At long last, a reality show that doesn’t make my skin crawl. Actually, this one made me stand up and cheer.
MTV’s new reality series, “The Paper,” is poised to become the latest buzz show. What’s so different? It’s set in a school, not a bar or a dorm. So? It takes place in a high school newsroom.
And? It’s about a group of really smart, ambitious, goal-oriented teenagers who freak out over deadlines and grammar more than sex and booze. When was the last time we saw that on reality TV?
“The Paper” tiptoed onto the air three weeks ago, quietly carving its own classy niche on Monday nights (at 8:30 MDT).
There’s no comparison to “The Real World,” MTV’s long-running showcase for heavy drinking and dangerous living. “The Paper” has a distinct, filmic style with a clever use of music, including “One” from “A Chorus Line” in the opener.
It’s fresh and unique by anyone’s standards.
“These are kids that people could look up to,” said Lindsey Bannister, creator/executive producer of “The Paper.” “These are not your typical reality kids,” she said. “They’re not doing this to be stars. They want to show people that it’s cool to be smart and that newspapers can be cool.” And how cool is that? Very.
“The Paper” takes place at Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Fla. The school’s newspaper, The Circuit, has won numerous awards.
Here’s the roster:
• Amanda Lorber, overbearing and ambitious. She won the editor-in-chief position and now rules with a heavy hand. A power-tripper with perhaps too much self-esteem.
• Alex Augert, managing editor and Amanda’s good friend since Hebrew school. A talented writer who loves sports and dreams of working for Sports Illustrated. His relationship with Amanda has become strained.
• Adam Brock, business/ad manager and the show’s drama queen. With Adam, hysteria is always just around the corner.
• Giana Pacinelli, gorgeous entertainment editor known for brutal honesty and the desire to be the next Barbara Walters.
• Trevor Ballard, a graphics and computer genius, and Giana’s boyfriend.
• Cassia Laham, Amanda’s best friend and a crusading journalist who’s passionate about free speech and the war in Iraq.
• Dan Surgan, staff writer, class clown and humor columnist.
Sure, the Circuit staff engage in gossip and backstabbing. There are hissing, crying and ridiculing. But they also agonize over reporting, writing, ad sales and deadlines. Mostly we see the Circuit staff nurturing their beloved newspaper.
