This emphasis on performing the role of “someone who’s into music” as opposed to actually listening to music (or watching a music video) is at the core of not only Pants and MTV’s 21st-century programming strategy, but of “music appreciation culture” (blogs, social media, party photographers’ galleries from secret shows like the aforementioned Wavves gig) as well. When Jason exclaims, “What a fantastic email this is going to make tomorrow!” as he heads toward home with a girl who’s got her backside in the air and her frontside in the fridge, he might as well be live-tweeting a concert—he’s simultaneously in the moment and removed from it, wondering how his descriptions of it after the fact will reflect on his profile, unconsciously keeping himself from being completely immersed in the fun he’s having.
I wanted to hate “I Just Want My Pants Back” last night but found myself watching the whole two-ep hour long pilot special. I recognized the first lines and didn’t know why, and then I realized I helped my friend film his audition for this very pilot about a year and a half ago, reading the terrible terrible script off-camera for him. In said friend’s retrospective words, “Had I known the jeans in question were of the skinny variety, I would have pulled myself out of the running.”
But I think the whole point is that I hate it but I can’t dismiss it because I recognize it. The central characters are annoying. They’re transparently grasping at that particular hue of caustic wit that has become my generation’s most valued calling card. I have met these assholes at my college, I have seen them in Brooklyn bars. I wouldn’t like them if I met them, but meet them I will on a semi-regular basis.
I don’t think MTV particularly meant to produce this as an anthropological study, but it’s taking on that sheen for me.
With this new series, MTV has finally made the full transition from producing music programming to producing music blog programming, paying homage to the concept of music with a show about people who claim to listen to it.
Read the Village Voice blog I’m clipping from here.
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