@DC408Dxtr
As we go deeper into the best time of the year to be a TV fan with new and returning shows taking precedent this fall, for those of you who head to my social nets, you probably know I'm a huge fanatic of The Real World, The Challenge, and now Are You The One?. Of course, the buzz for the ladder is now in full swing again with season two having just premiered, preceded by the season 1 cast reuniting again to celebrate the pending marriage & new baby arrival for their only remaining perfect match Ethan & Amber. And soon, season 30 of the legacy series in Chicago and season 26 of the so-called 5th major sport will be on as well, with production of both taking place right now.
But as I've written so many times, I'm not one who watches MTV just for those now-three shows and of course the VMA's. All programming is open to me, though with respect to the TM/16&P ladies, Rob Dyrdek and casts of its scripted fare (and I wouldn't say no to giving them a try & wouldn't say anything bad about them also), my focus is more on reality shows with competition, storytelling and docu-series with a large or mixed gender cast. And of course, social media and Team MTV being fan friendly to its followers have played a huge role in me sampling & ultimately enjoying shows outside of the bubble. As of now, I've interacted with over 200 members of the MTV family in the social world, including over 120-130 from the RW/Challenge community, the entire AYTO S1 cast and other shows.
Since I joined twitter on Real World St. Thomas premiere day on June 27, 2012, I've followed to date 15 seasons of MTV shows: three seasons each of The Real World and The Challenge, plus nine outside the ecosystem; and there's at least five more seasons coming up in the months ahead. And when you add in my MTV DVD collection that includes Laguna Beach, The Hills, Jack@$$ and Punk'd among others, along with other shows that I've watched that are too many to mention here, you'll see why I'm an overall MTV fan and have been for 16 years now.
Over the summer, I've had only one show that I've both watched and live tweeted, Virgin Territory, which we covered in our last edition of The Look. I've been enjoying watching young adults go through the decision of having sex or not, while also documenting their lives in love and what they're about. This fall, in addition to Are You The One? and maybe a RW/Challenge season if filming wraps soon enough for a late fall debut, I'll be following & live tweeting my 16th MTV series, Slednecks from Alaska. If the promos are any indication, we can expect lots of laughs and plenty of fun in the Land of the Midnight Sun. We'll take a look at that and its West Virginian predecessor, Buckwild, just before its Halloween Eve premiere.
For this 2nd edition of The Look, I have short listed a few shows that I haven't covered yet here on DCBLOG to review and offer thoughts on. They might be overshadowed by the likes of not just the aforementioned trio, but also Teen Wolf, Teen Mom, Awkward, Ridiculousness, Jersey Shore and the like, and in fact they all aren't on-air anymore, but these are shows that I became very interested in and would like to share with you on here. And in the case of three of these that were on rather recently, not once did I tune out midway through - I & true fans would always stay to the very end and watch every episode. And after the jump, we'll begin with two shows that share the same aspect of reality TV that I like very much: aspiring shows with inspirational people.
THE BURIED LIFE
In 2009-10, MTV brought a Canadian foursome from Victoria, British Columbia into American living rooms with The Buried Life. The guys - Ben Nemtin, Dave Lingwood and the Penn brothers, Duncan & Jonnie - first caught MTV's attention at its biggest event when they made their way uninvited to the 2007 Video Music Awards in Las Vegas. They put their best laid plans to work by walking the red carpet with the biggest stars in music & entertainment at the Palms Hotel. Eventually the powers that be had their way and were kicked out, but not before achieving two items: #66 Walk the Red Carpet and ultimately #53 - Make a TV Show. And after the events at the hotel made famous by Real World Las Vegas, MTV returned the favor by coming back to them to pitch that idea.
In their two seasons on-air, the guys crossed off a number of items from their bucket list, some of them outrageous and others so ambitious we would all be amazed & probably won't try ourselves. In the very first episode, they did something we all could dream of but may never successfully pull it off: break into a party at the Playboy Mansion. Two of them dressed up as mascots inside a birthday cake and pulled off the impossible task. And in that instance after security wanted it to stay on the cutting room floor, they actually got the permission of one Mr. Hugh Hefner to show that in the premiere, which also included a cameo by Snoop Dogg. That was a pretty cool night at Hef's place.
Also in that first season, we saw them compete in a Krump competition, delivering a baby, telling a joke on late-night TV and throwing a huge party in the middle of nowhere. And in season two, there was them streaking in a stadium, getting married in Vegas, capturing a fugitive, crashing a parade, battling an MMA fighter and making a million dollars. They even got to accomplish, off camera, their hardest task: shooting hoops with the President of the United States. And two times they went on a mission to ask out the famous girl of their dreams, first Meagan Fox and then Taylor Swift; even Ben became boyfriend of fellow MTV'er Whitney Port of The Hills fame.
But for every item they accomplish, they also made it a point to pay it forward by helping people from all walks of life achieve items off of their own bucket lists. And this brought about the inspirational nature that I really like from watching these shows. In that premiere, they helped raise money in the streets of L.A. to fund & donate a new computer for a school of underprivileged kids. Along their way in their journey across America, they would later reunite friends & family members who haven't seen one another in years, helped musicians get exposure, and moments of inspiration that's refreshing to watch.
In addition to getting the DVD's of both seasons of their show, I also completed The Buried Life collection by ordering their book, What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?, which helped them cross off item #19: "write a best selling book," for which this became a New York Times best seller. And since I got it through Amazon and with an offer early on to those who pre-ordered it, the guys autographed it as well. So, it's pretty awesome to have something signed by a great group of people who I admire for bringing something refreshing to the MTV airwaves. And even after the show has gone off the air, Ben, Duncan, Jonnie and Dave have continued along their journey going across North America to continue the grassroots movement that they spawned because of their show.
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS
In early 2013, along with Buckwild, I got a good Real World Portland warm-up with Washington Heights. The series documented a group of nine best friends from that vibrant and diverse uptown New York City neighborhood north of Manhattan and within sight of the George Washington Bridge. JP, Reyna, Frankie, Ludwin, Jimmy, Eliza, Rico, Fred & Taylor all got to navigate their way through the hurdles that guard them from pursing their passions, while at the same time documenting the friendship, pride and lives they all have and which bonds them together. Though they're not all blood related, they still think of themselves as family and would always have each other's backs when times get tough or when there's something to celebrate.
As someone who appreciates the storytelling aspects in docu-series, I also liked how The Heights had a Real World-like feel & vibe in which it's not just more laid-back, but most especially documenting the all the group's career aspirations. Of course, this echoes old school RW including the first season in SoHo: JP & Reyna making music; Fred, Eliza & Taylor pursing fashion; Ludwin making art; Frankie doing poetry; Rico trying out acting and Jimmy playing baseball. And as someone who went to school with a diverse group of friends similar to them in such a diverse part of the country, it made me embrace the show more easily, as well as relate to the cast too.
As someone who appreciates the storytelling aspects in docu-series, I also liked how The Heights had a Real World-like feel & vibe in which it's not just more laid-back, but most especially documenting the all the group's career aspirations. Of course, this echoes old school RW including the first season in SoHo: JP & Reyna making music; Fred, Eliza & Taylor pursing fashion; Ludwin making art; Frankie doing poetry; Rico trying out acting and Jimmy playing baseball. And as someone who went to school with a diverse group of friends similar to them in such a diverse part of the country, it made me embrace the show more easily, as well as relate to the cast too.
The irony of me posting a IG pic of the Heights cast late last year is that the two castmates who liked that pic is Reyna and Eliza. In the first episode at a local show where JP performed his music in public for the first time (under the name of "Audubon", owing to a street near his apartment), the built up tension between both girls, fueled by online rumors surrounding them and Jimmy, finally blew up. They got into an ugly fight outside and that divided the vibe of the group for some time afterward.
During that, there was also a relationship that blossomed between Frankie & Ludwin, and another that came to an end in Jimmy & Eliza. Plus, the group also had to deal with the kind of hardships that young people go through that made them relatable to those who've gone through them similarly, from family members of two of the guys being in prison to financial difficulties and family struggles. And there was the spirit of the group dreaming big and hustling harder that inspired viewers.
As one Uptown resident who saw a screening of the pilot wrote on Facebook, and later reposted on Twitter by show EP Shannon Fitzgerald, "(Washington Heights) ain't your mama's reality show. There are interesting and compelling stories told with heart, underscored by some great-looking photography and a slammin' soundtrack. I hope this helps shine our 'hood in the light it deserves. And I couldn't be proud of my friends. It couldn't happen to a greater bunch." It's always good to at least have something positive and refreshing airing on MTV.
HOUSE OF FOOD
The lucky eight - Amanda, Brian, Gillian, Harrison, Jake, Lorena, Suki & Will - were specially selected for their passion for food culture and cooking, and like any other MTV cast has diverse backgrounds & personalities. Plus, they had four of America's best chefs as their mentors & educators and Los Angeles as their classroom. They were all driven, determined and ready to live & learn together, but only one of the eight would win themselves the ultimate reward: an apprenticeship.
Okay, so there wasn't maybe as much buzz or viewership for House of Food as it was
for The Challenge, and eventually the last few episodes were made available on just the MTV App. But regardless of where I watched, I enjoyed it just like other shows. Plus, it not just entertained me, but also taught me more about the food industry. And though I'm not into other culinary shows, I am familiar with cooking shows, and as I would say, you're never too old to learn something new.
There was a Free Agents aspect to the competition where the various challenges saw everyone do them all by themselves, with a partner, on a team, even with a rival. And they all took place in every aspect of the food industry: launching a new restaurant, a diner, flavoring, desserts, steaks, baking, catering, food trucks and alcohol & pairings. It then culminated with a final job interview, them making their signature dish and putting together a 4-course meal in their final challenge at a major restaurant. So, being able to perform reasonably well during the season and applying it all into that final exam was crucial in the race to win.
There was a Free Agents aspect to the competition where the various challenges saw everyone do them all by themselves, with a partner, on a team, even with a rival. And they all took place in every aspect of the food industry: launching a new restaurant, a diner, flavoring, desserts, steaks, baking, catering, food trucks and alcohol & pairings. It then culminated with a final job interview, them making their signature dish and putting together a 4-course meal in their final challenge at a major restaurant. So, being able to perform reasonably well during the season and applying it all into that final exam was crucial in the race to win.
Throughout all this, the competition was tense among the competitors, and each made a strong case to earn that apprenticeship. In the end, what determined the whole thing was who would perform the very best in both the final and during the season. Chefs Brandon, Brooke & Casey went with consistency and named Harrison the winner, and the New Yorker has been spending his summer & fall apprenticing with the trio in LA. Ironically, Harrison was the late-comer to the group as he joined the house in EP2, just after everyone thought Amanda left the house, only for her to return to create an 8-person house instead of the original 7. Imagine what that had been like if he didn't move in.
But the winners of the whole experience is everyone: each of the eight contestants all won at least one challenge and each had the opportunity to show what they're capable of in making the best food possible. And I also got to become very good social friends with every single member of the cast, and also mentor Chris Nirschel too.
GENERATION CRYO
During the last RW/Challenge offseason last winter, in addition to enjoying the company of the Big Tips Texas ladies and the nurses of Scrubbing In while filming of both RW Ex-Plosion & Free Agents took place, I also enjoyed a mini-series that took viewers on a remarkable journey of a young lady and a newly-formed family who all went on a mission to find the dad they never met.
Generation Cryo documented the journey of 17-year-old Breeanna, who found out that she has at least 15 half-siblings around the world fathered by the same anonymous donor. After finding out about her family history, Bree visited the Donor Sibling Registry website to help her connect to her dad. And with all that new info in hand and cameras following her, she set about meeting her half-brothers & sisters with the hope that they would help her find out about donor #1096, perhaps even meeting him.
For someone who lives in Reno, Bree racked up a lot of frequent flier miles in going all across the country to meet her large network of siblings, including Jesse & Jayme nearby in the Bay Area, Jesse B., Paige, Molly & Will in Boston, and Jonah & Hilit in Atlanta. When she meets them all, they realize they have similarities about all of them that was more than they all imagined, Bree and the new people in her life immediately connected, and the siblings unconditionally accept her as the newest member of their families too.
During this emotional journey, the siblings helped Bree out in helping tracking down and get more info on their donor, including visiting the California Cryo Bank in the Bay Area. As this search rode along, what started off as just a simple meeting of strangers eventually became an emotional bonding of family that redefined the meaning of being a modern family. And it was most appropriate for Generation Cryo to air during the holiday season when families are getting together more often to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas.
In the end, the response she got from the sperm donor was one she feared may not happen, and that forced Bree to question where her dad fits in her life. And Bree didn't get the opportunity to meet with the donor in person or on camera (he preferred to stay anonymous). But the thing she got out of this search was creating a newfound family for herself in eight new sisters & brothers.
MILLION DOLLAR MAZE RUNNER
Okay, so this isn't a series but this was a one-off special that aired recently around the release last month of the movie adaptation of the novel The Maze Runner. Million Dollar Maze Runner saw four teams of runners go inside through an infamous abandoned prison to battle for $1 million and a new car. There, the teams of Hannah & Marvin, Victor & Shelby, Diane & Peter and Daryn & Chris all battled it out to endure four sets of physical and mental challenges similar to a final on The Challenge (for which this special was produced by the producers of it). It was a test of strength, logic, perseverance and endurance to get to their goal that would ultimately see only one team come out of it alive and claim the prize. In the end, it would be Peter & Diane that would grab the cash and cars and walked out as the ultimate "Maze Runner." Like all other shows listed above, I also became good social media friends with the entire cast, who all became winners for killing it in the maze.
Finally, there's three shows for what might qualify today as part of Retro MTV as they aired many years back, and for which I have the DVD's of all three shows as well. I didn't watch them all in their entirety (at least not yet), so here's a brief description of those three shows.
A SHOT AT LOVE
Before Are You The One? gripped our late night attention earlier this year, there was a dating show back in 2007-08 that also featured high stakes and a large ensemble cast all competing for the affection of one girl. Produced by the same producers who would later create Jersey Shore and Party Down South, A Shot at Love featured 16 guys and 16 girls who all were brought to the show with no idea of who their host would be. But unlike AYTO, there would only be one winner instead of the entire cast, and the handsome reward was a date with internet superstar Tila Tequila, who was also the star of that show. That group, with lesbian girls and straight guys, all got to square off Challenge-style in various challenges and eliminations, and led to one guy winning over the MySpace star. If you think AYTO is the wildest dating show on earth, then check out A Shot at Love.
With fall now in the air and of course football on sports fans' mind, also in '06 MTV went down to Hoover, AL to document two seasons in the life of one of America's most successful high school football programs for Two-A-Days. Before the boom of HBO Sports' docu-series franchise Hard Knocks, MTV cameras were given all-access to the players and coaches of the Hoover High Buccaneers, who were going after their fifth state HS football title in six seasons. In a town where football is considered a religion more than a local pastime, Two-A-Days documented four student athletes as they strive to not only excel on the field, but also in the classroom and in their personal lives. If you're someone who's been loving the long-form documentary series that's a trend in sports TV right now, then check out this series.
8TH AND OCEAN
8TH AND OCEAN
The profession of modeling is a cutthroat, high-stakes world that's so much more than just pretty faces posing for the cameras. And some of the world's greatest models and modeling companies call home one of the world's most dynamic and sexy locales. In 2006, MTV brought viewers to South Beach and to the firm located on 8th Street in Miami Beach, the Irene Marie Agency, owned by its namesake. The ten models - Adrian, Briana, Britt, Sean, Talesha, Teddy, Tracie, Vinci and twins Kelly & Sabrina - all lived together in a beachfront apartment complex as they looked to navigate their way through this demanding, but glamorous industry. We saw one testing her moral limits in this sultry playground, a party boy looking for love and more as cameras showed the work and drama behind the scenes.
And that is that for this sampling. Now, we didn't mention about the big MTV shows that have had longer staying power and greater popularity than these, but those deserve to have articles of their own that we might cover on here someday. This post was just a way for me to review and bring these ones that I covered here to light.
And to the cast members of the shows outside of the now-Real World/Challenge/AYTO ecosystem, I just want to say thanks to you all for entertaining us and also being able to interact with me and your fans greatly. As always, good luck in your future endeavors and you'll always have me as a great friend to talk to.
Now, the very next edition of The Look will take a peek at the next new MTV series to take shape this fall, the Alaskan docu-comedy Slednecks, as well as a look at the short but sweet run of the show it inspired, Buckwild. If the promos and the footage we've seen are any indication, than we can once again expect craziness to come to MTV on Thursday nights. And come Halloween Eve, Jackie, Trevor, Kelly, Sierra, Amber, Zeke, Tosca, Dylan, Big Mike, Hali & Samantha will follow in the footsteps of Jersey Shore, Buckwild and Rob Dyrdek's Ridiculousness to add a dose of fun and humor to the end of the week.
For an MTV fan used to more of the storytelling and competition type like what we've shown you in this post and in the rest of our coverage, I'll finally have a chance to have some laughs a bit more often than usual. From parties on the glacier to having fun in the nation's northernmost state and everything this group of friends have in store for us in Alaska, we're sure to have some fun. And as usual, I've already become great social friends with the group. Our Look at Slednecks and Buckwild comes your way just before its premiere, and that's coming up next week.
Be sure to bookmark DCBLOG for our signature coverage of All Things MTV. The show of the moment that we are covering right now and devoting most of our energies to is season 2 of Are You The One? from Puerto Rico. We're providing wall-to-wall coverage of it with weekly SocialPulse twitter diaries and wrap-ups, interviews I'm planning with the cast and much more. Of course, there's also the two other shows in the trifecta, The Real World and The Challenge, for which filming is wrapping up for the former in Chicago this month and post-production of the ladder underway.
For live tweeting of Are You The One?, Slednecks, shows, sports, big events. and beyond, follow my dedicated live twitter handle, DCNOW at @DC408DxNow, plus my Twitter hub and Instagram account @DC408Dxtr for tweets, chats, alerts and pix. There at DCNOW, I'll be live tweeting the World Series starting on Tuesday as the Giants and Royals face off for baseball's greatest prize. Plus this month, my Retro Night series features retro live tweeting of Buckwild as we lead up to Slednecks.
And finally, for AYTO fans, my twitter friend & colleague Ashley Weitzel (@AshleyWeitzel) will have an all-new edition of Reality Rewind tomorrow night at 9pm PT/6pm PT on SpreeCast as she will be joined by Brittany from season 1 as they provide a veteran's view of season 2 including their thoughts on the cast, the season through two episodes and season 1 & the baby shower. That's at: http://www.spreecast.com/events/reality-rewind.
For now, thanks for reading and until we blog again with our AYTO EP3 wrap at mid-week next week, see you then.
- I AM DC
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