It has only been a couple of weeks since we said goodbye to the beloved Jersey Shore cast, but in true MTV fashion their amazing creative team have conjured up yet another delicious show to whet our reality TV appetites. Indeed, the concept of ‘Geordie Shore’ may not be original, but it will certainly fill the void until August when ‘The Situation’ and pickle eating ‘Snookie’ return to our screens.
Let’s not kid ourselves; MTV’s latest venture that is set in Newcastle is a complete rip off of the ‘Guido’ show. From the cast’s tanning and shaving obsessions, to their pristine hair and skimpy outfits – I am afraid to say that nothing new has been brought to the table.
The only considerable difference that ‘GS’ seems to be lacking when compared to its US rival is that: (1) Gym, tan and laundry time is substituted by raunchier activities, (2) It is set in a different location (3) and there is no duck phone! Apart from that all the juicy parts such as writing numbers down on pieces of paper because they have yet to discover mobile phones, flirtatious behaviour and relationship problems, and unforgettable one-liners are all still present (phew).
Unfortunately, I am finding it difficult to assess the cast fully and get a proper insight into their personalities, as they all seem to be trying incredibly hard to fill the boots of ‘The Situation’, ‘Snookie’ and Pauly D. Vicky has made her mark as the attractive high maintenance, moralistic and demanding lady of the house. Her personality and characteristics are awfully similar to those of Sammi in ‘JS’, the only difference is that she doesn’t straighten her hair half as much, and she is yet to cry (but I predict this will be on the cards soon).
As pretty as Vicky may be, I can’t help but feel like her manly mannerisms make her seem a bit rough around the edges. She conveniently shares a bedroom with Jay, who appears to be the buffest and manliest out of the bunch. Of course, the pair are claiming that they have undeniable chemistry and genuine feelings for each other, which ultimately leads to an abundance of unnecessary drama-filled situations in nightclubs. It wouldn’t surprise me if they have already signed a six figure deal with ‘OK’ magazine.
Charlotte (will we call her the funny one?) plays the part of the innocent and vulnerable girl, who is desperately in love with bad boy Gaz, although she denies that she is even interested in him (Is she really as ditzy as she seems?). I predict a lot of heartache and crocodile tears with this girl (if you squint she has a teeny weeny resemblance to Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf).
Meanwhile, Gaz is too interested in claiming the title as the stud in the house that he only bats an eyelid at poor Charlotte when she plays hard to get. By the looks of last night’s flirtation with the bar woman, he has absolutely no intentions of settling down.
For some reason the cameras don’t seem to focus on James too much. Perhaps, he will blossom and develop to be a worthy cast member after all, it did happen to Vinnie in ‘JS’.
I can’t help but have a soft spot for emotional Greg, especially after he was isolated and made out to be such an outcast in the first episode. His lack of caring about his appearance and his unwillingness to feed into the typical ‘Geordie’ beauty routines make him refreshing and mysterious.
He strikes me as a mammy’s boy, who would rather be friends with a girl than date one or have any serious relationships. Despite his charm and natural good looks, I reckon his character could soon become a bit boring and monotonous.
Sophie (who is a dead ringer of Natalie Cassidy), seems to be the most genuine out of the cast, although at times her crudeness and vulgar sayings are slightly inappropriate. As for Holly, could she be any more irritating? It is difficult not to think unfavourably of this Middlesbrough lass who did herself no favours by cheating on her boyfriend.
In a plea for sympathy, she revealed to the boys that she feels ‘left out’ and ‘cast aside’ on nights out, hence why she (constantly) locks lips with other boys (Are there really people out there like this?). Better yet, she even went to the extremes of saying that her boyfriend actually allows her to smooch and flirt with other boys, as long as ‘she looks and doesn’t touch’.
I really wish Holly had of left last night after all of the empty threats and sympathy moans that she threw at her housemates!
Although ‘Geordie Shore’ is a complete ‘Jersey Shore’ knock off (with a bit of The Only Way Is Essex thrown in for good measure), it definitely outdoes most reality shows on the market when it comes to the shock factor element.
Laura Delaney
