The Hills
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Libra Skye18
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Television Review | 'The Hills'
It’s Lauren vs. Heidi in Battle of the Ex-BFFs
Lauren, above, on “The Hills” is at odds with Heidi.
By VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN
“The Hills,” which opens its third season on MTV tonight, is more convincing than “Friends” and just about any other comedy about female relationships because — as anyone who has ever been a young woman knows — undying friendships die.
After all those superlatives and hugs and I love yous, these separations can be bruising. Unlike romantic heartbreak, in which the terms are ultimately subjective (“He’s not that into me”), women’s friendships are commonly burnt down along rigid moral lines (“She’s disloyal, selfish, deceitful and manipulative”). You can brood over this stuff for years.
The spectacular falling-out of the two main stars of “The Hills,” Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag, has become a polarizing object lesson played out in the supermarket tabloids.
This reality show, which began as a spinoff of “Laguna Beach,” the documentary series about a group of well-off teenagers in Orange County, Calif., initially followed Lauren’s wan effort to establish herself as an adult in Los Angeles. But as a grown-up Lauren proved no Mary Tyler Moore, and adolescence kept pulling her back in.
The second season gave up on maturity and let Lauren be the woman-child she is. “The Hills” rapidly found its footing as a drama when Heidi, a trifling blonde known for her love of nightlife, her bust line and other superficial things, swelled to take up more emotional space.
She displayed an uncommon gift for sycophancy and self-sacrifice, which seemed like a sin when put in the service of the no-good men in her life, and a virtue when used to serve Lauren or the publicity firm Heidi went to work for.
But by the season’s end a Machiavellian figure named Spencer had decided to indenture Heidi to girlfriendhood. And she went along, to the dismay of Lauren, who was sad to see her friend’s true nature but mostly sad to lose her cheerful lackey.
As the new season opens, Heidi is living with the vile Spencer but still pitifully imagining she might get back into Lauren’s good graces. Not a chance. The hard-hearted Lauren is crowing to her more boring friends about having moved on.
For the single girl — that’s Lauren here — high dudgeon about disloyalty is one (annoying) way to keep more coupley friends on the hook. Last season Lauren flew into F. Lee Bailey levels of bombast when she took to task a friend who had made out with a guy Lauren had dated. Lauren cited a “code” that made the other girl’s garden-variety flirtation unconscionable.
Then she did the same to Heidi, making her feel beyond forgiveness for falling in love with a silly, flirty man about town.
This season Lauren outdoes herself in moral outrage, managing virtually to criminalize Heidi’s alliance with Spencer by turning their Pinkberry relationship into a kind of RICO violation. The couple, she says, has been perpetrating Internet calumnies — a Lauren sex-tape rumor! — against her.
These tales have even made their way to Laguna Beach, where Lauren’s righteous family shares her indignation. What supermax prison could hold the duo that wrought such havoc for the Conrads?
At this point in a young woman’s life — when she must either establish herself as admirable in her community or become a laughingstock or worse — anxiety about reputation, friendship and romance is understandable. But as a major player in the repertory company of contemporary reality improv, which plays out in celebrity magazines too, the crusading Lauren is policed on one side by her reportedly strict parents and on the other by Us Weekly.
This must be a particularly challenging line to walk.
It also offers some real-world suspense. If a sex tape featuring Lauren Conrad exists, her career might be altered; MTV has a stake in that. On the other hand if Heidi is a blackmailer who has invented this tape along with her evil consort, well, that’s something potentially libelous too.
The hysteria that often informs friendships among young women shouldn’t have to bump up against subjects like money, television channels, careers and libel. That combination seems to thwart the healing process. When a girl goes through a friend breakup, after all, she usually cries to her mother.
“But she told everyone I’m conceited,” you sob, and she says, “I know it seems like a big deal, but no one’s really thinking about your problems.” Eventually that sinks in.
When you’re Lauren or Heidi, though, the story shows up on the covers of the supermarket tabloids. “Lauren’s side of the story!” one says. Or “Why Heidi really loves Spencer!” Under these conditions it’s probably much, much harder for the moms to explain it all away.
THE HILLS
MTV, tonight at 10, Eastern and Pacific times; 9, Central time.
Created by Adam DiVello; Tony DiSanto, Sean Travis, Liz Gateley and Mr. DiVello, executive producers. Produced by MTV.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/13/a...ion&adxnnlx=1187024495-QMdG/d5RHMHSBZ0Y3KBVSQ
It’s Lauren vs. Heidi in Battle of the Ex-BFFs
Lauren, above, on “The Hills” is at odds with Heidi.
By VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN
“The Hills,” which opens its third season on MTV tonight, is more convincing than “Friends” and just about any other comedy about female relationships because — as anyone who has ever been a young woman knows — undying friendships die.
After all those superlatives and hugs and I love yous, these separations can be bruising. Unlike romantic heartbreak, in which the terms are ultimately subjective (“He’s not that into me”), women’s friendships are commonly burnt down along rigid moral lines (“She’s disloyal, selfish, deceitful and manipulative”). You can brood over this stuff for years.
The spectacular falling-out of the two main stars of “The Hills,” Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag, has become a polarizing object lesson played out in the supermarket tabloids.
This reality show, which began as a spinoff of “Laguna Beach,” the documentary series about a group of well-off teenagers in Orange County, Calif., initially followed Lauren’s wan effort to establish herself as an adult in Los Angeles. But as a grown-up Lauren proved no Mary Tyler Moore, and adolescence kept pulling her back in.
The second season gave up on maturity and let Lauren be the woman-child she is. “The Hills” rapidly found its footing as a drama when Heidi, a trifling blonde known for her love of nightlife, her bust line and other superficial things, swelled to take up more emotional space.
She displayed an uncommon gift for sycophancy and self-sacrifice, which seemed like a sin when put in the service of the no-good men in her life, and a virtue when used to serve Lauren or the publicity firm Heidi went to work for.
But by the season’s end a Machiavellian figure named Spencer had decided to indenture Heidi to girlfriendhood. And she went along, to the dismay of Lauren, who was sad to see her friend’s true nature but mostly sad to lose her cheerful lackey.
As the new season opens, Heidi is living with the vile Spencer but still pitifully imagining she might get back into Lauren’s good graces. Not a chance. The hard-hearted Lauren is crowing to her more boring friends about having moved on.
For the single girl — that’s Lauren here — high dudgeon about disloyalty is one (annoying) way to keep more coupley friends on the hook. Last season Lauren flew into F. Lee Bailey levels of bombast when she took to task a friend who had made out with a guy Lauren had dated. Lauren cited a “code” that made the other girl’s garden-variety flirtation unconscionable.
Then she did the same to Heidi, making her feel beyond forgiveness for falling in love with a silly, flirty man about town.
This season Lauren outdoes herself in moral outrage, managing virtually to criminalize Heidi’s alliance with Spencer by turning their Pinkberry relationship into a kind of RICO violation. The couple, she says, has been perpetrating Internet calumnies — a Lauren sex-tape rumor! — against her.
These tales have even made their way to Laguna Beach, where Lauren’s righteous family shares her indignation. What supermax prison could hold the duo that wrought such havoc for the Conrads?
At this point in a young woman’s life — when she must either establish herself as admirable in her community or become a laughingstock or worse — anxiety about reputation, friendship and romance is understandable. But as a major player in the repertory company of contemporary reality improv, which plays out in celebrity magazines too, the crusading Lauren is policed on one side by her reportedly strict parents and on the other by Us Weekly.
This must be a particularly challenging line to walk.
It also offers some real-world suspense. If a sex tape featuring Lauren Conrad exists, her career might be altered; MTV has a stake in that. On the other hand if Heidi is a blackmailer who has invented this tape along with her evil consort, well, that’s something potentially libelous too.
The hysteria that often informs friendships among young women shouldn’t have to bump up against subjects like money, television channels, careers and libel. That combination seems to thwart the healing process. When a girl goes through a friend breakup, after all, she usually cries to her mother.
“But she told everyone I’m conceited,” you sob, and she says, “I know it seems like a big deal, but no one’s really thinking about your problems.” Eventually that sinks in.
When you’re Lauren or Heidi, though, the story shows up on the covers of the supermarket tabloids. “Lauren’s side of the story!” one says. Or “Why Heidi really loves Spencer!” Under these conditions it’s probably much, much harder for the moms to explain it all away.
THE HILLS
MTV, tonight at 10, Eastern and Pacific times; 9, Central time.
Created by Adam DiVello; Tony DiSanto, Sean Travis, Liz Gateley and Mr. DiVello, executive producers. Produced by MTV.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/13/a...ion&adxnnlx=1187024495-QMdG/d5RHMHSBZ0Y3KBVSQ
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If you’re like us, you’ve already set your digital recording devices for tonight’s premiere of the latest season of The Hills (Monday, 10 p.m., MTV). We have a soft spot for the show for many reasons, one of which is the perpetually refreshing Whitney Port. In the quagmire that is reality TV, she always seems collected and well put together...basically the antithesis of the genre. If you too are pleased by her natural beauty, age-appropriate wardrobe, and overall lack of histrionics, read on for the inside scoop on Port’s style.
Who are your favorite designers?
When I’m going out I like to wear Phillip Lim, Robert Rodriguez, Chloe, and vintage. During the day I like J Brand jeans, but it always varies. It seems like everything I wear is either a different designer or no designer at all! Some of the names I have in my closet: London Sole flats, JL Marks dresses, Bellabumbum bras, and Hanky Panky underwear.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
Vionnet, Diavolina, Planet Blue, Bleu on La Brea, JL Marks, Shareen Vintage (for vintage dresses), American Rag, Calypso, Scoop, Intermix, Holiday, Only Hearts (for gifts, accessories, and lingerie), and Shopbop.
Who is your style icon?
Catherine Deneuve.
What are your favorite new trends?
I love bell bottom/wide legged jeans and high-waisted trousers.
What are some trends you're over?
Vests, labels, fedoras, big beaded necklaces, skulls, and headbands.
What are you coveting right now?
I love wearing mini-dresses with vintage heels and my grandmother's vintage beaded clutches. Also, bell bottom jeans from J Brand.
What are some of your style secrets?
I like wearing delicate gold chain necklaces and gold bracelets high up on my arm.
Whose closet would you most like to raid?
Ashley Olsen, Victoria Beckham, and Jennifer Lopez.
Do you have any beauty tips for our readers?
I always use a gentler cleanser on my face (like Cetaphil
Whitney's Little Black Book:
Vionnet: 310.289.9202
Diavolina: 310.550.1341
Planet Blue: 310.317.8566
Bleu: 323.939.2228, bleuclothing.com
JL Marks: 323.655.4111, jlmarks.com
Shareen Vintage: 323.276.6226 shareenvintage.com
American Rag: 323.935.3154 amrag.com
Calypso: 310.652.4454, calypso-celle.com
Scoop: 877.SCOOP.77, scoopnyc.com
Intermix: 212.966.5303, intermixonline.com
Holiday: 310.434.9274holidayboutique.net
Only Hearts: 310.393.3088 onlyhearts.com
Shopbop shopbop.com
whowhatweardaily.com
^ Thanks! That was so much fun to read. 
I am going to be VERY bad tonight and will be putting off work that I need to get done so I can watch the premiere. My bf banned me from watching so I could follow through with my adult responsibilities, but that so ain't happening! 
I am going to be VERY bad tonight and will be putting off work that I need to get done so I can watch the premiere. My bf banned me from watching so I could follow through with my adult responsibilities, but that so ain't happening! KindlyCuddly
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Love Whitney! Her outfits, not so much. 
mcflyandgemmafan
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Omg guys, I literally forgot all about it until just this second when this thread reminded me. how can I call myself a true fan?!
iLoveCouture
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I will be right here with you guys watching! Guilty as charged! 
mcflyandgemmafan
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*hangs head in shame*^^^ i don't think you can anymore.. your officially banned from the hills thread.. you should be ashamed!
OK, so far...this season is fantastic! I have been cracking up nonstop. Lauren looks gorgeous this season, and I love Audrina as a roommate. As much as Spencer is a tool, he is really funny. I love how he painted the apartment with graffiti. Brody is freaking hot and funny too. I am in heaven right now.
You know what I find surprising though? It seemed like Heidi might genuinely not know why Lauren is mad at her. I dunno...it makes me sick though to see that she is now pals with Jen Bunney
Brody is freaking hot and funny too. I am in heaven right now. You know what I find surprising though? It seemed like Heidi might genuinely not know why Lauren is mad at her. I dunno...it makes me sick though to see that she is now pals with Jen Bunney
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iLoveCouture
catch me if you can
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I would have had the same look on my face if my bf did that! I told him to at least get good graffiti if he had to go to that length!
The cat in the sweater had me dying!
Is it just me or does Justin seem like dry toast? Something is just off about him.
The cat in the sweater had me dying!
Is it just me or does Justin seem like dry toast? Something is just off about him.
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This season looks good...Heidi and Spencer totally leaked that tape story! You can tell by what they say directly to Lauren and Jason...
Brody kissing Whitney...ew...what is she thinking? He's so cheesy....
Audrina's bf seemed a little snobby....
Brody kissing Whitney...ew...what is she thinking? He's so cheesy....
Audrina's bf seemed a little snobby....
