The Hills are Alive, MTV's The City-Not so much!

What happens when you take a winning formula and duplicate it exactly? As an ex-modeling agent, I know firsthand how images are created, but charisma and personality can not be manipulated. MTV's trailer for the spin off show, The City are aspirational, fashioniable and promote a model like elevation of main character, Whitney Port. As seen in the first two episodes it is the supporting players around Whitney who are much more riveting than Port herself. WP as I will call her, while being groomed for this lead character, simply lacks the confrontational,sympathetic star power of Lauren Conrad. WP, while placed in conflict is not herself a leader, afraid to go against the grain and much too sweet. Fantastic for life, not interesting for so called 'reality" tv.

The more riveting characters are of NY socialite A.K.A social, Olivia, whom a show could have been completely created around with WP as the supporting BF. Then you have Australian hottie, musician Jay and his model, room mate Adam with soon to be seen, super sad girlfriend. These characters will easily steal the show from WP. Spinning off a hit with a supporting character rarely works. Charisma and flare can not be created, no matter how sexy and fashionable the NYC fashion back drop of the legendary DVF storyline is.

Style tip- If you get a chance to go to NY any time soon, you must go and visit Diane Von Furstenberg's corporate offices in the meatpacking district. The stairwell that takes you to her highness most certainly look like THE stairway to heaven. If heaven does exist as James Lipton, of the actor's studio asks, let it be up through DVF's stairway.