In this pair of MTV Movie Awards interviews, my guests and I touch on topics that stretch from Speidi’s reputation to maturity in Hollywood to training a monkey to be a thief.
Yes, you read that last part correctly!
MTV’s Taking the Stage has my favorite soundtrack on television right now – point blank, period. The latest episode’s mix of cuts from artists like John Legend, Jazmine Sullivan, Robin Thicke swept me up in the kind of R&B rapture that I hadn’t encountered on the tube since BET retired Midnight Love.
While spotting a complete music video on MTV is a rarity nowadays, the network has managed to keep music running through the veins of its programming by prominently infusing music into its reality show roster. And Taking the Stage is a prime example of how the spirit of music television can still thrive through forms of entertainment other than the traditional music video.
In addition to its bumpin’ soundtrack, I commend the show for consistently spotlighting the artistic skills of its talented cast. In just two episodes, we’ve already witnessed singer-songwriter Mia show off her vocal chops in two live sets and caught dancers Tyler, Jasmine, Malik, and Shaakira heat up both a talent show stage and a dance floor.
I dig how the show balances both the glossiness of The Hills and the swagger of America’s Best Dance Crew. Yes, there’s still petty drama thrown in for kicks, but the cast’s simple arguments have yet to overshadow their energetic performances.
Now, let’s hope that Harlem Heights takes a page from Taking the Stage and starts giving its cast more opportunities to flex their creativity on camera.
The promo for BET’s Harlem Heights promised that the series would present images of young Black professionals getting their career grinds on and socializing with each other in Harlem. I thought the show would give a group of Harlemites the opportunity to show off their drive, but instead, most of their community and career-building efforts are overshadowed by displays of the brand of catty drama that we’ve already become familiar with by watching the Real Housewives and Hills franchises.
I rarely ever miss an episode of the shows in those franchises, but I don’t want (or need) Harlem Heights to be the Black version of The Hills. I’d rather witness what makes the Harlem individuals such remarkable and aspirational characters than dive into their friendship battles – territory that we’ve already seen Lauren Conrad and her crew cover extensively during 4 seasons of The Hills.
I tune-in to The Hills because it makes petty arguments feel entertaining and salacious by presenting them in a glossy package – a banging soundtrack, glamorous angles of the Hollywood skyline, and cinematically arranged scenes, but since Harlem Heights is working on a tighter budget, it doesn’t have the luxury of luring me in with flash. Instead, I expect for it to hook me with substance, but so far it’s coming off as a less compelling imitation.
I’ll keep watching Harlem Heights for now, in hopes that the show soon realizes its potential to broadcast an aspect of reality that mainstream America hasn’t already seen masterfully played out on MTV and Bravo. Have you given the show a chance yet?
If you’re a fan of The Hills, you’ve probably tuned in to at least one episode of Brody Jenner’s spinoff Bromance.
The competition profiles a group of guys who are determined to fill the spot in Brody’s entourage that Spencer Pratt used to occupy, and each week, the fellas are put through goofy challenges that test their worthiness.
To help steer him through the series, Brody enlists the help of two of his homeboys who’ve also appeared with him in The Hills – the outspoken Frankie Delgado and the easy-going Sleazy-T.
When I recently caught up with Sleazy-T, in addition to giving me the scoop on what he does with his famous friends, he joked about his initial reservations regarding the concept of a “bromance”! Check out our conversation below for more.
Sleazy-T Shares His Reaction To The Notion Of Bromance
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Even though The Hills is on hiatus right now, thanks to MTV spinoffs The City and Bromance, we’ve still been able to get our fill of a few cast favorites.
But when Ugly Betty’s Daniel Meade name-dropped Speidi (Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt) during a conversation with his new love-interest this week, I was so amused that I nearly fell out of my seat!
No matter how much the press knocks Speidi for their fame-seeking behavior, you’ve gotta admit that their tactics are proving to be pretty effective. Case in point:
- Their pseudo-wedding vows were published in US Weekly last year, transforming their not-so-official nuptials into a major climax for last season’s Hills finale.
- They recently scored a funny cameo appearance on CBS’ How I Met Your Mother.
- Not only did their names get mentioned on Ugly Betty, but a tabloid photo of them surfaced at the episode’s conclusion and promises to provide a crucial plot turn.
Where do you suppose we’ll spot these two next?
Now that MTV has treated us to the first two episodes of The City – Whitney Port’s spinoff from The Hills – it’s apparent that this series has enough punch to usher us through the remainder of a Speidi-deprived winter.
Leaving luxe LA behind for gnarly NYC was a choice move for Whitney, and judging by the season-opener, we’re all in for a plot-filled treat.
As I viewed Whitney uneasily field co-worker Olivia’s persistent prying at her dinner party, I felt a tinge of relief. You see, for years, I’ve appreciated how adept The Hills producers are at conveying the dialogue subtexts between its stars – when the camera lingers on cast members as they stare through silence, we’re able to revel in the kind of conversation-less awkwardness that’s familiar to us all.
Lauren Conrad won’t be present to steer the drama ship this time, but Whitney’s pensive gazes will create enough tension to make The City appointment television!
On the 4th season finale of The Hills, Spencer may have managed to convert some of his doubters when he placed Heidi’s desire to have a large fantasy wedding before his own wish to exchange nuptials before a judge in an intimate LA Courthouse ceremony.
And after considering the raw Heidi/Lauren hugging session and the Justin Bobby/Audrina tender getaway that also transpired during the episode, I believe that this finale served as a fine resolution to the rollercoaster that was season 4.
Next stop…The City!
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