Pop Culture Yay

Yes, it is scripted and yes, Heidi and Spencer and LC unnecessarily occupy the covers of tabloids. But, I cannot look away. I cannot stop watching. I love to complain about it. I love to judge. And I love when Brody is in episodes. I hate that they still follow the storyline of Heidi and Spencer even though no one gives a flip. I hate that they get amazing jobs that they may not be qualified to have.

But, let me throw in a very timely and appropriate example. It is like voting. If you don’t vote, then you have no right to complain. If you don’t watch, then you have no right to judge. Ok, so maybe that isn’t entirely applicable. But, I feel that the basic idea is relevant. Most people’s complaints are that The Hills is far too scripted, almost implying that those who watch the show are either not televisionally intelligent (yeah, it’s a term) enough to recognize that fact or they turn a blind eye. Except, the truth is, the more you watch the show, the more you realize how scripted it can be. But, if it weren’t somewhat scripted, would JustinBobby have shown up to Brody’s beach party in his combat boots?

“Homeboy wore combat boots to the beach.”

I will admit that the recent “bonus” episodes or whatever they are calling them are above and beyond what scripted reality should be (if it must be at all). They advertised that Lauren was going to Paris to have a life-changing experience. Turns out, she went for one week. ONE week. And, in that one week Whitney decided to follow her “true professional calling” and Brody got a girlfriend. Audrina conveniently called Lauren while she was at a photo shoot to inform her that she met Brody’s girlfriend. Let’s recap: last time we saw Brody he was lingering by Lauren’s car as she went to the airport. Two days later, he has a girlfriend. But, I still watch. Are we supposed to buy this? How far can this go? And yet, my DVR will not be unprogrammed.

And, in a way, the tabloid exposure can arguably add to the enjoyment of the show. (Unless you are actually buying the tabloids…then it is a waste of money). Seeing Heidi and Spencer all over the celeb mags makes my distrust of them and their media-whore ways increase, adding to my emotional investment during each episode. I can scream “Who cares about you guys? You are so fake! You just want publicity!” knowing I have done my “research.”

Although I do present a doubel standard because when LC is in a magazine, I find it justified. I think her emotions are real. It’s like The Truman Show. Everyone around her is fake. Yet, she is probably the most scripted of them all. Maybe she is just better at “reality acting.”

Unfortunately, I think the Pratts are the ones who are giving The Hills a bad name. In an ideal “The Hills” world, we would go back in time and undo the relationship that was started (and seems to never end) between Spencer and Heidi. And, truth be told, I am not a fan of where I see Stephanie Pratt’s “character” going. Is she really going to be the “in-between” person to bring together and/or cause more drama between the people around her? Am I supposed to just forget how much I disliked her only a few episodes ago? Isn’t it a coincidence that Lauren and Stephanie are in the same class this semester? Bizarre, right? But, I secretly (not anymore) wonder how it is going to play out. Not long before another showdown at Les Deux, right? I also often wonder what it is like for other “non-characters.” For example, what about the other students in that class? Are they just trying to fulfill requirements for graduation and happen to be in a TV class that could potential be a total dramafest?

I could talk in circles about The Hills all night. But, Melissa asked me to justify my decision to watch and so I have. Perhaps it doesn’t make sense to anyone else, but that is the beauty of MTV reality shows. Many people used to love to hate My Super Sweet Sixteen. (Maybe they still do…is that show still on or was the made-for-tv-movie its big finale?). The Hills is my Super Sweet Sixteen. I judge, I hate it, but underneath it all, I love it.

(Speaking of Super Sweet Sixteens…Go Cats.)

Posted on April 3rd, 2008 by Lindsay
Filed under: MTV