Ask yourself if you want fast, if you want good, or if you want great instruction? Convenience and cost need to be part of your decision, but spend some time getting information on the various shops around your area, get recommendations (or criticisms), and talk to the instructors directly if you can. You will hear often on Scubaboard "it's not the agency- it's the instructor" that makes all the difference in your training.
And yes, 6 classes over a month is normal. You need 2 pool sessions (separate days) and 2 open water sessions (again-separate days), plus classroom. Classroom can be different from shop to shop and depending on if you take an "E-Learning" online class first. If you are planning to stay active diving in So Cal, where much of it is boat diving, I would make sure the class you take does some of the Open Water classes off a boat in the ocean (versus lake diving).
I am sure others closer to you will chime in with local dive shop recommendations.