It could have been worse.
That is the reaction from some West Virginians following Thursday night’s premiere of MTV’s new reality show “BUCKWILD” which follows nine young people through Sissonville and Charleston in Kanawha County.
“It didn’t work,” said one caller to Friday’s MetroNews Talkline. “There was nothing that made me want to tune in again.”
Robert Thompson, the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, agrees.
“It just didn’t click. I don’t think we really got involved with any of those characters. I don’t think there’s any break out (character), like Snooki was from ‘Jersey Shore,’” Thompson said.
“The one thing that it had going for it is, every now and again, there would one of those shots of the hills and that looked a little bit like a Chamber of Commerce shot.”
Other callers, though, liked it.
“I breathed a sigh of relief,” said one caller from Bluefield. “I’ve seen those same kinds of parties happen all over West Virginia and many places outside of West Virginia. The accents just change.”
Another caller says he is a fan, “I thought the show was great.”
Twelve episodes make up the MTV series which will air at 10 p.m. on Thursdays.
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Comments
GARY WIANT
the publicity given BUCK WILD is just what MTV needs to promote the show. now everyone will at least watch the first episode to see what its all about.. it couldn't be worse than the side show politicians we send to DC
January 3, 2013 at 12:38 pm | Report comment
J.R. Skene
Yawn. Write about something that matters.
January 3, 2013 at 2:57 pm | Report comment
Protechcpa
Manchin should be ashamed for his attack on the first amendment. Of course he has been busy attacking the second amendment as well. If there is anything about the local culture he is trying to hide, that has to be in order to avoid taking responsibility for its existence. After all, that culture was fostered under his watch.
January 3, 2013 at 2:58 pm | Report comment
Chalkdust
The people of our beloved state has spoken and "Gummy Bear" Manchin is for better or worse one of our guys in the US Senate for the next six (6) long years.
Good catch Protechcpa.. I forgot about Manchin's liberal inspired attack on the second amendment. The man's careening around like a wounded bufflo. Maybe he's going to join forces with the crazy guy at Harvard law or Princeton law (one of the crazy factories) who wants to abandon the US Constitution.
"We have met the enemy and he is us".
-Pogo
January 3, 2013 at 7:58 pm | Report comment
Mac
Manchin is sticking up for WV and trying to promote a positive image of the state. I've traveled a good portion of the nation and most places hear WV and immediately think we are all inbred, toothless, 5th grade dropouts. I'd expect nothing less from a prominent state leader.
January 4, 2013 at 9:43 am | Report comment
Chalkdust
So Mac..... you're a gummy bear fan huh? Sooo...just how is Joe Manchin, the liberal anti-gun nut, going about changing the preconcieved, ignorant notions of the people you happen to cross paths with? Do you actually think raking in more pub for MTV is the answer?
I use to travel some, but I couldn't help what dummies thought. If the insane happened to give voice to those type of thoughts, I would quitly say "I love my state and the wonderfully, funny, cranky people who lived there"....So shut your face.
January 4, 2013 at 10:37 am | Report comment
hillbilly
I have also been quite a few places west of here and when you say you are from West Virginia, they usually ask "like Richmond?" or how what I think about Michael Vick, in other words, western Va, not remembering there is a WV..and most of them are educated people. I haven't heard too many hillbilly comments.. Overreaction by Manchin..
January 4, 2013 at 11:03 am | Report comment
george76
You are correct, protechcpa thumbs up to you!
January 4, 2013 at 5:32 pm | Report comment
jeff
Undecided, look how good those Jersey kids turned out..........oh.
January 3, 2013 at 6:00 pm | Report comment
Ross Ballard
Where's Jesco White when we need him? He'd show'em how it's done.
January 3, 2013 at 9:04 pm | Report comment
david
I agree with Manchin. He didn't try to take away their right to air the show. He asked them not to show it. Buckwild is not true WV. It's staged WV. Buckwild is not the public image I want for our state because it's not truly representative.
January 3, 2013 at 9:47 pm | Report comment
Robert
Well, I watched about 15 minutes of the show just to check it out. I think I'd rather drench myself with gasoline and light a match rather than watch a minute more. It didn't seem to put down WV from what I saw. Just a bunch of awkward/poor acting from a bunch of kids attempting to impress the cameras.
January 3, 2013 at 10:49 pm | Report comment
Jim
Scott Widmeyer with Widmeyer Communications based in Washington, D.C. says "there could be some positives to come from it -- “Some scenic views, maybe these kids come across as nice, young kids"
Well .....He sounds like a real communications "pro" and out of state vendor telling us how to think and taking our tax $$$
January 4, 2013 at 7:53 am | Report comment
Tim
I watched the show was not impressed at all it will be cancelled they tried to cram to much to fast. Who hasn't swam in the river kissed a girl on the hood of a car or been to a keg party. Not much to see here
January 4, 2013 at 9:58 am | Report comment
cutty77
People in WV take themselves to serious.it was a funny and good Show.Great Pictures of The Capital,and The Mountains.We are The Mountian State,and where West Virginians live free.Relax and Go a little Buck-Wild tonight,you may enjoy it.lol
January 4, 2013 at 10:48 am | Report comment
Brent
Perception is nothing, reality means everything....who cares what others think!
January 4, 2013 at 11:23 am | Report comment
James48
Hope Jesco White makes a guest appearance. I thought the show was entertaining. Certainly appreciate these people more than the Harry Reids of the world.
January 4, 2013 at 11:25 am | Report comment
Derek
Kids being kids don't tell me you didn't think it was funny.
January 4, 2013 at 12:45 pm | Report comment
hingecut
The show seemed very staged and fake to me. They show the "Sissonville swimming hole", which is the Poca River in the middle of Poca, and they also showed the cleanest city in WV sign, which is in Eleanor, all of the fights, arguments, etc. were obviously fake, it won't last long.
January 4, 2013 at 4:33 pm | Report comment
d. kennedy
Sorry that the show will not be on the air much longer...btw...
Can any of their cast coach a university football team...???
January 4, 2013 at 7:02 pm | Report comment