Posted by admin on June 10th, 2009 in Hot Topics, Teen Age Girls

There I’ve said it.  I’m tired of turning on the tv (when do I DO that?) only to see ridiculous versions of teenagers.  Where do these teens come from?  Where do they live?  The tv versions bear no resemblance to the kids I know.  Maybe that’s why I watch less and less television and when I do, it’s recorded.

There’s a new reality series airing June 23 on Bravo that’s  called,  “NYC Prep,”.

The show  follows five students from prestigious private schools and one from an elite public high school as they bemoan  their riches — while trying to edge each other out in the social standings.  Despite the title, the show has little to do with school, in part because their schools;  Dwight, Nightingale-Bamford, Birch Wathen Lenox and the Ross School did not permit filming and are never mentioned by name.  Instead, the kids attend fashion parties, talk over meals at swanky restaurants such as 212 and Balthazar and throw hissy fits when they feel like they’re being ignored.

I’m assuming this show was made due to the hugely successful “Gossip Girl” series (I’ll have something to say about that one in another post).  Since well-written scripts cost more money than reality shows, it was inevitable that someone would try to ride on the coat-tails of the Gossip Girls success.  It irritates me though.  I know the extreme personality, home, situation is what television tries to feature because frankly, it gets the best ratings.  The most absurd, extreme situation is always “better”.  I just don’t agree that it’s the ONLY image of teens that could be popular.    I’m not a screenwriter but I have to believe there are other, more creative shows that could be done featuring teenagers.  Anyone else bothered by this?