LameAim wrote:Ok, I'll bite. Why is this show dope?
Huge Mistake.
This show is dope because:
1: Much of reality programming can be summed up in 5 genres:
a) the idle rich being the idle rich, and not doing anything else (all the chick shows like Kardashian, Laguna Beach, Housewives, etc).
b) the ignorant young and attractive being ignorant young and attractive, and not doing much else (the real world, big brother, temptation island was like this, etc.)
c) people placed on odd situations that have no relation to their daily lives (survivor, the amazing race, the biggest loser, etc.)
d) idiots who are stupid and unaccomplished and are there to be laughed at (hell's kitchen, beauty and the geek)
e) regular people of a certain profession engaging in activities and/or contests related to that profession (top chef, project runway, deadliest catch, parking wars, etc.)
Category "e" is by far the most engaging category of reality show. While these people aren't always the most attractive or the brightest, they are regular, quirky, entertaining people who posses a unique skill set that makes them good at what they do.
The Paper is full on a category "e" show. It's the first time that regular, ugly, over-enthusiastic high school kids have been on television in a long time. Having taught in suburban high schools, it's an accurate portrayal of regular suburban kids. On top of that, they're organized around something (sure, they're rich, but not idle rich). The scenes in the newsroom are what bring the show together.
2) The cast of characters is awesome.
Amanda
Just named editor in chief, EVERYBODY fucking hates her and makes sure to tell her that she's a dumb cunt to her face. She's narcissistic and delusional enough to be convinced that she's actually not a dumb cunt, and is really well liked and holding everything together. On top of that, she thinks she's barbara striesand. Peep game:
As opposed to the one-dimensional Omorossa's who populate the villain role on reality shows, you actually feel bad for Amanda, regardless of how much you hate her. She's such a tryhard she's infuriating, but it's obvious that she really wants to be liked but just can't do it. Juxtapose her with:
Giana
Giana is boring, tragically fucking boring and brings nothing to the table. In this roving band of geeks however, she's "the hot one" and gets a total pass. This is also tragically realistic, as often times in camp or school settings plain old nothing special girls who happen to be less ugly than the other girls get way too much attention. She dates,
Dan
A dumb ass goofy normal kid. He's in the cool crowd. Only in high school is this kid in the cool crowd, and somehow that shit happens. He'll be a nice enough nerd who will never get a girl as "hot" as Giana for the rest of his life. He's also friends with.
Trevor
Trevor's a normal kid right now. But he's going to be raping somebody in a frat a few years down the line. These two, who should never be hanging out with each other are also friends with
Adam
The most flamboyantly gay high school kid I've ever seen. He's not boystown gay, just very very obviously comfortably gay for high school. How the fuck are these three people friends? They're friends because it's high school, they all share a common interest in the newspaper, and they haven't grown apart yet.
Finally there is Alex, the nerdy jew.
Alex has been a nerd for hella long. He's been a nerd for so long he doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut. He's chilling with the "cool" kids now, but tells them that he used to have a crush on Amanda (they were good friends until the "cool" kids started liking him). While Amanda is going over old pictures of her and Alex hanging out together with her other nerd ass friend, he's off the with cool kids, macking on some little chick whose name is also Alex. He's still a fucking nerd though, even though he's in with the cool nerds, so he let's her know he wants to hookup by waiting for her to go grab her phone and then texting her "will you be my girlfriend <3" Shit is fucking
In summary, The Paper is a reality show about regular fucking people who are trying to do something. It accurately depicts the vast majority of most suburban high schools better than anything I've seen. Season 4 of the Wire really nailed underfunded schools and what happens in and to them. This does the same thing for the exact opposite setting.
Arrow away. I'm watching the fuck out of this shit.
