When it comes to MTV reality shows, it’s crucial that the narrative structure imposed on them be solid, because the personalities they’re built around are less than fly-weight. Brody Jenner was immediately doomed in last night’s premiere of Bromance, stuck in a bro-schmo show whose pathetic premise is half-Paris Hilton’s My New BFF, half-The Pick-up Artist. Choosing from nine guys to become his new object of bromance, when you’ve already got a couple of perfectly good, creepy-leech “friends,” Frankie and Sleazy T? Who wants to watch desperate, sweaty losers suck up to Brody, when I assume most Brody fans would have been content to watch an hour of wealthy, sweaty loser Brody lowering and raising himself from his jacuzzi (how many times did they replay Brody easing in and out of that hot-tub last night?). I’ve got nothing against Brody–he’s clearly the kind of rich, good-looking lunkhead lots of Americans want to gaze upon–but it’s too bad he doesn’t have the brains to have objected to the concept of his show, because Bromance is the slow-dance of reality programming. (Oh, and who’s one of the producers? That Momma’s Boy, Ryan Seacrest. Everything this guy touches turns to tedious slime, doesn’t it?)
By contrast, The Hills spin-off The City had the good sense to surround doe-eyed, slack-jawed Whitney Port with the soft-glow lighting and swoony-romance pop music that makes watching Hills nonentities like Lauren and Heidi such a decadent dream. I was happy to see glimpses of people who have accomplished something in the world–and here I’m talking about Whitney’s new boss, Diane von Furstenberg, and Whitney’s old boss, Kelly Cutrone. (Really, I’d watch a Kelly Cutrone series–such blunt common sense! such tough friendliness!–but I suppose she’s considered too “old” for the idiot-demo MTV craves.) And I’ll watch The City again, to have another good laugh at that fascinatingly appalling phony Olivia, the show’s designated bitch-villain, but actually a common Manhattan type: the nouveau-riche climber. See? There’s a story, a plot, a narrative to follow in The City: Will Whitney’s blank-slate “goodness” defeat Olivia’s vivid “badness”? And all Bromance has going for it is Brody Jenner’s toilet-seat ethics, the “can-fessional.” Yuk.
Was either of these shows worth your time last night? And if so: What did you think of Bromance? Of The City? Would you watch either or both again?
More on The City:
The City premiere: Hits and misses
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Le sigh. I hate myself for being attracted to Brody Jenner. Oh well, just a cross I’ll have to bare.
Its almost ridiculous that these shows are airing together, when their target audiences are clearly different. Bromance is geared toward college aged dudes who would think that kind of stuff is funny and cool. (I’m past college, but still found it entertaining) The City is geared toward girls. Now of course there will be crossover since A) both were cast members of the hills, and B) the hills managed to appeal to gusy too. I thought they were both entertaining in very different ways. The fake reality of the City is just as addicting as the fake reality of the Hills. Bromance is pure frat boy fun. If I was scheduling MTV, I’d put Bromance on with Double Shot of Love.
Not that I’m counting, but isn’t this Brody’s fourth reality-effort: Princes of Malibu (?), The Hills, and as a special guest star on “The Kardashians”? He’s found his niche in the reality TV, and if that evil genius Secrest keeps getting all his bad ideas greenlit, I’m not going to hate on Brody.
BTW: If I’m looking for the finest that television has to offer, its not going to be on a station that prides itself on “Next” or “Engaged and Underage”.
the city for me seemed to be identical 2 the hills, except its NY and everythings abt boring (facial expresionist) whitney..
cant w8 for the season 2 unravel haha
my guilty pleasure.
I wouldn’t watch this crap if I were on my death bed and it was the only channel available.
I did enjoy the City. I would watch it again. I hate the word “bromance”. Can we retire that word immediately? Please.
I’ve seen rumors online that there’s a reality show with Kelly Cutrone being shopped around and Bravo was given a first look. I’d check out that one…
Also — Bromance is fun. I’m rooting for Luke. Gotta love the funny Boston kid. I think the City is off to a great start. It had more drama in one night than the whole last season of the Hills!
The people that watch and enjoy either of these shows are the reason life seems to be more and more unbearable.
Snarf, I hear your pain. I think it’s because he was the only guy on The Hills with a hint of personality and charm. I hated myself for watching Bromance last night, but it was fairly entertaining. The City, on the otherhand… BORING. But the part with Olivia and the Manolos was funny.
I will admit that these shows are mindless and bad. However, I still love them. I truly think the posts that EW does are for the fans and people who enjoy watching mindless tv for an hour a day. Why do others feel the need to slam these shows? Just don’t watch or read about them, but don’t ruin the enjoyment I get out of them.
Best Bromance of the year was on Make me a Supermodel.
homo-mance is so ridiculous, it’s embarassing. never will watch this lame show again.
homo-mance is so ridiculous, it’s embarassing. never will watch this lame show again.
Haha I soooo CAN’T WAIT FOR THE SOUP TO RIP THESE SHOWS APART HAHAHAHA
Joel McHale is COMING 4 U BRODY!!!
The only redeeming part of Bromance was when dude walked in from his date with Brody and smacked the guy with the door.
I’m a 39-year old mom of two who sat happily on the couch and watched Bromance. It’s not the best show on TV, but it was entertaining. The City was great, but the undertones of uptown vs. downtown have got to go, unless they plan to start using the soundtrack of West Side Story as the accompanying music. Sheesh. It’s fashion and relationships, not the Jets and the Sharks, MTV. LOve Whitney and Jay is soooo Justin Bobby!!!
I hope you guys also talk about Daddy’s girls starting Run’s daughters that will be debuting after The City starting Jan 5th. It would be nice to see what the black people do in LA besides all the stereotypical things you see on tv.
I think that Bromance is a fun, loose, escapist show. They were trying to do a competition show for the guys, versus all those countless women shows. I miss the hanging with the guys, singing big anthemic Bryan Adams/Bon Jovi songs out their lungs kinds of shows, and Brody is bringing that guy friends concept. Used to be that the networks did it with Cheers in the ’80s,but those were guys in their 40s. Now this is with fellows in their mid/ late 20s. I remember Brody from 2005’s Princes of Malibu where he and his brother drove their dad David Foster crazy. Laughed like crazy because I knew that show wouldn’t last.Didn’t see him on the Hills that much. This is like a continuation of that excessive partying lifestyle that they were doing on that 2005 Fox show. I believe that Brody Jenner wants his due respect by doing this show on MTV. … At least he’s working now and not having his dad screaming at his face to get one.
I saw the closing credits of the show until I saw Ryan Seacrest Productions at the very end. Gracious, does that guy ever sleep? He’s got two shows now in December, the other Momma’s Boy (which I REFUSE to watch)and then hosting American Idol in January? He’s going to have some red eyes by February or so. How did Brody Jenner hook up with Ryan’s people to produce the show? I thought that some anonymous production company did the show. But I think that Brody smartly got with the right professionals to handle the show rather that some stranger that nobody’s heard of. And Ryan’s such a huge multimedia guy to handle all these TV projects and shows at once like this!
But I will support Bromance. Brody Jenner doesn’t get the respect he deserves on TV. I hope it leads to TV acting or movie roles for him–I’d like to see him beyond the reality genre in the future
To Erica: I will give “Daddy’s Girls” a chance, but if it’s just another show with black ppl whining about racism then I fo sho won’t continue to watch it.
Bromance was hilarious, but so awfully stupid. I don’t feel like they’re real guys at all, it’s so dumb that he has a show where he openly picks his friends based on how many girls they can pick up. Are you serious?!
The City, however, was delightful. I think Olivia is made out to be wayyy more of a witch than she actually is. People just like to think that rich, fancy people are snooty jerks. Oh well.
get your SAVE BRODY t-shirts at zazzle.com!!!
Luke Verge is tha man everyone else on the show especially femi is a total fag free b-boys if lukey makes it to the finals
The City exceeded my expectations and I LOVE the authenticity and depth that Whitney exudes in contrast to the overexposed cast of the Hills. The individuals highlighted on the City are refreshing and seem to have alot more motivation (some ACTUALLY work?!?!?!) than their West Coast counterparts.
I loved the City, it was refreshing to see Whitneý’s true personality. Does anyone know if there will be a season 2 for the City?