MTV
The week between Christmas and New Year’s is generally filled with repeats and special, but one cable network decided to take a chance with the premiere of two new ‘reality’ shows spun off from the same series, but neither matched the success of the original.
1958
- No new series premiered this week in 1958.
1968
- No new series premiered this week in 1958.
1978
- No new series premiered this week in 1968.
1988
- No new series premiered this week in 1968.
1998
- No new series premiered this week in 1968.
2008
- December 29 – Ryan Seacrest, who was responsible for Momma’s Boys which premiered a week earlier on NBC, helped launch Bromance on MTV. The reality series focused on The Hills star Brody Jenner in his search to find his next best friend, enlisting nine men to compete for the chance to be in a ‘bromance’ with Jenner. The show’s only gay contestant, Michael Flatley, withdrew before the first elimination, disappointed that the show was not more like The Hills. The series ran for six episodes with Jenner choosing Luke Verge as his new best friend. The friendship came with a spot in Jenner’s entourage, a one-year rent-free penthouse in downtown Los Angeles and a new Scion … but no second season.
- December 29 saw the debut of the second The Hills spin-off, The City. The alleged reality series focused on the lives of several young women residing in New York City. Former The Hills cast member Whitney Port was the main focus as she began work for Diane von Fürstenberg, and her office rivalry with Olivia Palermo. The series also featured Port’s boyfriend Jay Lyon, his roommate Adam Senn and her friend Erin Lucas. They were all replaced in the second half of the first season by Port’s roommate Roxy Olin and Palermo’s enemy Erin Kaplan. While the series was promoted as a reality show, there were many accusations of situations being scripted. Olivia Palermo also disliked how she was portrayed as the villain of the series claiming she was ‘super friendly’ with Port at work, and calling her time on television ‘ridiculous’. The City produced 35 episodes over two seasons, ending on July 13, 2010.
Do you remember this show? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
Share this post
