Parents' Guide to The City

Unlike The Hills and its earlier predecessor Laguna Beach, The City centers on a person who has a specific set of career goals, a willingness to pursue them, and the desire to expand her horizons beyond Southern California. But outside of this, the series offers pretty much the same plot lines as its two sister series: growing and fading friendships, romantic encounters, and contentious love triangles that lead to jealous fears and tears. And of course, these are all discussed during a never-ending series of meals in trendy restaurants, parties, and other social gatherings.

The heavily edited series succeeds in creating a glamorous -- though very sanitized -- view of life in New York City. Port's high-end job connects her to top fashion industry personalities, and she herself always manages to look like a fashion plate. Meanwhile, she travels in what appears to be some of Manhattan's hippest social circles, brushing elbows with musicians, models, and New York socialites. The show might offer some voyeuristic pleasure to teens, but in the end there's nothing very real about it.