On a recent night out on the town, a flock of my closest friends and I made our way to a trendy, local watering hole. While there, we had a few drinks, shared some good conversation and kept a close ear on what the jukebox had to say.
As the hour grew late, I eventually took a breather from socializing and took to eavesdropping on another group to our left. It was then that I first realized I wasn’t alone in my faithful viewing of MTV’s Laguna Beach.
It was a discussion I overheard between folks who were, by no means, your typical MTV viewing crowd. They could’ve been perceived as the trendiest of the trendy in their own circles–Indie-rock hipsters, gangster rap gurus, and others whom one wouldn’t expect to be compatible with the breezy beachside program.
With widened eyes, I knew I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to discuss the show with this particular crowd because I, myself, had been wondering why Laguna Beach transfixed me so.
“I only watch it because it makes me feel better about myself,” Hipster #1 commented. “To see such pettiness, especially in the realm of so little responsibility, is quite a difference compared to myself and the people I tend to associate with,” she went on.
My own interest was piqued by her virulence. It seemed I had truly struck a nerve. I mean after all, we were discussing a show of high school aged kids from Southern California–not Meet the Press.
After some questioning of the others, of course I received the arbitrary answer of, “I watch it because the girls are cute.” However, I noticed a number of differing reasons given for succumbing to the privileged drama-reality program, which has had a steady following–to say the least–since its premiere in 2004.
There were those who watched for reasons of nostalgia, longing for the time when their lives were that simple, others who were even attracted to characters they saw as “genuine and approachable,” and yes, the select few who strictly enjoy seeing youthful, unblemished bodies in swimwear.
Now with its second season swept out with the tide, a cult following is securely in place; and as I raised my awareness to find out just who really watches the show, I discovered it was the very people I least expected.
For those of you not caught under the spell of the L.B. crew, the show once advertised itself as “The Real Orange County,” as an attempt to tap into the fan base of Fox’s hit show The O.C. It kicks off every week with Hilary Duff’s 2004 ode-to-precipitation Top 10 hit “Come Clean” (hope I didn’t just put it back in your head)–and what follows is 30 minutes of romance and backstabbing amongst roughly a dozen financially privileged teens. “Whatever…I’m over it,” the well manicured cast frequently articulate to each other.
“It’s one of the wealthiest, most beautiful beachside communities in the world and MTV has unlimited access to the tight-knit power clique of eight rich, beautiful teenagers that live there,” the official show synopsis states. “Their lives intertwine in ways you won’t believe, until you drop in for a visit.”
In the opening episodes of the series, lives intertwined by way of a love triangle between LC, Stephen and Kristin. But that is seriously, like, soooooo last season. In the sophomore effort, currently airing Monday nights on MTV, the drama extends to some new faces who also live in beachside mansions, and like all their friends, drive daddy’s $80,000 car.
Speaking of which, where the heck is daddy? Unsightly, hovering adults are clearly a big no-no. We are led to believe these teens run amok in lavish homes of their own; participating in unsupervised parties, drinking out of suspicious red cups and reveling in the sex-charged atmosphere of it all.
[PAGEBREAK]
But I digress. So who wants to get caught-up on the heated dealings of season two? As if you don’t know already…
Stephen went off to college but then returned to Laguna Beach, temporarily, to take part in his usual flirtiness with LC, who has always been oil to Kristin’s water, but typically is above dealing with any high school pettiness–especially now that she’s a year removed from it. This all made it very surprising to see LC hit-it-off with playboy Jason, who, despite his absolute lack of personality and charm, has already had romantic stints with two gals, Alex M. and Jessica. This annoyed Stephen, who has grown accustomed to having LC wrapped around his finger. So he ran back to Kristin to keep his mind occupied for the time being.
Later on, Jason and Jessica kissed backstage at a fashion show right before LC’s fixated eyes. Getting involved in the ensuing chaos was Dieter, who used to date Jessica, and is Stephen’s best friend, but the damage seemed irreparable, as LC stormed out…she is—assumedly–so over it.
The much-hyped finale of season two, which aired Monday night, was nothing more than 20 minutes of tears and hugs between friends. Each person in the cast said goodbye to their respective cliques, and headed-off to pursue the remainder of their lives.
Caught up? Good. And by good, I mean totally rad.
Another season of Laguna Beach is already in production, but the third chapter in paradise will feature all new faces. For those craving some familiar names, the cameras will also follow Lauren “LC” Conrad on her voyage to The Hills, where she both attends college, and enjoys an internship at a high-profile fashion magazine.
Some look down on the shallow antics depicted in the show, others relate to it. But for whatever reason, the show has a wide appeal. If you are with it, or against it…you’re watching.
Check out our exclusive interview with Kristin Cavalieri!
