BY DC CUEVA
A reason for two shows of our fairly recent past returning to our lives in the past two years in Jersey Shore in 2018 and The Hills this summer is because of what's been going on down in Florida: two shows inspired by the spirit of their predecessors out west and to the north, two that were launched out of the coveted spot of airing after Teen Mom, and who offer some contrasts. One is a docu-soap focusing on college-aged kids going through life in their small town located in one of America's greatest beach towns. The other is part of a global TV franchise that is simply, "a comedy with heart," and brings to everyone the flavor of the American South.
There have been romances on both shows, drama going down in just about every episode, and people who channel what viewers of a previous generation had with LC, the Situation and the rest of those who grew up with two of MTV's biggest hits. And compared to what the likes of Snooki, Speidi and the rest of those who they watched growing up, there's also an emotional attachment among those people that proves that there is something human and relatable in them that strikes a chord with viewers.
In TV land, the first two seasons of these shows may be some separated by some 400 miles of highway, but it seems that helping give people reason to watch MTV once again has united the casts of these shows. And it took for the platform of the channel's single biggest night for the casts of Siesta Key and Floribama Shore to come together, all ahead of their upcoming third seasons.
In July 2017, MTV took viewers to a part of Florida that those outside the state haven't known about beyond the glitz of Miami & South Beach, the many attractions the Orlando area has to offer, and the dozens of outdoor activities that await both residents and tourists. Siesta Key brought America to a beach town that, when it's measured from border to border, it is actually the length of the Las Vegas Strip. Yet, there has been plenty of drama that's gone down in this part of Western Florida in the space of two seasons.
Alex, Juliette, Chloe, Madisson and Brandon are responsible for much of the drama that's gone down in these two seasons... most especially the former two. Them going through an up & down, on-again & off-again romance has been the key talking point for a new generation of fans who were glued to the triangle of LC, Kristin and Stephen, and then to the royal couple of The Hills in Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt... himself a most-interested observer in what has been going down in Siesta. There's Madisson & Brandon's relationship which has also had their moments, and of course whatever tea Chloe uncovers that raises eyebrows.
Another romance that has gripped fans of Siesta has been that of Kelsey Owens and Garrett Miller, which like everyone else has been an recurring one that was prevalent in the early part of Season 1 and then took for a different direction in its winter half in 2018 and then Season 2 earlier this year. And our second summer in Siesta began with a bang - quite literally: Alex's birthday party at his parents' house being crashed by his ex Cara, and Madisson's ex and his archenemy Jared Kelderman. It was when he came up to the guest of honor and Pauly Paul that ignited a massive brawl in the backyard... and it kicked off what was a game-changing summer in the sunshine.
The original Siesta Seven got to attend the 2017 VMA's at the Forum in Inglewood, CA at the start of their rise to becoming one of the first hits of an MTV that had just begun to emerge from a ratings slumber. And this year's VMA's in New Jersey #Gelsey, Pauly and Jared walk the red carpet.
When Season 1-A of Siesta ended with Alex's FaceTime to Chloe of his face getting messed up in a bar brawl of his own, the show that took over their post-Teen Mom spot was one that brought the drama up to Panama City Beach in the Panhandle for not just plenty of fireworks, but also plenty of funnies along the way. After local versions of the show aired in Britain, Spain, Poland and Latin America after the conclusion of the first run of our friends in Seaside Heights, the Shore franchise returned stateside... this time to Florida and the American South for Floribama Shore.
Jeremiah Buoni, Codi Butts, Kortni Gilson, Aimee Hall, Kirk Medas, Nilsa Prowant, Candace Rice and Gus Smyrnios all came to Panama City Beach to add their own spice to a show spawned by Jersey Shore back when they were eight years younger than they were moving into the house. Like their predecessors and those both across the pond and around the world, the Floribama bunch have had plenty of notable one liners, memorable moments and plenty of hilarity along the way. And they also brought some emotion along with them, too: Gus' struggles growing up with his family, the ladies dealing with relationships that ended before they entered the house, and everything that has given this cast reason to come together and say a prayer.
Season 2 last summer and then continuing to when Gus made his way to The Challenge: War of the Worlds in February saw the continuing flirtation of the playboy and the girl who calls herself "the squid" on social media. There was also pranks involving toothpaste, more fights with locals in the bar resulting in handcuffs for two of the roomies, Candace's failed romance with her Boo-Thang back home, and Kortni's drama with her dumb boyfriend. The house also took their talents to both New Orleans and Mexico, more of Codi giving new definition to his term of "Puke and Rally Time," and a new way for people to say sorry by way of a pizza delivered to their door.
The 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards was the first time that the Floribama Shore cast had the feel that they were TV stars in helping fans rediscover one of the most unique shows in all of reality television, while indirectly having a hand in the reboot of the Jersey Shore franchise itself. And the cast - sans one of them - got to enjoy the red carpet feeling again for this year's VMA's.
Them being invited to this year's big show is a sign that they will soon take to the floor for what's next in all the drama and hilarity that, now with a change of scenery for one set of this group, will now be next door neighbors.
This fall will see the Floribama bunch take their talents down south, and to within an hour of their Siesta counterparts: St. Petersburg, just outside Tampa. If the photos that emerged of another castmate getting cuffed up is a sign, then it's an indication that there will be plenty more drama to come our way from this new venue. And perhaps, something might happen that, if what we saw with Deena joining the crew when Angelina left, that Season 3 will welcome someone new to the game. For an clue, see the last time Gus was on our screens and the connections he made in the War of the Worlds house, and you know what we mean by that... we'll explain when we get to the start line.
And when it's time to return to Siesta, it'll be business as usual for the group, albeit with a new era. It is the post #Jalex world in this clique, all as rumors in the reality TV world abounding a bit when Robby Hayes of Bachelor fame, and who's linked to an Are You The One alum and Scheana of Vanderpump Rules, got to become close with one of the girls here. We'll see if that will somehow get shoehorned into Season 3, as Juliette will celebrate her 21st birthday, Alex looks to perhaps find new love, and everything else for the group. And if what we've seen here with Garrett & Kelsey being the only ones representing that original Siesta seven, maybe #Gelsey will be something to watch.
And while Season 2 of Siesta was airing earlier this year - and before the episode that spotlighted the struggles he has of adjusting to post-Navy life, we featured spotlighted the time when Jared got to hang out with the lone Floribama'er to not fly up to Jersey: a recent bad injury where she had a tear to her MCL and fractured her knee prevented Kortni from joining the rest of her Floribama castmates and Jared & his Siesta crew for the VMA's. But she was certainly watching it all in spirit as they got this night together... quite an evening for the shows that had a hand in helping make MTV not only relevant again, but also remind us that, save for a trying to survive a hurricane, Florida is heaven.
On a serious note: with Hurricane Dorian currently ravaging the Bahamas and soon taking aim at Florida and the gulf coast, the recovery process will eventually begin when the storm dissipates. In March after Gus was eliminated from War of the Worlds, DCBLOG took a look at when he and his Floribama cast got to help out those in the Panama City Beach area which was deeply affected by Hurricane Michael, which after our story on it earlier this year was upgraded to a Category 5. Check out story there, and do what you can to help those in need during this storm season.
- I AM DC
#DCBLOG
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