Harlem Heights: It Wasn’t Too Bad

Okay, so I just finished watching Harlem Heights. In case you haven’t heard of it, it’s a new show on BET highlighting the lives of several black individuals living in Harlem. These individuals are described by the show as being a part of the “young black elite” and the reality show chronicles their mid-20’s lifestyles and all of their “trials and tribulations.”

After watching it, I have to admit, I was entertained. I don’t know if it was because of the unique national display of 7 to 8 black people get along, or if it was because I felt like I was watching the black version of Laguna Beach and couldn’t contain myself from laughing. Either way, I’ll probably tune in next week and the week after, and then every subsequent week that it airs (assuming that it does make it past Week 3). Afterall, far be it from me to complain about the lack of positive black figures on television and then not tune in to the budding example of them.

I am not so into the show yet that the names have grown on me, but the characters are certainly interesting people. I believe you have one woman going to Law school, another man striving to be an activist/politician, then there is a lifestyle editor, a fashion designer, an actress and a non-profit entrepreneur. Those are definitely respectable career pursuits, and it’s also a very diverse mix of careers at that.

But the characters’ jobs aren’t chronicled all that strongly, at least not yet. Instead, we see their interactions with one another, and they seem to get along fairly well—at least as well as you can expect young twenty-somethings to get along. They go out to party, eat, and even celebrate the election of the 44th President of the United States. They seem very close for a group of people that is seemingly patched together, either because of the show or because of geography.

So I definitely like the people (thus far). However, the format of the show is probably what will turn me off. It’s hard to watch a reality show where the characters are so seemingly scripted. I know I can’t prove that it’s scripted, but given the nature of some of those conversations, the timing of some of the conversations, and other tid-bits (such as the long pause Landon’s father gave in the 1st episode), I can’t help but think that this is but yet another semi-reality show with not as much real substance as it’s cracked up to be.

Nevertheless, for now, Harlem Heights has my attention, as I will be faithfully watching and rooting for this positive black experience on television.

~ by Uzo Ometu on March 3, 2009.