Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County

Unlike on Laguna Beach, Newport Harbor viewers actually get to see some of the kids' parents in action. Unfortunately, Chrissy's parents -- especially her father -- are portrayed as overprotective and somewhat overbearing. Meanwhile, other parents don't seem to set any limits for their kids, instead offering them credit cards and watching them set out in their expensive cars to join their friends.

It may strike many older viewers as ironic that this "reality" series presents a very unrealistic look at teen life in America: It revolves around a perfect neighborhood full of perfect-looking kids who are surrounded by wealth and privilege. While the teens themselves aren't bad kids, they don't have much to offer except their looks and their mild soap operatic dramas. While this may be appealing to the MTV crowd, it doesn't make the show particularly interesting to watch for anyone outside the target demographic. And those in the demo may need to be reminded that this isn't what to expect from high school.