jordan were very furious with him. However, she took the discovery of the affair much better than Jordan. She was still open to him and was willing to spend time with him.
Trivia[]
- She is often seeing wearing animal print
- It was love at first sight with Spencer
- She loves eating and orange juice
- She used to be a dancer
- Her favorite color is black
- She is Jordan's twin sister
- She is a recovering addict
- Unlike Samantha Logan, who is fluent in Spanish, Olivia's level of Spanish is more rudimentary.
Appearances[]
Season One[]
- Pilot
- 99 Problems
- i
- Lose Yourself
- All We Got
- The Choice Is Yours
- California Love
- Homecoming
- Keep Ya Head Up
- m.A.A.d. City
- All Eyez on Me
- Back in the Day
- Legacy
- Regulate
- Best Kept Secret
- Championships
Season Two[]
- Hussle & Motivate
- Speak Ya Clout
- Never No More
- They Reminisce Over You
- Bring the Pain
- Hard Knock Life
- Coming Home
- Life Goes On
- One of Them Nights
- Protect Ya Neck
- Crossroads
- Only Time Will Tell
- The Art of Peer Pressure
- Who Shot Ya
- Stakes Is High
- Decisions
Season 3[]
- Seasons Pass
- How to Survive in South Central
- High Expectations
- My Mind's Playing Tricks on Me
- How Come
- Teenage Love
- Roll the Dice
- Canceled
- Testify
- Put Up Or Shut Up
- The Bigger Picture
- Fight the Power
- Bring the Noise
- Ready or Not
- After Hours
- No Opp Left Behind
- All American: Homecoming
- Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)
- Surviving the Times
Season 4[]
- Survival of the Fittest
- I Ain't Goin' Out Like That
- All I Need
- Bird in the Hand
- Can It All Be So Simple
- Show Me A Good Time
- Prom Night
- Walk This Way