I'll say it first: Any show that gives other people a glimpse of how it is like to work in my industry will get my attention—the first couple of episodes at least. Running in Heels is a reality show (not competition) that chronicles the day-to-day operations of Hearst's Marie Claire, seen through the eyes of all levels of staff: From Joanna Coles—the French publication's Editor-in-Chief—down to the 3 interns: Talita, Samantha, and Ashley. Of course the focus is on the interns, and how they just do a crappy job at it—treating the entire thing like Marie Claire should be kissing their toes whenever they enter the Hearst towers. (Maybe it's just the editing, but geez do these girls complain way too much, be fucking happy that you're still able to get an internship and get clips that would help you get an edge the moment you leave school—and this economy gets on the road to recovery.)
I've been watching the 30-minute show since its debut the first week of March, and think it's a good show. It's definitely better than that joke Stylista. (Damn, did that cast Elle in a ridiculously bad light.) I really honest to goodness care not one iota for the random bitchings and frustrations of the interns—because truly, it makes me wanna smack Ashley every time she schemes. But I stick around because it gives a realistic view of how it's like to put a monthly glossy together. Last week's episode had the magazine's Senior Fashion Editor, Zanna Roberts, put together a run-through (magazine-speak for a meeting where the clothes that will be used for a fashion editorial shoot are previewed by the EIC and the fashion team) for a story in the April issue. She wanted to do a story on investment pieces (everyone's doing this nowadays if you haven't noticed yet). When she told Ms. Coles the price of a pink skirt, she was, shall we say ripped to shreds over justifying a $1995 skirt and calling it an investment piece. Same thing happened when she tried to hawk a $25,000 crocodile bag. Joanna basically said something to the effect of "Are you kidding me? We can't even put those in as a joke."
Situations like these are what keep me glued to my TV screens. Sure we editors get a lot of free stuff—and at times even pricey clothes and toiletries—but it's no excuse to forget that not everyone has a "Press" badge that they can flash to get discounts, designer garb, and even exotic vacations.
There's another scene in an even earlier episode where the interns were given the task of photographing women on the streets of NYC to illustrate a trend. They had a week to work on it, and when they handed their stories in, I couldn't laugh hard enough at the level of crap that the three displayed. Talita's had a spelling error, Ashley's was obviously rushed, and Samantha's was just drab-looking.
Because of this, Joanna basically tore them. They deserved it. They're no longer in college where they can wing every single assignment given to them. This is the real world, girls. Step it up!
It's situations like these that make Running in Heels a curious show to watch, and I'm more than okay to stick around until it concludes.
Showing posts with label Stylista. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stylista. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Stylista, Oh How Much Do I Love the Delicious Addiction You’ll Give Me
Full disclosure: I’m a stylist and I work in the magazine industry. These two are reasons enough that I would give the Tyra Banks-produced show on The CW, Stylista, my attention. And because Bravo’s Project Runway and The Rachel Zoe Project are over, there’s a considerable void in late-night reality TV that has style and fashion as its main subject matter.
Obviously based off the success of the book—and subsequently, the silverscreen adaptation—The Devil Wears Prada, Stylista chronicles the life of a group of aspiring fashion magazine editors as they fight through challenge after challenge (and the occasional, actually, scratch that—often—bouts of bitchery) for, among other things, a paid editorial position at Elle (under Hachette Fillipacchi Media), an H&M clothing allowance, and an apartment in Manhattan that they’ll pay for a year. Not bad, considering the other production by Bankable Productions, America’s Next Top Model, doesn’t even give a cash prize (it’s a $100,000 contract, take note). At the very least, the winner of Stylista can earn about $30,000 for the year that s/he’s with Elle.
Wednesday’s episode already had proved how much of a train wreck anything Tyra Banks lends her hands on becomes. And it starts with the annoying ripoff of the scene in TDWP where Miranda Priestly (played by the very talented Meryl Streep) leaves her limo and walks to her office. Lauren Weisberg’s novel is based off her experience at Vogue, and with Anna Wintour. No one can dispute that Ms. Wintour is a very recognizable name in fashion and the magazine industry, and it’s pretty funny that they’re playing off this fact with Anne Slowey instead of Anna.
By the way, damn. She can’t walk in those heels to save her life!
Second, according to a very reliable, but not impeachable source, the place where they film the reality show is not the actual Elle editorial office. That’s why they say “Elle downtown.” Hachette’s office is more midtown. Haha. The winner of Stylista will be very surprised that the very manicured office s/he’s used to working at is not where the actual work will happen.
Third, what’s the deal with the annoying—and very unnecessary—ploy for the edit staff of Elle to be bitchy, and—if things are any indication, we’ll witness this in future episodes—condescending, Slowey included? I seriously doubt that much of the staff is that bitchy. I’m pretty sure it’s just the producers telling them, “Be as cold as the people in The Devil Wears Prada, or you ain’t getting paid.”
The challenges are actually pretty okay. Editorial Assistants—the entry-level paid position in each and every magazine—are required to do some administrative work on top of helping run the edit side of the magazine. So I didn’t mind that they had to make the contestants prepare Slowey’s breakfast. (Interesting to note, by the way, Anne doesn’t really eat that much, as evidenced by this piece in New York Magazine.)
Even the elimination is something that actually happens in a magazine: Create and write the contributor’s page. I just wish they paid attention to how the copy is written, if it’s something for Elle. Magazine publishing is a journalism job still, after all.
However, here’s bullshit # 1: They kept the über-bitchy one, Megan, and eliminated Arnaldo, the one that I think would be a better editor between them two. Again, I’m pretty—actually, very—sure that the producers had a hand in this. I mean, come on, Megan will provide delicious tension, and will most likely be Stylista’s Kenley Collins. Ratings!
Bullshit # 2: Joe Zee’s critique of what the contestants are wearing. Didn’t you find it funny that he said to Arnaldo that he looks like he’s working at a law office and has no creativity in his manner of dress when Zee himself is just wearing a suit? Whoop de doo, Mr. Hypocrite.
Still, his other comments were funny, like “Your boobs are spilling out all over my face.” Very smooth. Haha.
Does this mean I would no longer watch Stylista? Far from it. In fact, I’d miss the premiere broadcast of Top Chef New York just to see a new episode of Stylista every Wednesday. One, because I’m curious. Two, because it’s in my industry, and three, because it’s a new reality show. But you see, the problem with this and most reality-based job-search shows is simple: It’s never an accurate portrayal of how the business works. The winner, much like those who have been bagged “America’s Next Top Model” will probably enjoy a brief period of notoriety followed by everyone not caring for them. (I mean, ask yourself, have any of the winners of ANTM walked the runway of an actual high end label like Burberry during Fashion Week? The final showdown episode doesn’t count, as these are runway shows produced specifically to face the last 2 contestants off.)
I’m waiting for Wednesday...
Obviously based off the success of the book—and subsequently, the silverscreen adaptation—The Devil Wears Prada, Stylista chronicles the life of a group of aspiring fashion magazine editors as they fight through challenge after challenge (and the occasional, actually, scratch that—often—bouts of bitchery) for, among other things, a paid editorial position at Elle (under Hachette Fillipacchi Media), an H&M clothing allowance, and an apartment in Manhattan that they’ll pay for a year. Not bad, considering the other production by Bankable Productions, America’s Next Top Model, doesn’t even give a cash prize (it’s a $100,000 contract, take note). At the very least, the winner of Stylista can earn about $30,000 for the year that s/he’s with Elle.
Wednesday’s episode already had proved how much of a train wreck anything Tyra Banks lends her hands on becomes. And it starts with the annoying ripoff of the scene in TDWP where Miranda Priestly (played by the very talented Meryl Streep) leaves her limo and walks to her office. Lauren Weisberg’s novel is based off her experience at Vogue, and with Anna Wintour. No one can dispute that Ms. Wintour is a very recognizable name in fashion and the magazine industry, and it’s pretty funny that they’re playing off this fact with Anne Slowey instead of Anna.
By the way, damn. She can’t walk in those heels to save her life!
Second, according to a very reliable, but not impeachable source, the place where they film the reality show is not the actual Elle editorial office. That’s why they say “Elle downtown.” Hachette’s office is more midtown. Haha. The winner of Stylista will be very surprised that the very manicured office s/he’s used to working at is not where the actual work will happen.
Third, what’s the deal with the annoying—and very unnecessary—ploy for the edit staff of Elle to be bitchy, and—if things are any indication, we’ll witness this in future episodes—condescending, Slowey included? I seriously doubt that much of the staff is that bitchy. I’m pretty sure it’s just the producers telling them, “Be as cold as the people in The Devil Wears Prada, or you ain’t getting paid.”
The challenges are actually pretty okay. Editorial Assistants—the entry-level paid position in each and every magazine—are required to do some administrative work on top of helping run the edit side of the magazine. So I didn’t mind that they had to make the contestants prepare Slowey’s breakfast. (Interesting to note, by the way, Anne doesn’t really eat that much, as evidenced by this piece in New York Magazine.)
Even the elimination is something that actually happens in a magazine: Create and write the contributor’s page. I just wish they paid attention to how the copy is written, if it’s something for Elle. Magazine publishing is a journalism job still, after all.
However, here’s bullshit # 1: They kept the über-bitchy one, Megan, and eliminated Arnaldo, the one that I think would be a better editor between them two. Again, I’m pretty—actually, very—sure that the producers had a hand in this. I mean, come on, Megan will provide delicious tension, and will most likely be Stylista’s Kenley Collins. Ratings!
Bullshit # 2: Joe Zee’s critique of what the contestants are wearing. Didn’t you find it funny that he said to Arnaldo that he looks like he’s working at a law office and has no creativity in his manner of dress when Zee himself is just wearing a suit? Whoop de doo, Mr. Hypocrite.
Still, his other comments were funny, like “Your boobs are spilling out all over my face.” Very smooth. Haha.
Does this mean I would no longer watch Stylista? Far from it. In fact, I’d miss the premiere broadcast of Top Chef New York just to see a new episode of Stylista every Wednesday. One, because I’m curious. Two, because it’s in my industry, and three, because it’s a new reality show. But you see, the problem with this and most reality-based job-search shows is simple: It’s never an accurate portrayal of how the business works. The winner, much like those who have been bagged “America’s Next Top Model” will probably enjoy a brief period of notoriety followed by everyone not caring for them. (I mean, ask yourself, have any of the winners of ANTM walked the runway of an actual high end label like Burberry during Fashion Week? The final showdown episode doesn’t count, as these are runway shows produced specifically to face the last 2 contestants off.)
I’m waiting for Wednesday...
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Waiting with Bated Breath for Stylista...or not
If there's one show I'm really, extremely, awaiting its Fall unveiling, it's Tyra Banks's Stylista. I just saw the teaser at the CW website and I have to say, it's shaping up to be a joke reality show.
Sigh, trust Ms. Banks to wreck an otherwise interesting Reality TV concept.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
