MTV managed to set a new standard for tawdry reality TV with the premiere of its drink-throwin’ smash Jersey Shore. (Not that the standard for such shows could have gotten any lower.) We doubt there’s any way they’ll manage to top The Situation’s abs or Snooki’s spitfire outbursts, but the network that brought us The Hills and America’s Next Best Dance Crew is hoping to strike gold once more with the debut of its new summer “reality-sitcom” (Whatever That Is…) Downtown Girls.
Think of it as a thinly-veiled imitation of Sex And The City. We’re still not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, so wake us up when someone starts fist-pumpin’.
The show, which is scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, June 1 @ 11 PM ET/PT, follows the real-life adventures and challenges of Shallon Lester, a sex/relationship blogger for Glamour.com, and her friends: Gurj, a digital marketing guru at Atlantic Records; Nikki, a fashion boutique owner; Victoria, an aspiring lawyer; and Klo, a wealthy bride-to-be as they learn, love, and experience life in upscale Manhattan.
“I’m going to be on a TV show! Like, every single week. Downtown Girls will premiere on MTV on June 1 at 11 P.M.!! I am so thrilled-slash-a-nervous-wreck, but I really think it’s a series you guys are going to like,” Shallon blogged to her Glamour readers on Tuesday.
Meet The Cast:
Shallon: As a relationship blogger for Glamour.com’s Smitten, Shallon writes about sex, love and relationships, examining the lives and loves of those around her as well as her own dating dramas. Career-driven and boy-crazy, she has a knack for falling for younger men and has experienced many heartbreaks of late. Shallon might be able to dish out good advice professionally, but she often forgets to take that advice herself. For more on Shallon’s blog, go to: www.glamour.com/contributors/shallon-lester
Gurj: A brassy, strong-willed London rocker, Gurj can usually be found at the center of the Manhattan music scene. She works in digital media for Atlantic Records, and is not only Shallon’s ticket to “hot rock musicians” but also serves as a great voice of reason to the girls. She has a serious musician boyfriend, who is frequently away on tour with his up-and-coming band.
Nikki: Having claimed to have dated every Jewish guy in Manhattan, Nikki is on the hunt to find her Prince Charming. She is also one of Shallon’s roommates and often acts as her partner in crime. Although Nikki comes from a wealthy Long Island family, she works very hard and owns a high-end boutique called Nikki Laura, with a celebrity clientele. Unfortunately for Nikki, her store is not immune to the current economy, and she struggles to keep her boutique open while the stores around her close one by one.
Victoria: An aspiring attorney, Victoria is Shallon’s other roommate, whose eccentric ways provide a source of rattlebrained comic relief. Victoria recently graduated from law school and is currently awaiting the results of her second attempt at the bar exam. Like her roommates, Victoria is also single, and is infamously known as the “queen of the first date.”
Klo: Shallon’s best friend and a bride-to-be, Klo is a newly reformed party girl in the midst of planning her wedding to the man of her dreams. Even though she and Shallon don’t hit the town together like they used to, Klo is always around to give Shallon her blunt and often comical opinion.
