Instead of glitzy night club scenes with boring conversations, Downtown Girls actually shows the lives and friendships of Nikki, a boutique owner, Gurj, an Atlantic Records digital marketer, Klo, a bride-to-be, Victoria, an aspiring lawyer, and last but not least, Shallon, a Glamour.com blogger.

In a world of plastic reality show Barbie dolls (i.e: Heidi Montag), seeing young women working, living on their own, and trying to figure out their 20-something lives was refreshing. With each girl offering her unique individual style and perspective, it was impressive seeing MTV tackle real people, doing real everyday things for once.

Although Downtown Girls chronicles a group of friends, Shallon Lester steals the show with her outspoken and funny personality. With a larger-than-life persona that makes Shallon seem like everyone’s best friend, her energy is contagious. Who wouldn’t want to be her friend?

With one co-written book under her belt, Hot Mess, and a collection of memoirs chronicling her dating life coming out in 2011 called Exes and Ohs, expect to hear more from Shallon. So, consider this an inside look beyond the MTV cameras…

Five Questions We Ask Everyone:

1. What’s your favorite college memory /most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?
Riding a bull freshman year of college. I went to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, which is way out in the country. Everyone takes rodeo—yes, it’s an actual class—and you learn how to rope and ride and brand. Our final was to ride a bull, and I went last because I was a coward. I’ve done a lot of risky and scary things in my life, but I’ve never been more frightened than when my instructor was tying my hand to the saddle and riling up the steer with a cattle prod. The chute opened and I lasted 2.7 seconds before it bucked me off and kicked me in midair, like a volleyball spike. I still have a lump on my lower back from it. Wicked.

2. What are five things you cannot live without?
Hockey, lip gloss, Tim McGraw’s greatest hits album, my mom, my Google alert on “Zac Efron shirtless.”

3. What is your motto/advice you live by?
If you trust your dreams more than you doubt them, you will get everything that you want. You don’t always have to know how you’re going to achieve it, you just have to believe that it will. It’s like Christmas morning; you don’t know the schematics of how Santa got into your house, but you knew he would.

4. What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar/car/karoke?
“Baby Got Back” by Sir-Mix-Alot. If you saw me in boy shorts you’d know why.

5. Ten years from now you will be …
Married to an NHL player, overseeing the movie adaptation of my latest novel, and explaining to my friends why being voted “Sexiest Woman Alive” by Playboy five years in a row isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Signing autographs is exhausting, you know.

Five Questions specifically for Shallon:

1. What is most essential to a good friendship?
Loyalty. My life is pretty weird, so I can’t have a friend who will jump ship the moment I do something offbeat. Because “strange” is pretty much my only setting.

2. You seem so confident in who you are. Was there a defining moment that made you say “You know what, I truly accept myself for who I am.” If so, what was it?
When I started writing the sex and dating column for my college newspaper at Cal Poly, girls would come up to me and say “OMG that happened to me too! I thought I was alone!”  I realized that all of my experiences were pretty relatable, so why pretend to be someone I’m not?

3. After watching yourself on Downtown Girls, did any moments make you cringe or uncomfortable to see on camera?
Oh Jesus I looked so fat. I’m actually quite irresistible in person. And it’s never high on your list of goals to be caught crying over your ex on national television, but eh, at least my mascara didn’t run. The boy was a different story.

4. What was your worst break-up experience and how did you get through it?
About three years ago I fell deeply in love with a boy and was 100% sure that he was The One, and I knew he felt the same way. And he did…about someone else. A stripper, actually. He left me for her and I spiraled into a severe depression for seven months. I can’t tell you how many pro athletes I had to bone to pull myself out of it. But I finally did, and at the end of it, I’m wiser and stronger…and all he has is a scorching case of Chlamydia.

5. If you could go back and tell your 20-year-old self one piece of advice to hold onto for the future, what would it be?
At 20, I was so concerned about what people thought of me—boys, my sorority sisters, family—that I never asked “What do I think of myself?” When your goal is pleasing yourself first and foremost, having fun and attracting the right kind of people is inevitable.

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I want to be Olivia Palermo.

To be fair, I don’t want her attitude. Or her brains (or lack thereof). Or her annoying, drunk cousin who is always loafing on her couch. I don’t even really want to be on The City. I really just want her wardrobe, namely those adorable men’s inspired flats she started rockin’ around town last season.

It was love at first sight, really. Shiny, chic flats that didn’t make you miss the 4 inch heel with the red sole Olivia typically donned. They were different, they were tres chic, they were (at least they looked) comfortable, and they were way, way out of my price range. But then, on a late night shopping spree at Kohl’s with my mom last week, I found these: a cheaper ($19, baby!) version of Olivia’s shoes that are still just as hot, classy and comfy as the designer originals. They were everything I wanted and more, perfect for this weird in-between-seasons business when it’s too hot for Uggs and too cold for Havianas.

So I snatched ‘em and before I even got home, I had an entire list of things I could wear with them. These shoes add that extra bit of couture and glamour that a normal flat could not and I believe every girl needs a pair. Don’t believe me? Just look what they can do for these three basic outfits:

Hot and Sassy
This dress is sexy and seemingly vintage all at once, which goes perfectly with these old school shoes. Layer on the tights for a more streamlined leg, then pull your hair back into a messy pony and add this gorgeous, retro headband. If it’s cold where you are, I feel bad for you you can always toss on an oversized black sweater to complete the look.

Dress: Lulus, $29
Shoes: Candies for Kohl’s, $29.99
Tights: Hue, 2 for $20
Headband: Forever 21, $3.80

Sexy & Stylin’
Like most flats, these tuxedo shoes look best with skinny jeans that can show ‘em off. My favorite skinny jeans right now are these from the Gap (my butt has never looked better), and I absolutely L-O-V-E this top. A built-in necklace? Genius! Just add a few statement pieces – like a bright, classic bag – and you’ll be the (nicer, smarter) Olivia Palermo of your next bash.

Skinny Jeans: Gap, $69.50
Top: Lulu’s, $30
Shoes: Candies for Kohl’s, $29.99
Bangle: Forever 21, $5.80
Purse: Forever 21, $16.80

Professional/Casual Chic
Got a big interview? Work at an office? Major presentation that is worth 65% of your Econ grade? You don’t have to get all dowdy; these adorable shoes work for all that, too. (Yes, they may just be the most versatile footwear since the gladiator sandal.) Go for a dressier black skinny jean, top off with a flowy camisole and a boyfriend blazer and a fun, bright bag. You’ll look professional yet chic, and your feet won’t blistered and hurting by the end of the day.

Jeans: Macy’s, $19.99
Blazer: Target, $29.99
Shoes: Candies for Kohl’s, $29.99
Cami: Lauren Conrad for Kohl’s, $19.99
Bag: Lulus, $44

Anyone else feeling horribly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of TV on these days? It seems like only yesterday we were watching Crossroads on HBO because there was nothing. else. on. And now? Now our DVR is on overload and we have to cancel plans with our friends to fit it all in.

Case in point: tonight.

I was supposed to be hanging out with a boy I like, drinking the vodka I like and, hopefully, ending up in the position I like, but I had to cancel. Why? Because The Hills is back! I’m not missing out on an evening with the people I love to loathe for some guy.

He’ll be around tomorrow, but The Hills season premiere will only be on once.

Ok, so it will probably be on 1,000 more times this week, but I need to see it now. It’s bad enough I had to wait all summer watching reruns of Parental Control; I can’t wait another minute.

And in honor of the big return, I’ll be live-blogging the whole shebang, from Natasha Bedingfield to the scenes from next week. I’ll be covering the introduction of Kristin Cavallari, the return of now-married Speidi and those annoyingly long commercial breaks full of ads for Axe and the upcoming season of The Duel: 48.

So come back to this here website at 10 PM ET to watch with me. Who knows? Maybe if I’m feeling extra lively, I’ll stick around for the snoozefest known as The City. Maybe. I’m not sure even Olivia Palermo/Whitney’s wardrobe choices can motivate me to sit through that shiz for another season.

Okay girls, The Hills premiere is almost here! (September 29 at 10 pm, to be exact). I’m totally freaking out! I can barely contain my excitement. Yes, I know it is extremely embarrassing that I’m counting down the hours, but who’s with me?

Tomorrow night we can finally resume our  weekly ritual of guilty pleasures. For me it’ll be nachos, a glass of cheap wine and a drama packed half hour of catty girl fights in gorgeous outfits.

All the hype of Kristen replacing LC had me reminiscing of high school nights when I would crowd around the TV with my girlfriends to watch the Stephen-Colletti-tug-of-war on Laguna Beach. So, I sat down this weekend for a little revisit to the beginnings of this cash cow of a reality show that’s spitting out celebrities at an Octomom rate.

I’m not going to lie, taking this little trip down memory lane had me a bit melancholy, as I revisited the cast when they still used to consume solid food, had hair that didn’t scream bleach bottle, and sported an authentic California tan instead of layers of cakey makeup.

I’m a sucker for the drama of the new Hills season, but I’ll always miss the natural innocence of the girls that charmed us in the beginning.

Heidi

When Heidi and LC first moved in together, I loved this girl. She was fun, she was real, and she was a good friend to our leading lady.

Now (a pair of boobs, a nose job, and a marriage to the biggest douche bag on the planet later) she’s the walking poster child for fake. Just another playboy wannabe, starving herself through Hollywood.

Audrina

Oh Audrina. I’ve never been able to get past that monotone, I-have-no-idea-what’s-going-on-ever thing you have going. But at least in the beginning you had that girl next door quality (no, really, Heidi recruited her as a friend at the condo’s pool.) Now her clueless look is accentuated with plunging necklines and a painful acting career.

Stephanie

At first, she had a chill, down to earth style; very laid back California girl. Now it looks like someone attacked her with an eye pencil, teeth whitener and an entire can of hairspray. I’ll cut her a little slack only because her blood relation to Spencer has got to be stressful, and she obviously can’t be sporting those bags and wrinkles on national TV.

Kristin

Whether you think she’s a bitch or admire her for her honesty, there’s no doubt that Kristen’s I-Don’t’Give-A-F!@% attitude is what had all the boys chasing her around Laguna. She was hot without trying, the perfect example of the confident, relaxed Cali chick. No doubt that confidence is still there, but now it’s stuffed into a skintight micro-mini and doused with bronzer. Not the fun, laid back look we used to admire.

What do you guys think? Do you like the new bombshell Hollywood makeovers or miss their early days of t-shirts and jean shorts?

Type 1:“The Talented Celebrity.”  Think models who have shown up on the cover of Italian Vogue, actors like Brad Pitt who have starred in everything from comedy to drama, and music moguls who come out with one hit after another (think Madonna).

Type 2: “The Train Wreck- Once Famous, Now in Rehab.”  These are people like Lindsay Lohan and Amy Winehouse, who are no doubt talented, but can’t keep themselves away from the bars and the drugs long enough to earn coveted longevity in Hollywood.

Type 3: “Why the Hell are They Famous?” The people who People Magazine, US Weekly, and Perez Hilton constantly cover, we all read about, and none of us are exactly sure what this person has done to deserve press coverage (think Anna Nicole Smith).  Below is a list of the ten best examples of these non-celebrities – the ones that take over our headlines, but haven’t done much to merit this press coverage.  And if anyone can tell me why we actually care what these people are up to…well, be my guest.

1. Kim Kardashian- While she is no doubt stunning, her fame stems from the fact that her rich father served as OJ Simpson’s lawyer during his criminal trial…and then she had sex with Ray J.  Her lone film, Disaster Flick, came out in 2008, and was rated the second worst film ever created at the Internet Movie Database. Sure, she’s been on Dancing With the Stars and her own reality show since then, but I must ask: why was this one ever on our radar!?

2. Heidi and Spencer Pratt- While The Hills enjoys high ratings, two young adults arguing for a 30-minute episode about their relationship, their parents, and how they should get married is not enough to give anyone celebrity status.  If America wants to watch two people argue, then MTV should come to my house and film my mom begging me to do dumb chores.  Being rich and argumentative is not enough to warrant fame.

3. Octomom – Her birth of octuplets this past year caused a national scandal when people became concerned about child neglect and proper monetary support (and the fact that she looks like Angelina…). Getting six embryos implanted in you when you already have six kids definitely does not make you a celebrity…slightly crazy, but not a celebrity.

4. Nicole Richie – Best known for her stint on The Simple Life with fellow socialite Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie’s presence in celebrity tabloids is mostly in candid photos of her and daughter Harlow, or musician husband Joel Madden of Good Charlotte.  She has yet to sing or act in anything of true merit other than being herself on a reality show and is truly a celebrity’s wife, not a celebrity herself.

5. Tila Tequila -  Tila got famous for having a lot of friends on MySpace. Don’t get me wrong, popularity is cool, but since when do we celebrate the trashy people who actually use MySpace?

6. Kevin Federline – Known mostly for his disastrous short-lived marriage to Britney Spears, Federline’s attempts to make it in “the industry” resulted in his 2006 record being one of the worst-received in music history and making him appear as an Eminem wannabe.  His short stint on One Tree Hill as an aggressive musician did little to advance his acting career, and his appearances on wrestling programming did even less to advance his image.  So, while Britney Spears seems to have come out of her funk with hits like “Circus” and “Womanizer,” Federline is now famous for changing diapers and babysitting Sean and Jayden.

7. Paris Hilton – Just another blonde socialite who formed a fashion line and had one hit song (“Stars are Blind”).  Being born rich does not make you a celebrity.  Becoming rich due to talent does.

8. Melissa Rycroft – Seriously, I’ve been dumped by plenty of guys. Where is my offer to be on the cover of a magazine?

9. Whitney Port – Starring in her very own spin-off of The Hills, Whitney Port was nicknamed “the new Carrie Bradshaw.”  Um. No. Freaking. Way. And if being on a reality show weren’t bad enough, spinning off the show that gave fame to squabbling California teenagers merits even less respect in my mind. She is no Carrie. Don’t even joke.

10. Suri Cruise - This girl gets more covers than paid actors. Just because she was born.  Why do we as consumers care what a two–year-old is wearing?

Please let me take a moment to apologize for a lack of recap on last week’s season premier. I left DVRing up to my mother while I watched MSU get slaughtered in the NCAA championship…. And then came home to find out she doesn’t know how to DVR. (She then backed into my car in the driveway the next morning, which is why I am no longer coming home for Passover. Ruin my life once, shame on me. Ruin my life twice… well, you know the rest.)

The double feature was amazing (the boat party, the trip to Crystal Butte, Spencer throwin’ punches) and I am super grateful that MTV likes to show everything 42 times in a week.  Though I still do not forgive my mother.

Anyways, last night’s episode – while not quite as action packed as last week – was also pretty, pretty good. I always love an awkward interaction and boy did we get it when Stephanie applied for a job with People’s Revolution. Granted, I would be crapping my pants if I had to interview with Kelly Cutrone (her teeth are scarier than her ‘tude), but I would also make sure my resume was perfection before I walked through the door. I would also probably learn the difference between “professional attire” and doing my hair like a meth addict.

But that’s just me.

Kelly took one look at Steph, then chewed her up with those fangs and spit her out.  She doesn’t like Steph, but I think that’s why she hired her. That bitch loves to cut people up, and I can’t wait to see what she does to poor Ms. Pratt.  Although, it can’t be worse than dealing with Spence, right?

Speaking of Spencer, the other major dramz in the episode was with Speidi. Heidi returns to LA from visiting Mama Pratt and immediately starts fighting with the Bearded Spencer. I have to ask: does anyone else notice that when Heidi leaves town Spencer grows a beard? Do you think maybe shaving his face is a couples activity? Ew.

So, Heidi’s back and the couple starts fighting and Spencer acts like a baby. He leaves and decides to “hit the clubs” with his mustached, 40-year-old-looking friend…and the bartender. Heidi and Steph decide to do a little recon work and go to every bar in the city that might be cool that night. Weird! They found him on the first try!

“Oh my gosh, you’re right. He’s here.” Best acting ever, Heidi. So, there is confrontation and name calling (“slut,” “crazy,” “home-wrecker”), but much to my dismay, there is no platinum-weave-pulling.

Heidi spends the night on Steph’s couch and wakes up really distraught about the whole thing….with a lot of perfect makeup on. Now, I’ve slept in my makeup post bar hundreds of times, so I know what that’s like, but I wake up with mascara smeared down my cheek and the bar stamp from my hand rubbed off on my chin. Her hair does look a little like a hot mess, though, so there’s that.

Steph tells Heidi to try therapy. Heidi, who told Spencer never to call her again, meets him for some grub and tells him again never to call her again before she teeters off into the distance with her after-sex hair and way-too-tall heels.

And curtain!
Whew! What an episode! I had lost faith in MTV not-so-reality shows after The City premiered, but, DAYUM, The Hills is so good. I’m sorry I ever doubted you, MTV. Never again.

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Topshop NY. Must. Get. To. New York.

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Amy Winehouse gets a makeover.

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Whitney and Jay back together?

Britney loves those backup dancers.

The jean jacket is back.

OMG. I am afraid to admit this, but I actually yelped at the end of tonight’s episode of The City. I also may or may not have jumped out of my seat and given Whitney a “You go, girl!”

Ok, I definitely did. Our secret?

I know that most of this show is scripted and it’s all a bunch of crap, but the scene between Jay and Whitney really tugged at my heart. I can’t even tell you how many times a guy has treated me like utter crap and I’ve immediately turned around and rolled out the red carpet for him to do it again.

Not Whit, though. I don’t know if it was finding out that Olivia stole her London gig, the conversation with Lauren, or the sage advice from DVF herself (we’ll get back to that later), but Whitney was not about to let Jay run her life and her emotions.  Even if he performed the grand gesture of flying back to NY and calling her from the street corner. Looking hot. In a suit. Mmmm.

Whitney finally stood up for herself and took her NY life into her own hands. And for that, she gets a standing “You Go, Girl” from this girl.

But Jay isn’t the only one Whitney stood up to; she finally (attempted to) confront Olivia about her stealing all the credit for Whit’s work on the Vogue cover. Not that it did much. No words can melt an ice princess like that real-life Blair Waldorf.  Olivia ended up stepping  on Whitney’s perfect little body as she climbed her way onto the plane to London. Amazing considering the girl can barely read.

But there is one thing Olivia didn’t get and that is some one-on-one time (and a thigh rub) from the one and only Diane Von Furstenberg. Now, I don’t have my own MTV “reality” show so I have never had the luxury of working for one of fashion’s greatest designers, but I’m pretty sure most lowly PR girls don’t even register on the designer’s radar. How is it, then, that DVF knew about Whitney’s boy troubles? And, seeing as she just put on a runway show, why would she care to sit down and give some young chick dating and love advice? I mean, the advice was great (and now I love that woman even more), but  I imagine DVF has better things to do than talk love and fires with Whitney Port.

Finally, on the complete opposite side of You-Go-Girl-ville, we also witnessed Ali take back her pathetic yet totally smoking hot boyfriend. After Adam went sh*t nuts on Erin for getting up in his business (while taking off and immediately putting back on his jacket), Ali went to talk to him and immediately fell for his “I love you, I wanna wake up next to you, tell me what I can do to fix this” BS. Because we haven’t heard that before.

Somehow, Ali buys into all of it (I imagine she is delirious do to the lack of nutrients in her frail little body) and returns for another dose of douchebaggery that is clearly right around the corner. I can’t wait until next week when the whole cycle starts over again. Maybe Ali needs a little sit-down with DVF. And also with some KFC, but that’s a whole different issue.