Lauren Conrad is, like, the most popular girl in the world. But you probably already know this. In fact, you’ve probably already passed judgment on the blonde-haired, bright-eyed Hills star. And you’re probably either going to love or hate what I have to say next.

I’ve decided that there two types of Hills fans.

Type A: the ones who fell in love with Lauren back when she was better known as LC, pining after Stephen and glaring at Kristen. These die-hard fans live in blissful blindness to the pseudo “reality” of it all, standing by the belief that their beloved heroine can do no wrong.

Type B: the ones who probably never watched Laguna Beach, the ones who only started tuning in to The Hills after the phenomenon swept a nation tired of the kind of scripted entertainment that features actual actors. These fans found themselves inexplicably drawn to a show that at first glance, clearly seems staged. A show that seemed shallow, superficial and inherently false on the surface but slowly and surely, after a few episodes, seeped its way into their subconscious.

I have to admit, somewhat shamefully, that up until last season I was indeed a Type A fan. Don’t judge me, you know most of you still cross your fingers and toes for a Stephen/ Lauren TV wedding. Like me, most of you stood by Ms. Conrad through the Jason faze (ew), the infamous Heidi drama, all the fights, tears, and of course, the sex-tape rumours. I was on Team Lauren all the way.

Then I came to my senses. About halfway through last season, somewhere around the introduction of She-Pratt (aka Stephanie Pratt) the conversations seemed to get a little more contrived, the “acting” a little more awkward and the drunken nights a little less enticing. But I didn’t stop watching and neither did you. Admit it. As Heidi’s face got a lot more plastic, Spencer’s douchebaggery became even more ridiculous and Lo went from loveable sidekick to super bitch, you couldn’t give it up. So it’s not about giving up on the Hills entirely. Nope.

It’s about reinventing the way we Type A fans watch the show. And by watch I mean ridicule. Making fun of the Hills is much more fun than actually caring about the lives of the most famous twenty-somethings in America. And lest we forget, they are famous. The show seems to want us to ignore the fact that Lauren Conrad’s life is packed with paparazzi, photo-shoots, red-carpet events, media commitments, oh yeah and managing her very own fashion line. Isn’t all this more exciting than watching Lauren and Whitney (note: if I had to pick a team, it would be Whitney’s) pretend to “work” at People’s Revolution while forcefully re-hatching some monumental event that happened outside the realm of cameras, lighting and microphones.

I wish we got to see inside the rich and famous lives the cast has come to know. How badly did you want to be a fly on the wall during Rolling Stone shoot that featured all four female leads of the Hills, including the villainous Heidi Montag in one room, fake smiling and laughing for the biggest magazine cover in pop culture. But no, that would be too much reality for us to handle. Instead, we get the glossed-over, glammed-down details.

But I digress. After watching the season 4 premiere, which was the highest rated MTV show last night of course, I remembered what it was I love most about The Hills: The boyfriend formerly known as Justin Bobby. He recently dropped the Bobby. It’s just Justin. This, among other things makes JB just too easy to make fun of, what with his perma-leather and mumbled words of “wisdom”. Justin only made a very brief appearance last night but my love was rekindled. If Audrina gets sick of the mysterious danger in your eyes JB, call me. I’d ride on your vespa any day.

As much as it continues to keep us marginally entertained, I don’t see The Hills lasting longer than this season. I mean seriously, how many more siblings can come out of the woodworks to stir up trouble, how many more friends can Lauren turn into enemies? The star has even alluded to the impending end of the show herself. Surprisingly enough, she getting sick of the world watching and then critiquing every first date, make-up and break-up. So enjoy it while it lasts people, Lauren’s days on camera are numbered.






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