The Hills: A Hollywood Ending Never Satisfies

The stars of MTV's reality-ish show.

So MTV’s #1 show of the past ten years is now over. Last night’s much-hyped finale gave little closure, and here’s three reasons why:

1. It was Real. And Fake.

The final scene blurred the line between real and fake.

Through six seasons, fans of the show are still debating which parts of The Hills are real and which are fake. The reality show began by telling the story of a handful of young adults trying to make their way in Hollywood. But the show wasn’t filmed and edited in the documentary style of of other reality shows. The Hills had stunning imagery and heavily edited storylines that you’d expect from the scripted teen shows with big budgets. The stuff of the show–friendships, jobs, houses, dating relationships–could have been real or could have been fake. It was never clear if you were watching someone’s real life or a life that was handed to them by MTV.

Going Deeper about Reality
Movies and television shows would never make money if they just showed you real life. It’s not that real life is boring, it’s just that real life is around each of us so it wouldn’t make sense to sit on your couch and watch it on TV. So Hollywood entertains us by telling fake stories loaded with excitement, glamor, mystery, and adventure. Don’t be seduced into trying to live one of these fake stories. Invite God into your life and you’ll never look at your own reality the same.

2. Friends with Benefits Didn’t Work.

Brody and Kristin Didn't Work Out. Why am I not surprised?

The central plot of the final season of The Hills was Kristin and Brody trying to figure out their relationship. Kristin was obviously interested in dating Brody, and he was only interested in a physical relationship. The two seemed to find a happy compromise by “keeping it casual” by hooking up without any commitment to one another. In the end, Kristin got hurt and Brody was left feeling like a jerk. Now they’re not together and fans of the show are not satisfied.

Going Deeper about Relationships
One of the biggest lies of this generation is that “Friends with Benefits” is a good thing. WRONG! It ruins friendships and sabotages any chance of having a satisfying dating relationship. The better option is chastity. You will keep your confidence high and your priorities straight by avoiding the drama of hookups in high school. [Learn more on THE171 Podcast: Not Quite Sex?]

3. Fame is Here Today and Gone Tomorrow

Spencer and Heidi were dropped from the show.

One clear legacy of The Hills is that its cast are the first to rise out of reality television as “real celebrities” whose names and faces in magazines, tabloids, and Hollywood rumor mills. But how long can this popularity last? In an unexpected twist in this final season, bizzaro married couple Heidi and Spencer Pratt disappeared from the show and from MTV without any explanation. Can their fame last even after getting booted from the show? Can the cast of The Hills remain famous long after their show is off the air? Don’t count on it. Nothing is permanent in Hollywood.

Going deeper about fame.
Desire for fame makes people do dumb things in high school–drugs, alcohol, sleeping around–and even dumber things on television. People want to be famous because it says that we’re liked and loved by the people around us. But gaining approval from our peers will never satisfy you. The real desire of your heart is to feel the love of God. Until you find peace in Him, you will always look to others for their approval.

Summary: Back to Reality

Although it’s okay to be entertained every now and then, it’s important that we don’t get sucked into the Hollywood version of reality. (Just look what fame did to Heidi and Spencer.) It makes you a shallow and uninteresting person and it distracts you from your relationship with God. Only He can satisfy you! So turn off the TV and live your life in Him.