"Perception is reality..."

I watched MTV's reality show, "The Hills" finale last night. I had never watched it before, but since the reality stars are in the celebrity magazines, I knew who they were. And since there is nothing else on but reruns, I watched several of the previous shows leading up to the finale, so I would know what was going on. My older daughter, Alex, watched The Hills and Laguna Beach, the show prior to the spin-off, and I know that her generation was really into this show. And I have to admit, it was intoxicating.
Of course, southern California lures me anyway with the palms and paradise weather, but then to look at these beautiful people and seemingly beautiful lives, it is hard to turn away. All those beautiful places and beautiful clothes and beautiful hair...
I like to call this generation the "Friends" generation, since they leave home and play until they are ready to be real adults. No longer do most Americans graduate from college and get married. No, they go through their twenties like Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe. Or in this case, Lauren, Kristin, Brody, Heidi, Audrina, Lo, Whitney, Spencer and Stephanie. They party, they spray tan, they work, they fight, they makeup, they party. And at some point, they move on... just like this show. It's a new stage of puberty, it's called the 'Friends' stage. Child, pre-teen, teen, collegiate, "Friend," and then adulthood, where you truly decide to be responsible and grown up. Of course, this isn't too much fun, so the Friends stage is stretched as long as it possibly can.
It was so voyeur to watch these non-actors go about their lives on "The Hills." It did strike me at the Live after show, that they acted the same up on the stage as they did on the show. They were plucked out of everyday life and became some of the most watched style icons of their peers. And often were seen in the magazines more than (real) actor/stars. Just for allowing cameras into their personal lives... The blessing and the curse, like it was for Jessica Simpson and her new married show with (then husband) Nick Lachey. And, like her, I suspect it will be a hard act to follow. A very hard act. Once you've lived that kind of success, it's hard to go forward.

Look at the "Friends" stars. Most are struggling. The guys have been unlucky at love. The girls are having a hard time getting older and not being the "it" actors anymore. As last night's finale ended, it was hard to not compare it to the end of "Friends." I'm guessing the cast of "The Hills" will go through similar phases that the cast of "Friends" did, and it won't be easy. Once you get used to the pampering and the big salaries, it's hard to figure out what to do next. And it makes it harder that they aren't true actors, but were just playing themselves. Most can coast on their notoriety for awhile with endorsements for makeup and products, but now will be a true test for most of them.

Ah, fame... so fleeting. So deceiving....

I guess time will tell.