hard times of rj berger

'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' Fails to Use its One "Asset"

  

This summer, MTV is getting into the scripted programming game, which I'm guessing they're doing because they figure everyone else on cable is making a mint with it. Once the network decided to surgically remove the words "Music Television" from their logo, they figured anything was game.

(And, yes, I know that 'The Hills' and 'The City' aren't exactly spontaneous. But they're considered reality shows, no matter how unreal they are.)

But the folks at the big M aren't giving us their version of 'Breaking Bad' or 'Sons of Anarchy.' No, they know who their audience is -- horny teenagers. So their latest foray into the scripted television, 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger,' should satisfy those folks, as there is a lot about it they can identify with.

It's essentially about the trials and tribulations of a typical high school nerd, who just happens to accidentally reveal to the entire school that he has been, um, blessed in a very evident way. The problem is, at least in the episodes MTV sent for review, RJ's prowess doesn't seem to factor into much of the show beyond the pilot episode.

There are some quirky aspects in the life of RJ (played by Paul Iacono) that make his life difficult. His parents (Beth Littleford, Larry Poindexter) are so open sexually that they toss single entendres with swinger couples at the family dinner table. His friend Lily (Kara Taitz) is obsessed with him to the point of being a stalker. He's in love with all-around popular beauty Jenny Swanson (Amber Lancaster), who's dating dumb jock Max Owens (Jayson Blair). Oh, and his best friend Miles (Jareb Dauplaise) is obsessed with sex.

Ok, the last part isn't that quirky. But the mostly unknown RJ becomes infamous around school when his pants fall down during a basketball game (long story) and the entire school sees everything. And that "everything" is impressive.

In the series' pilot, the consequences of that accident, including the confidence it gives RJ to not only talk to Jenny but deal with Max, makes for some pretty funny scenes. Don't get me wrong, the show is raunchy as hell; the pilot's climactic confrontation is something out of a gym locker room. But the language -- bleeped when needed -- and actions aren't much different than you'd see the typical 15-year-old talk about in school nowadays.

But whatever potential the show has to explore what it's like to be a well-endowed high school nerd gets lost in the second and third episodes. In the second episode, RJ runs against Max for student-body president; in the third, RJ tries out for the school's musical -- a cross between 'West Side Story' and 'Twilight' -- in order to get closer to Jenny. Except for a scene at the end of the third episode, both stories could have been taken out of every coming of age show from the last twenty years, from 'Square Pegs' to 'Freaks and Geeks' to 'Glee.' And, not coincidentally, the second and third episodes weren't nearly as funny as the first.

Iacono does a good job playing RJ as a fumbling nerd who's finding his social sea legs. And anyone who's been beaten up by the jocks will cheer as RJ tries to befriend Jenny while fending off both Max and Lily. But while we see that RJ's infamy has given him a smidgen of confidence, we don't explore what other consequences come from everyone's knowledge of his physical gifts.

In fact, the "gaining confidence" theme of the show could have been explored without the conceit that RJ is so well-endowed. But, then again, just calling the show a 21st century version of 'Head of the Class' probably wasn't going to fly with MTV.

Then again, world-weary old farts like myself aren't the intended audience. But I'm not even sure your typical teenage boy is going to like it either. Even among the fart and sex jokes, there has to be something clever there. Kids these days are too smart to expect less.