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College Hill - Virgin Islands,
2007, 180 minutes, Not Rated
By Marona Lowe
Executive-produced
by Tracey Edmonds (Soul Food), College Hill was launched in response
to the lack of diversity seen on reality programs broadcast by other
television channels. Similar in some respects to competitors in its
genre, College Hill features men and women rooming together in a
large house with cameras and microphones strategically placed to
capture their lives. The series differs in that it takes place on
the campus of a historically black college or university (HBCU) and
of course, the coeds are people of color.
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While College Hill is not of the “voting off/weekly elimination
variety,” a major infraction will get someone ejected from the
house. In Season Four, the HBCU is the University of the Virgin
Islands and the eight students have to rough it out in a
resort-style villa complete with a swimming pool and tennis court.
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Romping, raging hormones and
regional biases typify the antics of the College Hill housemates
during the fourth season of the reality series. Although not a
celebrity-driven vehicle, College Hill is not without its "stars."
Prominently featured in Season Four are Krystal from the OC; JT from
Compton, California; Vanessa from St. Croix and Idesha from St.
Thomas. The remaining housemates are mere bit players to the
melodrama that surrounds these four.
Personality-wise Krystal is
the self-absorbed, whiner with an inability to take criticism;
Idesha is a temptress who uses overt sexual flirtation to get
attention from men; Vanessa is a hellion for whom excessive liquor
brings out the worst; and JT is a so-called Christian that is
ultimately a two-faced loser.
As with any reality
program, aspects of the series seem more scripted rather than real.
An apparent editor’s hand also succinctly guides the revelation of
each episode’s dramatic sequence. In many respects, the arguing,
parties and hanging out depicted in College Hill typify the usual
group living experiences in college and elsewhere. But an
undercurrent of sensationalism is perceptible in watching some of
the activities that are photographed and recorded for public
consumption. Be that as it may, these aspects of the series do not
detract from the voyeuristic pleasure derived from watching the
“characters” live out their lives in living color.
Unfortunately, the roomies
in Season Four are not representative of the best and the brightest
on campus. Instead, most of the divas and dudes are overly
theatrical in their persona and have a penchant for hurling the
N-word and dropping F-bombs with disturbing regularity. In between
the all too frequent beeps necessary to obscure the students' raw
language, an episodic tale results in which students are willing to
exploit themselves for BET. Sadly, the provincial Fallon and
Krystal, who are unwilling to appreciate the distinct beauty of
their island campus, are an embarrassing symbol of close-minded
Americans.
M
July 2007
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Willie McMiller |
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Willie Macc |
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Ja'ron
Thompson |
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JT |
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Idesha Browne |
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Herself |
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Fallon Favors |
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Herself |
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Vanessa Hamilton |
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Herself |
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Andres
Kitts |
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Himself |
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Krystal Lee |
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Herself |
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Devon Luis |
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Himself |
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Distributor |
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Paramount Home Video
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DVD
Extras |
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-
The Making of "College
Hill: Virgin Islands"
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College Life in
Paradise Before They Were Famous: Cast Auditions
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Audio Commentary
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Too Hot for BET TV!!
Deleted Scenes
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Bellagio Estates Tour
with Krystal
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