My friend Grace, who got me hooked on Gossip Girl, has got me hooked on MTV’s The City. Grace and I both studied in New York so we relate to all things New York — from the uptown, the downtown and everything in between.
And since I can’t get enough of Gossip Girl, especially on days where only reruns are showing (Thanksgiving, Christmas, or last week for instance) I need to find other shows to fill the void.
The City is a nice “filler” for Gossip-less nights, although I’m not buying that it’s a reality show. I think everything is staged, which is not to say I’m not amused because I am.
California girl Whitney Port, originally from the MTV “reality” show The Hills, moves to New York after getting a job offer from Diane von Furstenberg in the Meat Packing District. Not having a place of her own, she temporarily stays at the apartment of her friend Erin.
She hooks up with an Australian rocker called Jay who looks like a disciple with his dark features, long hair, and stubble. Jay pretty much seems like the perfect A-hole boyfriend who can’t commit, until one day he decides to go steady with Whitney. Still, we’re not convinced they’re a match (read: no chemistry).
Adam’s roommate happens to be a real working model named Adam Senn who is signed with Wilhelmina, Next, View and Why Not (according to his fan site) and has done ad campaigns for Gucci, Gap, Dolce & Gabbana and more. Adam’s having trust issues with girlfriend and fellow model Allie, who by some coincidence looks like a young Ali MacGraw who hasn’t slept a decent wink in years (read: dark eyebags).
My favorite character in the show is easily Olivia Palermo the “social” (her term for “socialite”) who is supposedly the basis for the character of Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl.
Palermo, as you know, is a regular on the popular blog Park Avenue Peerage, which regularly features New York’s uptown “socials.”
Palermo and her cousin Nevan love to dis the downtown crowd Whitney hangs out with. Like Blair Waldorf, I’m just waiting for Olivia to be a total bitch because she seems repressed. Plus I’m having trouble believing a real New York socialite would work for DVF, of all the designers out there.
While I prefer to download episodes off iTunes, the good news is you can watch full episodes for free on the MTV website http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/the-city/videos-full-episodes.jhtml.
The City gives you glimpses of New York’s beautiful people, the city being a melting pot for beautiful, creative people from all nationalities and all walks of life.
The bad news is each episode is over in about 20 minutes, which leaves you wanting more. Also if you have never seen The Hills, you will miss out on the hour-long prequel (i.e., how Whitney met Jay) which is available on iTunes but not on the MTV site. This is tantamount to missing the pilot episode of Gossip Girl, which was the best episode ever.
As for both shows, there’s always a blonde I can’t stand (Serena van der Woodsen in GG and Whitney Port in The City), and a bitchy brunette who is fascinating to watch (Blair and Olivia).
As for the guys, there is a man ho in both shows (Nate Archibald in GG and Adam Senn) and a good-for-nothing boyfriend (Aaron Rose in GG, Jay in The City).
But the biggest similarity for both shows, really, is I’m hooked.