Admittedly, The City is a fairly inaccurate representation of New York City life. Given that is a spin-off of a spin-off of a partially scripted MTV "reality" show about vapid, insipid Californian teenagers (there has to be some mathematical formula for calculating the probability of reality at any given point in a season--considering distance from original "reality", right?), viewers have to go into the show knowing that there will be an element of disbelief. The premise involves women in their early twenties maneuvering their way through love and career starts--specifically in the fashion industry. See folks, IRL the fashion industry in New York City, especially at this point in time economically, especially at the beginning of one's career, is an extremely difficult nut to crack. Most people have to work for years fetching coffee and cataloging handbags to even get the opportunity to work for people like Joe Zee, let alone have them talk to you face to face like you're more than just a lackey. But alas, Olivia works at Elle (a place where I myself failed to even get an internship---I did get an interview however----see? I'm just like Olivia!) as some sort of made up position called "Assistant Accesories Editor" where she answers immediately to the Creative Director and PR Manager and Whitney moonlights as a fill-in-the-blank-I-sit-at-the-computer-and "assist"-Kelly at People's Revolution when she's not launching a fashion line. It's pretty much the same thing I do at my job except that instead of obeying orders these girls get boy advice from their super famous bosses and instead of making no money they can afford luxurious rooftop apartments on the Lower East Side. So yeah, just like me.
But these facts aren't enough to deter me. See, The City has what The Hills now lacks. Whitney Port is outrageously likeable. She was always my favorite cast member of The Hills not only because she gave Lauren great advice on fools like Jason and Brody (why are these people burned into my mind for eternity?!), but because her reactions to the ridiculous drama swirling around the show were always so adorable and genuine. I think the chick, no matter how scripted the show is, really is that genuine. I think that she would have taken trampy Roxy in even if the cameras weren't there. I think she really is that wide-eyed excited to be in NYC. And speaking from personal experience, she really is that pretty. I saw her leaving the Britney Spears concert last fall and the poor girl was perfectly styled, coiffed and perfectly mobbed by a couple dozen teenaged girls.
It also has that premise, no matter how little it delivers on it in reality. See, reality has very little to do with the premise in the first place as its very appeal is based on the promise of something bigger, brighter and better than whatever currently exists in one's life. The City appeals to girls all over New York, all over the country for that matter, because it's everything that New York has ever promised. It's Alicia Keys and Jay-Z playing an ode to opportunity. It's cocktails and stilettos at parties you feel like you could have only ever snuck in to. It's trading suburbia, trailerparks, tapered pants, getting married at 21, insurance jobs, and lowered expectations for the "bright lights, long nights, high rise, over time...". It's the chance to know that even if you're not living the lives of the girls on The City, if you're here just knowing that there's a chance that you can, can make you feel on top of the world.
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