Damn you, MTV! Just as soon as I was done with the whole scripted reality thing, you pull me back in. Having now seen the first four episodes, I begrudgingly admit I’m hooked. It pains me to say, but there’s enough conflama here to keep me coming back for more.
So here’s the scoop. Once again, we have seven strangers picked to live in a house. Let’s stop right there for a second. This time around, “the house” is a sound stage at the Hollywood Center Studios, formerly known as the Desilu Studios, home to such classic shows as I Love Lucy, Star Trek, and The Andy Griffith Show, and now home to The Sarah Silverman Show and Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place. The MTV design team have outdone themselves on this set. While the exterior is far too reminiscent of Big Brother, the interior bedrooms have captured the look and feel of the old California desert motels of the ’50s and ’60s. Classic. And since this is a working studio facility, the location provides greatly enhanced security to keep both the hangers on and local weirdos at bay. It also puts the cast smack dab in the middle of Hollywood, which has its fair share of drinking establishments, seedy neighborhoods, and colorful characters.
Speaking of characters, the principal cast stays true to recent form and provides limitless volatility and pathos to explore. Without revealing too much info, here are the players from left to right…
Brianna (age 20; Philadelphia, PA) - An exotic dancer looking to become a recording artist. Without a doubt, Brianna has the raciest wardrobe of the crew and her unfiltered brain-to-mouth musings make for some interesting conversations. Her relationship with a newly ex-boyfriend provides for the series’ first major plot point.
Sarah (age 21; Phoenix, AZ) - A recent ASU grad looking to break into broadcast journalism, and one of the most adorable Real Worlders in the series’ history. Honestly. Sarah looks to be one of the equalizing forces in the house, although a long distance relationship with her NYC boyfriend provides for angst from the very beginning.
Dave (age 22; Waynesboro, PA) - Another east coaster looking to make his mark on LA, although in the acting field. Dave is your archetypal all-American boy; loves sports, working out, alcohol, women, and partying. Like Sarah, he appears to be a leveling force for the more divergent cast members, but somehow I have a feeling he’ll have his share of darker moments to explore.
Greg (age 20; Daytona Beach, FL) - The fans’ choice for cast member No. 7, as voted online at mtv.com. Here’s where the cynic in me steps forward. I’ll take the heat if this assertion is completely untrue, but Greg comes across as a plant, purposely introduced into the mix as a catalyst to make trouble. My theory starts to lose validity by Episode 04, but there’s something about the way he carries himself and interacts with others that seems less than genuine. Whether the choices he makes are of his own accord or influenced by the producers is unclear, but somethin’ ain’t right. Judge for yourself and let me know if I’m off base.
Joey (age 24; Evergreen Park, IL) - Ah, Joey… the focus of Episodes 02-04, his is a tragic Jekyll and Hyde tale. At least that’s how the editing team wants us to see it. While the elder of the group, he may be the least mature, and is certainly far from shy about expressing his opinions. I’ll let you judge for yourself, as he reminds me far too much of a friend whose life took a similar path.
Kimberly (age 24; Columbia, SC) - The pious, down-home girl everyone loves to hate. Kimberly does have a sweetness about her, but it’s sugar coating over a judgmental interior. The sound bites from this season will be heavily skewed in her favor, and more than couple may ultimately wind up on T-shirts before all is said and done. She dreams of becoming an entertainment reporter, but needs to get a handle on that brain-to-mouth connection before anyone in their right mind gives her a microphone.
Will (age 23; Detroit, MI) - Along with Sarah, Will is likely to become another fan favorite. This aspiring music producer has a good handle on who he is and what he wants from life. He also has a great presence about him that draws people in. I’m curious to see where the rest of this adventure takes him.
Instead of the normal 26 half-hour episodes, MTV will condense the season into 13 hour-long adventures, and in all honesty it’s a wise choice. The editing appears tighter and more fluid than in previous seasons, lacking that painful, drawn-out nonsense that tends to lose people along the way. As for their group assignment, the team will be taking the spotlight, so to speak. But I’ll leave that reveal for you to experience. No clue where the cast will be journeying to this season, but I’m guessing it will tie in thematically somehow.
So there you have it. Tonight the world begins to see what happens when people stop being polite (”Let’s not get all ghetto.” — Kimberly) and start getting real. Oh, and before I leave you to the premiere, let’s just say this lineup will look much different by the time the series ends. Should make for an interesting reunion episode.
Visit the official site ( MTV.com )
Watch uncensored clips ( realworlddailies.com )
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