Oh no! I missed "I'm From Rolling Stone" on MTV --the show about 6 intern/temp writers. Tell me about it

Ok, 2008 New Year's Resolution - think fewer thoughts like that.

By AMAN BATHEJA
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

The competitors on I'm From Rolling Stone don't look like they were chosen for their writing skills.Judging by a new show premiering tonight, I missed my chance at reality show stardom by just a few years. I'm From Rolling Stone is an Apprentice-like competition which follows six young writers during an internship at the hallowed music magazine, all vying for a spot as a contributing editor.

I actually was an RS intern for five months in 2001, between my sophomore and junior years at New York University. Based on my own experience there, I wondered why anyone would want to film interns at Rolling Stone. Could making photocopies and fetching Krispy Kremes really make for compelling television?

A look at the first two episodes proves that the magazine's treatment of its summer interns has radically changed from my day, or at least since cameras were added into the mix.

These kids worked the red carpet at a star-studded Jay-Z concert.

I covered the phones when the executive assistant took her lunch.

During my summer at Rolling Stone, there was usually only enough work to occupy two interns, although as many as five of us were in the magazine's midtown office at one time. In our ample downtime, we often flipped through back issues, admiring pieces from RS alums like Hunter S. Thompson and Norman Mailer.

A typical work day started with our clipping out the major stories of the day -- music-related or otherwise -- from major newspapers. We then organized them into a press packet, made about 20 copies and distributed them to the editors and writers, all of whom apparently needed us to tell them what was going on in the world.

Other assignments were more fun, like transcribing taped interviews with musicians and actors, and once or twice actually doing some research for an article.

None of us were ever paid. I spent two to three days a week at the magazine and the rest of my time working two other jobs in order to cover my New York City rent.

We were office grunts lucky to be in that environment. We didn't complain. In the end, we gladly added the words Rolling Stone to our résumés.

Reality vs. reality TV

Meanwhile, the contenders on this new reality show are given the kind of opportunities normally reserved for seasoned writers: traveling the world, interviewing rock stars and working on hard-hitting exposés, all while struggling to meet deadlines.

The enhanced job description makes sense, given that it was the only way for producers to make the show at all exciting. (Bonus: It gave them an excuse to incorporate loads of celebrity cameos.)

But I'm From Rolling Stone loses credibility as soon as it introduces the cast. Given the final prize, one would expect the producers would pick some of the most talented young writers in the country. Having received more than 2,000 applications for the six spots, they certainly had the chance.

Instead, the reality-show casting formula -- abrasive personalities and model good looks -- won out.

One of the interns, 22-year-old Peter Maiden, is a sociology major at UC Berkeley and had never written an article in his life before making it to the show.

Another cast member, Krystal Simpson, may truly want to be a serious writer, but it's hard to believe the blond and leggy 24-year-old made it to the final six for journalistic ability alone, when every promo features her in a coquettish pose.

Things go further downhill when the interns are given their first assignment: a short piece on the music scene in their hometowns. As RS Executive Editor Joe Levy (the show's de facto host) tells five of the six contestants that their work is just plain bad, he looks almost embarrassed to be treating them as serious contenders for a coveted gig at his magazine.

If I'm From Rolling Stone, by some miracle, gets picked up for a second season, the producers could shake things up by switching to a different publication. Perhaps following interns at the most widely distributed magazine in the country would help the show find a broader audience.

Then again, I'm from AARP Magazine doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

I'm From Rolling Stone

9 p.m. Sunday

MTV

GRADE: D

Mordy: I live in NYC, so it migh tbe different elsewhere, but isn't the concept of a local scene passe? What exactly makes a local scene local these days?

Colin: oh man, don't get me started... music seems to be growing less and less regional, but with rap it still seems to exit. that's why russell and krish were successful with their hyphy stories. man, i wish i could be the ambassador of hyphy.

I bet he could've given a bit more of a sophisticated answer than that. But I'll take what I can get. I didn't actually watch the show - but I read their local scene analysis. This was Russel's beginning: "Next time you’re in Oakland, make a wrong turn. Trust me. If you’re on Martin Luther King or way out in Deep East, take a left and you’ll see a hundred kids in the street, dancing on the hood of a purple Oldsmobile, wearing glittery grandma sunglasses and smiling so hard their gold teeth scare the sun back over the horizon of the Flatlands."

And this was Krish's: "On Grove Street and Laguna in the maple-tree lined district of Fillmore, San Francisco, there’s a gathering of young, black men clad in red with gold teeth and dreadlocks with bleached tips. Police cars circle around them with daggers for eyes, willing for an infraction — even the most minor — to bring back to the local precinct."

Daggers for eyes? Wow, yeah. She totally captured the Venice music scene circa 15th century perfectly.

... I shouldn't sound bitter. But my other questions were better. Why didn't he answer those?

That WOULD be a sight!

OH MY SWEET JEEBUS PLEASE MAKE THAT HAPPEN!

"I'm with the NME" *CRUNCH* "What was that for? I'm with the NM..." *CRUNCH* "Ow! The N..." *CRUNCH*

*SLUMP*

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/derogatis/209849,SHO-Sunday-dero14.article

Yeah. I think I'm gonna ask her about that.

A: On no, especially because I'm not the "pretty one," were all a good looking gang. I don't think it biases me in any way. I've been writing for a long time, and now with this television show, my looks have become an issue. I don't like to take myself too seriously, especially on television.

Way to avoid the question, Krystal.

http://www.newyorker.com/critics/television/

The interns haven’t yet learned to keep their distance, to pigeonhole the work with insidery adjectives (duff, proggy, already dated), and then to award it a safe three stars

After a while, “here at Rolling Stone” begins to sound like “here at Jonestown.”

After an editor questions the use of “Boho” in his report, he says, “Isn’t that short for Brooklyn, or something?”