Recap: 'Styl'd' (with photo gallery)

November 5, 11:10 AMTV ExaminerRick Ellis

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Kim Kardashian on "Styl'd"
MTV, 2009

If you've ever found yourself thinking, "Oh if only 'The Hills' was set in an agency of junior stylists," then MTV has the show for you. Of course, it's not likely anyone has asked that question but nonethless, let me introduce you to "Styl'd."

This new "docudrama" follows five junior stylists: Gary, Tara, Janna, Brett, and Cody, as they embark on the experience of their lives working for Jen Rade, Eric Archibald, and Julie Weiss, the senior stylists for the Margaret Maldonado Agency. Of course, this new internship will lead to one of the junior stylists getting a job with the agency, but that seems only a sidelight to all of the faux drama.

And there is lots of semi-scripted drama in the first episode. While the agency's senior stylists constantly discuss the need to be professional, prompt and trustworthy, the junior stylists they've chosen seemed to be picked out of the big book of reality TV show stock characters. One is a backstabber, another has a serious attention disorder and another tries to poach a job from his senior stylist on his first day. It's all behavior that would never be tolerated in the real world and even on a TV show, it's more than a bit hard to believe.

Like some of MTV's other hit primetime shows, "Styl'd" is overproduced to the point of absurdity. So many scenes are obviously created for the cameras, and the entire production seems about as smooth and seamless as a ten-pound bag that's holding 20 pounds of potatoes. The producers have focused on creating conflict, but it's conflict that just all seems to be created out of thin air. You don't get a sense of the real people here, only a sense of what role they're supposed to be playing. Even an appearance by a "celebrity" such as Kim Kardashian really doesn't make an impact.

"Styl'd" isn't a bad show, per se. It's just an awkward and pointless effort, so whether you watch it or not depends on your level of boredom and ability to absorb lapses of logic without pain.

"Styl'd" premiered on MTV on Sunday, November 1st, 2009.

(All photos courtesy MTV, 2009)