MTV's 8th and Ocean Allows Us to Pity the Pretty People

MTV debuted yet another reality show last week. Yet again the network has delivered a batch of pretty and wealthy young people for viewers 16-24 to envy. Yet again they have delivered characters less memorable than a slice of white bread. And yet again, I'm hooked.

8th and Ocean is brought to you by the producers of Laguna Beach, and shot much in the same vein. With long shots and distant cameras, it's often hard to tell if the show is real drama or reality drama. We follow several young models, both male and female, as they try to make their way in the industry working for an agency in Miami. The show portrays the Florida city as the new den of iniquity, and these pretty young things are more than willing to partake.

The agency is run by an aging blond woman who operates her business like a harem. She literally works in a glass tower, and some of the best scenes involve young models trudging up the stairs for a talking to on connecting with the camera.

The shining moment thus far has been 19 year old Brit, a new model fresh from Kansas City (a fact drilled into the viewers heads as the other models repeat is with incredulity). She's naive, a little Bambi fresh on the scene. In the first episode she gets a dance lesson before going to a club. In episode two she struggles with being sexy on film. 

But unlike most young models with smoking hot bodies, she's going to be a tough nut to crack. Why? Because episode two takes us to a meeting of "Model's for Christ." Yes, that's "Model" with an apostrophe (I couldn't make that up if I tried, people). We hear Brit waxing poetic about Jesus while a room full of pretty people give vacant stares. It's a hoot.

Overall 8th and Ocean is bland and unsurprising. Oh my gosh, a model has acne? Oh no, Britt has to show her boobs in a shoot? Oh no, the twins are fighting? Oh no, the Euro trash male model missed another casting? There's no need to carve out the 10:30 time slot for this bit of bubble gum reality, but if you catch in one of it's copious reruns, you'll have a good laugh at the trials and tribulations of rich pretty people.