MTV’s new Laguna Beach will be in Brooklyn

by Carmen Van Kerckhove

mtv Just read on Gawker about a pilot MTV is working on, based in my part of the city:

MTV’s newest soon-to-be hit show is Brooklyn. The premise is to paint an accurate picture for America of what life is like for the average Brooklyn high school student. Brooklyn, New York is made up of the Caribbean Americans of Flatbush, the Hasidic Jews of Crown Heights, the hipsters of Williamsburg and the peacenik families of Park Slope. The infamous Fort Greene projects, artsy DUMBO, upscale Brooklyn Heights and the soon-to-be arriving NBA Brooklyn Nets.

They’ve picked H.S. 430 Brooklyn Technical High School, better known as Brooklyn Tech, as the site because “With a student body of 4,000, BTHS represents the many faces of teenagers in Brooklyn. Rich, poor, Asian, Black, White, Hispanic and everyone in between come here to learn. ”

How much do you bet the show will revolve around a group of white kids, with occasional appearances from a token black friend? Even though the school is 49% Asian?

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Comments

Sewere wrote:

I feel you Carmen and I’m going to put my money where my ass is $100 to anyone who is willing bet that the show will diverge from the typical (non)racial mix…

Posted 08 Feb 2007 at 4:11 pm ¶
fgs_sfdg wrote:

I think that they might have Asians. Just no Asian males.

Posted 08 Feb 2007 at 7:43 pm ¶
Nina wrote:

It may be racially diverse, but Brooklyn Tech is one of three public high schools that you have to test to get into, the other two being Stuyvesant and Bronx Science. So in that respect, I don’t know how representative the student body is of the average Brooklyn teen. The upside is that these kids care about their education so you may actually see them studying and going to class, something that is a complete non-entity on Laguna Beach, a show that has never been about anything but priveleged white children. The closest they have come to a child of color is Cami who was in maybe 2 episodes of Season 2 and is a featured cast member in Season 3. She appears to be either of mixed heritage or Latina but definitely something other than white. But, I don’t think they focus too much on her or her family anyway.

Posted 08 Feb 2007 at 9:12 pm ¶
Colin wrote:

I’ll put money down that they’ll have non-whites in the “cast”, if you could call it that. Either way, I’d take the upset and the points, I have hope they’ll at least have Asians in their group this time, not just an all-white cast.

Question: Are we looking for a diverse cast, or a non-white cast? Would it be better if the cast was majority-Asian, maybe with a black student or a Hispanic student or two? Or would it serve better to have a cast with equal parts of all sorts of races.

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 3:36 am ¶
Rob wrote:

fgs_sfdg,

hahaha. So true.

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 9:25 am ¶
kim wrote:

I’ll take that bet.

Brooklyn Tech? I’ve got to win this one.

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 10:36 am ¶
bertie wrote:

I’d actually bet that the cast is going to have majority white male/females—any minority presence will be limited to black, asian and/or latina females (minority males need not apply).

Colin–good question. I’d either like to see the cast represent the student body (however that breaks down) or be diverse (even if that means an over reprepresentation of a group). But what I don’t want to see is the overrepresentation of a group at the expense of a true representation of the school or diversity.

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 10:39 am ¶
Rob wrote:

Nah.

They’ll have the token black guy.

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 10:59 am ¶
Sewere wrote:

Hold up… The betting pool just got more interesting… Ok, I’ll try and make it a little more interesting… $125 says they’ll go for a diversity-lite cast – male/female white and a mixed white minority female.

Sometimes I wonder if my cynicism is making me go crazy…

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 11:07 am ¶
kim wrote:

You guys are all crazy.

Brooklyn Tech. 49% Asian (even when I would have been willing to say it was about 60%). Many of those Asians male.

I don’t know about now, but as a high school student, I think there were more males across the board at Tech, than there were girls. I can’t see how that has changed significantly, considering all the talk about getting the girls invested in the math and sciences is still there.

As to what the producers would be so brazen about doing…unless the Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO crowd have seriously started having inroads into the public school (test-in) population at the high-school level, I don’t see that they’ve been clambering to close that divide between their own and the ‘other’ groups in the city.

To play in Peoria, yeah, I’d be driving up the coast and handing Sewere my cash, but to come close to “reflecting” the population that could storm your local production offices (production is up 10% in the city) without notice, you’d need to pan in on MANY Asian males, and females, and also Black males.

My terms: focus on the majority minority.

I’ll take that raised bet, too.

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 12:05 pm ¶
LMR wrote:

Aww…I love my volunteers from Brooklyn Tech!

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 2:04 pm ¶
ren wrote:

I’m appalled by the amount of sarcasm over this issue, this is MTV, please let’s be fair. I’ll be putting up money that MTV will simply build a temporary school in Brooklyn, name it Brooklyn Te[k]nical High School and enroll hundreds upon hundreds of gorgeous party-loving and totally likeable white kids who take courses in drink mixing, over concocted drama, and getting crazy.

And for those that believe they simply have to show Asians due to the demographics of the school, let me remind you of the HBO movie Tsunami. Second deadliest earthquake in all of recorded history, killed an estimated 230,000 people, the highest non-Asian body count for a single country (Sweden) was only 600 persons. What did the film focus on? The tragedy that befell 4 British tourists. It had a wonderfully Asian presence cast as either roving mobs and or dead bodies. Ah dead bodies, the role we play all too well. If you don’t think an American television company can portray Brooklyn Tech. as all white, I beg to differ.

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 5:13 pm ¶
Rachel S. wrote:

I’m with Rob on the token black guy….

I’ve been noticing that black women are either light or biracial in many of these shows, but that’s nothing new I guess.

Maybe it’s the New York hater in me, but I wish they picked a different city.

Has anybody watched their “Two A Days” show? I admittedly like the show, but it is the most blatant example of the token black guy I have ever seen. They barely follow the one black male who they pick, and they rarely show the black males in a family context. In fact, one time they showed pictures of a couple of the black players on the team at the house of one of the white guys, but I don’t recollect them ever showing the two black men shown at home.

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 6:25 pm ¶
kim wrote:

Yeah, Ren, they could go that route. Kind of a re-integrating Brooklyn Tech route, and focus on all the kids whose families line up outside of the chic eateries on Saturday mornings, and wose grandparents have homes out in Greenport, but, I don’t think so.

Short of them taking the new construction route, (and I did consider that, so you get an up there) I’m gonna stick to my guns here.

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 7:07 pm ¶
Sewere wrote:

Ok people, I ain’t seen nothing ‘cept my $125 in the pool…

Kim, how much did you say you were betting?

Rob, old man, where’s your (cynical) sense of adventure?

Rachel, abeg sista put someting down, make we sidon talk.

fgs_sfdg, Ren, Colin??

Carmen, since you’re the house and the winner should send you 28% of the winnings.

Ok folks, less of the critical thinking and more of the betting…

Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 10:41 pm ¶
Anna wrote:

I would bet that MTV cancels the show or changes the school once they find out its a selective admissions school with students who care about grades, let alone mostly Asian. If they were street racing boys and harajuku girls, MTV would produce one episode of True Life. When the show was pitched the programmers probably assumed Brooklyn Tech was full of aspiring Biggie Smalls and Lil’ Kims trying to get their hustles on and stay out of Rikers.
If the kids don’t fit a stereotype held by the middle-aged white programmers at MTV its not going to air except as a one time “public service” special. Based on their programming since they stopped showing videos, I doubt MTV would produce any recurring show about kids, of any race, who care about anything besides bling, cars, and handbags. The sex and intoxication are just the frosting on the cake for their shows celebrating rampant teen materialism. I’m surprised that there hasn’t been a school shooting or other violence against any of the subjects of these shows like Super Sweet Sixteen.

Posted 10 Feb 2007 at 1:41 pm ¶
Colin wrote:

I was doing the standard $110…that is at least standard in sports betting, from what I know.

In any case, when I think about it, I wouldn’t be VERY surprised to see MTV have a bunch of white kids, with a dash of token non-whites whose lines get cut into and kinda blend into the background, I just believe they won’t do that this time. Maybe I’m naive, or maybe I like an adventurous wager.

Oh and just so you know, if I lose, well, then I was “joking” about the whole bet thing.

Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 2:53 am ¶
gatamala wrote:

*dead* at this analysis!! I’ll see you and raise you $50

@ren – I wish that reconstructed Brooklyn TeK was not so very possible….

The producers will likely cram all stereotypes into a couple of non-white characters:

-bone thin light-skinned and/or biracial chick with some African ancestry who wears handmade gear & hangs out w/ “outsiders.” Artsy type who sings and dances her class presentations.

-AsAm chick who has a Black boyfriend (parents naturally won’t let her out of the house to go to prom), doesn’t want to go to med-school and “struggles against traditional values.”

-Random Black guy (not Latin) who “struggles” to make it and comes from a “broken” home – if they have a bball team, guess who plays point (any takers)?

-AsianAm dude who is valedictorian, gamer, student body pres, president of ___ club/society, rapper, intern at ___ , street racer (develops a new nitrous kit), does cram school, cute, popular, no love interest.

-Latina (non Black) with a kid and several siblings. Family is on the county. Has to translate for mom. Friends w/ Random Black Guy. Will struggle to stay in school.

How about another pool?

1 of these kids won’t graduate (guess who).

Will there be violence b/t students.? What are the odds that the fight will be interracial (as opposed to interdisciplinary)?

Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 12:54 pm ¶
kim wrote:

gatamala, sewere, colin:

colin: no opting out, man.

gata: i like your predictions, except for the translation thing; i think that’s off in nyc for the latino. and last time i checked, Tech was not into artsy renditions, even for these bright students…not like the other early-gifted-identified public high schools where the kids play a large role in determining the tone of the classroom on a daily or weekly basis (think: hunter high).

sewere: i took the raised bet, to $150.00. tell you what, give my kid a tour of the campus, and we’re even (he’s 10, but on his way).

Posted 12 Feb 2007 at 12:24 am ¶
Tim wrote:

So Materialism TV (they stopped being about the music years ago) is taking a crack at the real life at Brooklyn Tech. I graduated from there a little more than 10 years ago and even back then you couldn’t turn without seeing an Asian face in or around the school.

It’ll come as no shock to me when MTV introduces a 90% white cast of crazy ass, privileged teens for their show, along with a token black or Hispanc person and, of course, a prerequisite Asian female (most likely one rebelling against her traditional parents) just so the male audience can get off on their fetish. Asian males (including those of Indian, Pakistani, or Middle Eastern descent) need not apply.

Brooklyn Tech may require testing for admission, but unless the school’s changed in the years since I left, MTV will be happy to know there are no shortage of underachievers attending from which to choose (assuming the cast end up being really students from the school at all).

My cousin attends Tech (she’s currently a senior) and it’s funny how many white or black guys have tried to pick her up with stupid banter complimenting her on her “exotic Oriental-ness.” To this day she remains without a boyfriend since she wants to concentrate on getting into a good college, and I can’t say I’m sad about it.

Posted 12 Feb 2007 at 4:31 am ¶
Colin wrote:

Tim: Wait, so racist compliments are NOT the way to go now? Well, it’s not like they MEANT to offend…

kim: Opting out?! Bah! That’s just cr…

Why is MTV still clinging onto the name Music Television? That doesn’t make any sense anymore, does it?

Posted 12 Feb 2007 at 9:06 am ¶
kim wrote:

Tim:
That is just stupid, those types of compliments. I went to Thomas, yeeeaaars ago, and I think we were about 30/30/20/20: Black/Asian/Latino/White, and I NEVER heard that kind of talk.

I just haven’t found that fetish for the objectified-through-the-media-because-I-have-no-contact to be true of young people raised in the megalopolis which is ‘The City.’

If you say so, sure, yeah (and I mean that). Just doesn’t ring true for my own time(s) and place(s).

Colin…so you’re in school? gotcha, not a problem.

Posted 12 Feb 2007 at 12:25 pm ¶
Colin wrote:

Huh? Yeah, I am. I am not trying to sound paranoid or angry or whatever, I’m really just curious and slightly confused…did I actually mention that here? (really, I can’t remember, lol)

Posted 12 Feb 2007 at 1:12 pm ¶
kim wrote:

Noooo, I read the things that Carmen posts at Racialicious, dearie. She welcomed you aboard.

Not to worry about the paranoia thing…i won’t tell a soul.

Posted 12 Feb 2007 at 2:04 pm ¶
john wrote:

if they can find white people to put in the show i will be amazed…there were very few when i went there 10 years ago…mostly black and asian…and please do not make it about how trendy downtown brooklyn is now…i will throw up. dumbo has nothing to do wit tech.

and there was plenty of drama at tech…it is no different than any other brooklyn public school…this is dope tho…it would have been interesting to have someone document all the riff raff stuff that happen when i went there…from bugging out on the stooop, going to class drunk or high, to even running into officer faust, it was great memories.

Posted 12 Feb 2007 at 3:28 pm ¶
jason wrote:

MTV definitely has the best researchers on the job to accurately depict the general demographics of any area, just look at Maui Fever.

Posted 13 Feb 2007 at 3:59 am ¶
Colin wrote:

kim: Oh, cool beans…thank you for the info, and the cover…

“MTV definitely has the best researchers on the job to accurately depict the general demographics of any area, just look at Maui Fever.”

Look at this link about the response MTV had when people drafted an online petition to Maui Fever…

http://mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=27380

Exec. Producer Tony DiSanto acts genuinely shocked that people are outraged over this show and self-righteously defends how MTV cast the show.

“Unlike other reality shows were you can handpick people across the country and put them together somewhere in a forced environment like ’Big Brother’ or ’Survivor,’ with this or ’Laguna,’ you have to tap into a group of friends that is already organically hanging out together.”

Riiiiiiiiiiiiight…

Posted 13 Feb 2007 at 10:49 am ¶
DJ wrote:

I graduated from Tech last year. There are definitely tons of Asians at the school (I’m one of them).

If they did have a white cast they’d have to probably pick from a pool of Russian kids.

Even though there are a lot of Asians in the school you can clearly see the diversity and segregation at lunch. All groups usually sit with those with similar racial/ethnic backgrounds and interests…like football/cheerleaders. You get the idea.

I’d agree there was a lot of drama. I remember my freshman year there was a huge fight in the park.

Even with a reputation as one of those smart schools…the Decepticons – Decepts – one of the worst NYC gangs in the late 80s-early 90s got its start at Tech.

Posted 14 Feb 2007 at 10:16 pm ¶
michelle wrote:

no; trust me. Im sure there will be that one asian who acts white and preppy joining the blonde ruskees with their diggody dawg boyfriends.

Posted 15 Mar 2007 at 3:51 pm ¶
Koko wrote:

HEY! THIS IS MY SCHOOL!

I GO HERE!!!

There are like loads of Asians, I mean there has to be one. I know there will probably be a Black person. East Indian, I am not sure, or Latino either. I know 2 girl who is trying for the show(both are white). And there will definatly be a white person.

Posted 23 Mar 2007 at 7:12 pm ¶
DIallo wrote:

they should make it all asain, because everyone overlooks asains, they already have a “black” laguna beach coming to BET. its time for an asain one

Posted 08 Jul 2007 at 8:42 pm ¶