My new favorite show

Confession:

I'm in love with a Lorber.

And I don't care who knows it!

I love Amanda Lorber, the editor-in-chief of Cypress Bay High School's The Circuit newspaper and, as such, the central character of MTV's superb reality show The Paper. I love her so much in fact, I think she deserves another gif wall.

Amanda is like the Holy Grail of cheeseballs - she's an eternally replenished supply of nuttiness without ever growing mold.

Amanda is the kind of person who, when writing a paper to apply for the editor-in-chief position (or just "In chief" as the cool Paper kids call it), finds no shame in writing, "There's no baloney about Amanda." What's even more audacious? She's pretty much right. On a channel wherein vapidness is about the most celebrated trait (who can even manage substance with an MTV-dictated short-attention span, anyway?), it is so fucking refreshing to see someone reveling in her own dorkiness.

I mean, she gestures with Easy Mac...

...while saying, "I'm the big cheese! I'm the big cheese!"

She remarks after looking at herself in the mirror...

..."Lookin' good in the neighborhood!"

She has a fucking glamor shot that instead of being buried in her closet, where it would be in the room of a teen with any sense of what's shameful in the world, it's fully displayed for the cameras...

She wonders if she should address the staff she's now in charge of by saying...

"For those of you who don't know me, I am Amanda. For those who do, I'm still Amanda."

She not only picks her clothes out for the week in advance...

...she also articulates exact reasons for wearing what she does: "Thursday says I'm approachable, because I wear T-shirts...just like everyone else."

The end result...

...would often seem straight outta the Quacker Factory if it weren't so singularly tailored to Amanda. Perhaps it is Quacker Couture?

She sings about the paper's layout.

She keeps a wall full of inspirational Post-Its...

(I love that she needs these, too -- such self-administered words of advice reveal cracks in her facade. I wonder what would happen if she didn't remind herself these things. I imagine precise and clever serial killings that would make Patrick Bateman look like a total hack.)

Oh, and here's my favorite Post-It:

This is a method she chooses to employ to bring her staff together because...

"Ice cream is something that does bring people together."

Oh and she gets total bonus points for not just sharing the fact that she had a nose-job...

...but for the fact that said nose job is a prime example of tasteful plastic surgery.

Judge Judy better watch her back! 

Hopefully you're getting a sense of smiling-through-the-social awkwardness here, especially in the last few examples. Amanda doesn't exactly fit in with most of the other schoolmates of hers that we're introduced to, and that makes her perfect for reality TV. It's not just the human drama that occurs as a result of someone who's so powerful being so disliked.

That's fascinating and all (in this sense, Amanda is more lil' Bush than Lil' Bush). But beyond that, reality TV works for Amanda because it gives us who are a little more mature and removed than her classmates the chance to appreciate her. We can see past her annoying and outrageous habits for the hard-working, gentle-toned good egg that she is. Or we can just appreciate her annoying and outrageous habits wholesale, for those of us who are into that (and I'm talking about myself, of course).

The Paper is breezy, and this world of writing dorks and dissing ice-cream socials for equally dorky Laser Tag really speaks to me. (For some odd reason, the vast majority of my graduating class was touched with wholesomeness: nobody got pregnant, not many people were heavily into drugs, violence wasn't a concern. We were uncommonly innocent as a culture in much the same way Cypress Bay is portrayed). But if you're on board with it the way you're supposed to be as a straightforward fan (i.e. endeared to Amanda), it can be a devastating viewing experience. Just three episodes in, I haven't watched someone pick themselves up so often from open, public humiliation since The Comeback. I know that's a common point of reference of mine, but for all of her absurd resilience, Amanda is a pint-sized version of Valerie Cherish.

That's her talking to a group of kids at a restaurant who are openly mocking her.

(That's her shutting her phone, post-mocking. I think the graphing calculator counts as a visual wedgie.)

That's her after fellow paper staffer, Giana, just pretended that she didn't know that Amanda was just named editor-in-chief.

That's her after the tall, blurry girl just passed her by to embrace the pasty, alien-esque girl.

In the background of this shot, Giana and another staffer Dan are talking about her, unbeknownst to her.

In this shot, Trevor's talking about her and it is, in the words of Celebrity Rehab's Jeff Conway, beknownst to her.

In this shot, Amanda poorly tries to play off a jab at her choice to identify herself as "Liberal Lorber." The name isn't nearly as stupid as how she clearly feels.

And this is what it looks like when virtually everyone else is invited to a party and you're not:

Sincerely heartbreaking.

It's not that you can't see where her classmates are coming from -- Amanda is something of a know-it-all who seems to be stuck in her ways before even hitting 20 (for example, she ridicules Giana for being less than anal retentive about her wardrobe and she scoffs expanding sports coverage). But I love that the show blurs the line between honest victim and glutton for punishment. I love that Amanda's vulnerability is as adorable as her resolve to fight it. I love that over the course of three half-hour blocks, this kid has exhibited more depth than Heidi Montag has in, what? Thirty episodes of The Hills? Amanda has more personality in the portion of her nose that was removed than Tila Tequila could ever dream of possessing in her entire body (which, to be fair, is only 4'11"). I've said it before, but I think it deserves a repeat: for some bizarre reason, people over 20 who make it on MTV are more or less crass and so abhorrent, they're hard to take on even a cathartic, I'm-not-that-gross-so-I-feel-great level. For people under 20, it's the exact opposite: MTV has such a knack for portraying the lives of teens as richly and complexly as they've ever been portrayed in any medium, including literature.

And it's not just Amanda, too -- the assemblage of talent is first-rate. There's Adam, who's cute and flamboyant.

I'll refrain from dissecting him more because a) I'm sure he's already heard a lot of that, and in horrifyingly derogatory ways, and b) what could I possibly say that that picture doesn't already?

There's Giana who wittily blogs about Dave Matthews Band fans and who has an inadvertent gift for distilling the awkward self-consciousness of teenagers down to just a few sentences:

Right before the paper positions were announced (when Amanda was named editor-in-chief, to the disappointment of everyone but Amanda), Giana explained, "Trevor's gonna text-message me, because I didn't want everyone looking at my reaction and then having to look at everybody else's reaction." Thank god the camera is just a one-way medium, you know?

Dan is douchey...

...perhaps intentionally so. I don't know if his shtick is to be halfway clever or just unique in its hostility. When he suggested bringing an ailing Amanda "cream of bitch," I laughed, but I'm not sure if it was at or with him. Perhaps this is his genius.

Of course, whenever dissecting reality TV, the question of realness should arise. By and large, I buy The Paper. I buy that Amanda is queer enough that she'd be talking to her adorable dog, Gabby, even if there were no cameras around.

There are moments that seem particularly set up, like when Dan and managing editor Alex discuss a story idea in the stands of a football game.

Like, how did the sounds of a crowd not drown them out entirely? Could the spectators of Cypress Bay be that well-behaved? Who knows, and ultimately: who cares? Endlessly layered, The Paper feels about as kinda-sorta real as anything on TV. It's impromptu but it also feels sometimes staged. It's raw but it doesn't show bruises. It's harsh but it's not cruel. I can't think of a better medium to portray the all-too-real-but-still-not-quite-real world of high school than that of pseudo-reality television. The Paper is, in every way, a perfect fit. 

Comments

[StinkyLulu]

I just love that you hooked into this. I too fell hard for this show when I first saw it, mostly I think because I just adore the fact of Adam. (Not to mention that poor bedraggled faculty adviser?) Just wow...

[Katie]

when i opened up fourfour and saw the gif wall of amanda, i felt like my heart skipped a beat. someone else loves this show as much as me!!

for real, amanda is adorably dorky. when she started singing eye of the tiger while working out, i knew i was hooked.

[fast_hugs]

The best show. The best. Show.

[houseofjules]

I LOVE THIS SHOW, TOO!!! I've been telling my sister to DVR it, because it's exactly like what high school was-- you're just lucky to get out alive. Amanda Lorber is insufferably ADORABLE. I love her.
Jules
House of Jules

[Joe R]

It's seriously the greatest show on TV. So glad to see it getting some play here.

[sonny]

Once again Rich, we agree completely. I read about this show on Dan Renzi's blog (linked from yours) and was instantly hooked when I started watching. I WAS Amanda in high school! I was Senior Yearbook Editor (see how I made it important with capital letters?) and probably got just as much flak as her. I simultaneously hate her and feel really badly for her only because I see myself in her. I do hope, however, that they explore Adam a bit more. I assume he's gay but since it hasn't been said yet, I just wonder what will happen.

[Steph]

Rich,

I really like this show but i can't watch it. I hate everyone except Amanda. Just wake me when the instructor finally word bitch slaps that little asshole Trevor. And hopefully, Amanda will wake up and see that Alex is a complete douchey spineless bastard.

I like the show but I stopped watching after the second episode. I just couldn't take it. It was so squeamishly annoying. I really wanted to jump through the screen and smack the privileged annoying shit out of most of the people on the screen. And it really bothered me that the instructor for the class wasn't stepping in. I mean Trevor announced during class that he wasn't going to work with Amanda. Well, then you won't be on The Paper. Plain and simple.

Maybe I can watch it when they do the endless loop of marathons but yeah...it is a great show!

[Daniel]

*coughAndreaZuckermancough*

[duane]

She sounds like Tracy Flick with a conscious! Just reading this, and not having seen the show, totally reminds me of how cruel high school can be to those that don't "fit the mold". I may have to watch this intently.

[Jennifer Demeter]

I love Amanda because she is the Imelda Marcos of trendy frames and has a pair to go with every emotion. She is Katie from "The Way We Were" for today's youth, with 50% less Marxism and no Hubbell.

[grown]

I love Amanda too if for nothing more than her resilience to stand up against those little bastards on her staff...

Totally agree Steph. If you don't want to work with someone, it's plain and simple: Get the hell off the staff. It seems like a pretty big school and I’m sure the counselor can find you another elective to take.

It's all about common courtesy and respect. They don't have to like each other but they don't have to be total queens about the shit either *side eye to Adam*.

[White Chocolate]

That chick is baby Bette M. in her glamor shot.

[Gwen]

I really liked this post. Very thoughtful & honest. I think I will have to check this show out. I actually enjoy the teen-reality shows on MTV like Made, True Life & Fat Camp. Plus, if you recommend it, then it must be awesome!

[Diana]

Oh, I love you for spreading the word about this show! It's like watching a bizarro version of how my senior year of high school would have gone if I'd gotten editor-in-chief my high school paper.

Amanda reminds me so much of myself when I was in high school, except more oblivious and with better hair. The "better hair" part isn't that hard, but the "more oblivious" part is.

I can't stand either Adam or Alex, though. Ugh.

[ihaveneverinmylifeyelledatagirllikethis]

I too love this show and I agree that, like True Life, it's one of MTV's better efforts at actually reflecting a teenager's experience (at least, my recollection of that experience). But I have to wonder whether being on this show was really a good choice for Amanda, as the show shows over and over again how much she's not liked. And the idea that her peers like her in their own secret ways or at least begrudgingly respect her does seem to be important to her; she doesn't have that "fuck them!" thick skin that other teenagers adopt in a similar situation. So when I watch the show, in the back of my mind I can't help but wonder how devestating it is to Amanda to be watching the episode too. I mean, it's one thing to know your "friends" are all going to a party that you're not, but it's another thing to actually see that, you know?

[James]

Good call on the Valerie Cherish connection! I also get a strong Tracky Flick vibe from Amanda.

Glad to see you are obsessed with this too. Excellent post as always Richie. :)

[Mandy]

I do just love her! LOVE HER!! My 11 year old thinks she just the most awesome thing ever and she loves when shit the mean kids do tends to bite them in the ass.

[Jarett]

Sweet recap-py goodness! I'm so glad you're as into the Lorber as I am! I'm just wondering when Proactiv will get hep to it and sponsor the whole damn show! Cuz really....

[shannon]

i have to say rich, i truly appreciate you posting this.

i went to the mtv site and watched all three episodes this afternoon and have to say that on a day like today when i hate my job i can at least take comfort in the fact that i am no longer in high school.

i do agree with ihaveneverinmylife... and cringe a lot thinking about poor amanda watching the episodes.

hopefully she realizes that in ten years these twatty bitches will have no bearing on her life when she's running for president.

yay amanda!! :)

[jbrader]

So I'm going to assume that is is a "reality" show and thus entails a camera crew in the newsroom of a high school newspaper. Clearly I haven't seen it. But do we as a society really think it's a good idea to let a TV show be produced in a school? I think school was akward and painful enough without all the humiliation involved being broadcast on cable.
Personally, if I were the principal and MTV approached me about this I would have laughed them out of my office. If I had kids that were attending a school that allowed a TV crew inside on a permanent basis (I think some kind of one off deal like Made or whatever would be OK) I'd have my kid out of there before it got started. I'd have a whole truckload of choice verbiage for the staff that allowed it as well.
If I somehow missed the point and the show is actually fictional than cheers to MTV for finally getting some good programming,

[tanya]

rich this was a great post. i came upon the show through jezebel.com and absolutely fell in love with it. for once i'm glad that i'm older and have developed more of an appreciation for who people are, including these kids. i do love amanda for all her confidence but feel sorry for how unaware she is. i hope she develops that and the ability to see the other side of the argument. i do like the other characters as well, despite how snarky they are. we can't forget that these people are teenagers. not all teenagers are like that i know. hopefully these kids will learn to be more compassionate. all in due time i guess.

[O]

Thank for this. I was a total amanda, still am, and it's so heartbreaking to see her. she's not at ALL liked by them, and yeah, she's a bit annoying at times, but she almost always means well! she's so awkward and honest, and it is refreshing to see someone like this on TV. she's the most real reality person I think I've ever seen.

[mer]

Can we talk about her singing House of the Rising Sun please?

[brittany]

I am so happy to see you love this show as much as I do. Ahhh...Amanda darling, stay strong, I was you in HS, and you know what, look at me now...yeah, ok, so I am a somewhat unknown blogger...nothing too exciting, BUT I have my quirky wit, and that is as good as gold around these parts:)

[Jessica]

I am so happy that there are so many people that like this show! This show is one of my greatest guilty pleasures ever, if only because I'm ashamed to admit I watch anything on MTV. I love Amanda! I feel like she's one of those people who is not appreciated at all by people her own age, but many people over 21 probably think she is awesomely odd. I also love her curly haired friend who plays guitar. On the MTV website they sing a song about facebook. I also have a love/hate for Alex who is so easily manipulated but is also super scrawny and reminds me of my first weird high school boyfriend who probably was awkward enough to ask someone out via text but thankfully did not... as Alex did. Oh please write more recaps of this show, if only for more Lorber gif walls!