DVR it -- 'College Life'

Perhaps it was the fact that I was on a "Hills" high from the teaser that Speidi could be done for good. Or perhaps it was just that there was nothing else on. Whatever the case may be, MTV's new REALity show "College Life" has earned a spot on my DVR recording schedule. And yes, it's actually real, not "The Hills" real. (Sidenote: I found it quite hilarious that MTV has been tagging this show as "It's not reality, it's Real." Um, hey MTV, reality means real, it's just that you script your "reality," thus making it not reality. Ahem.)

Anyway, here's why it's interesting and why it works.

1. It follows the life of freshman students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Awesome.

2. Instead of camera crews, the students film themselves with handheld videocameras. This can sometimes be a little "Blair Witch Project," but for the most part, it works.

3. The students are everything from a crazy, death-to-boys girl with major psychological issues to the half Jamaican, half Canadian guy from Wheaton, Illinois who is used to fitting in with the conservative white kids.

4. Kevin. He's an 18-year-old dude from St. Paul, Minn. (hollllerrrr) and he's freaking hilarious. Everyone who's been to college definitely knew a "Kevin" at one point or another. Only three weeks in and Mr. Party Animal has already been written up for playing beer pong in his dorm room and is on the cusp of failing out. Classic.

5. The will-they-won't-they relationship. Meet Andrea and Josh, from Mukwonago. In high school, Andrea and Josh were sittin' in a tree. Now, at college, they're "just friends." Only, Josh can't be "just friends" with someone he's still madly in love with. Meanwhile Andrea wants to meet people *cough* boys! *cough* yet Josh makes that a bit difficult. Cue the drama!

6. Seeing clips of the familiar Madison campus, State Street and local college eateries is quite entertaining. Yes, call me a cheeseball, but when the students pass by places like State Street Brats I can't help but squeal, "Eeee, I've been there!"

7. It's pretty entertaining when you realize that these kids are holding cameras around campus and basically talking to themselves. But that's not too common since who wouldn't want to be friends with the kid who's going to be on MTV?

It's too early to tell whether or not this will be a hit. But for now, it seems like it's intriguing enough for a few rounds of the ol' DVR.

Catch MTV's "College Life" after "The Hills" at 9:30 p.m. on Mondays.

-- Sara Boyd, sboyd2@greenbaypressgazette.com