The Hard Times of RJ Berger
The Hard Times of RJ Berger is a United States television comedy series created by David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith for MTV. The show's central character is RJ Berger (Paul Iacono) an unpopular sophomore at the fictional Pinkerton High School in Ohio who has an exceptionally large penis. Berger's two best friends are Miles Jenner (Jareb Dauplaise), whose ambitions for popularity cause him to clash with Berger, and goth girl Lily Miran (Kara Taitz), who has been lusting after Berger for several years. Berger's love interest is Jenny Swanson (Amber Lancaster), a cheerleader who is involved with Max Owens (Jayson Blair), a popular jock and bully. The show is presented as a coming of age story and has been described by Katzenberg and Grahame-Smith as a blend of the television series The Wonder Years and the film Superbad. The pilot episode premiered on June 6, 2010, and the first season of 12 episodes concluded August 23, 2010. MTV renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on March 24, 2011. Series creator Seth Grahame-Smith confirmed via Twitter in August 2011 that the series is canceled.[2]
Production
Series creators Katzenberg and Grahame-Smith are the showrunners and executive producers. Each episode of the first season was scripted before shooting began. Some words would be censored; Grahame-Smith said bleeping was used "strategically. Sometimes it's because we don't want to change a word that wouldn't feel genuine. And then, sometimes we'll take a word that we could get away with, but bleep it just because it's funnier if you think he's saying something even more horrible." The series is shot in a single-camera setup[3] on High-definition video. Each episode of the first season was shot in three and a half days in a period of two months.
Each episode features an animated segment; Katzenberg said "[t]he rules of our animated segments are to tell a story that we either can't afford to tell, or shows [sic] something that graphically we can't show." Each animated segment loosely resembles other animated stylings such as various types of anime, Rugrats, Disney and other animated styles.
However, despite a good start of 3.1 million viewers, season 2 ended with less than 1 million viewers, prompting MTV to decide to not air a third season.
Themes
The Hard Times of RJ Berger has been described—by its creators and critics alike—as a cross between the teen-oriented television comedy-drama The Wonder Years (1988–1993) and the comedy film Superbad (2007).[4] Grahame-Smith said that in talking with Katzenberg about developing the series, they "went back and talked about the iconic moments of being in high school, what were the most embarrassing, what were the most rewarding, what it was like to be embarrassed by our parents and struggling to attain the most beautiful girl. We found that the more we talked to each other and the writing staff, the more these universal stories emerged, and those are the stories we want to tell with the show. We want to tell the coming of age stories and the classic high school stories that every kid can relate to, or that every adult remembers from their time in high school." He added, "Yes, we're heightening them for comic value, but high school is a very over-sexed, profane environment for a lot of people, and we wanted to reflect that in the show." Katzenberg, commenting on the series' content, said that he and Grahame-Smith aimed to create "an updated Wonder Years that would really appeal to today's youth. For us to do that, I feel like we're reaching a new audience. Whether it's a Judd Apatow audience or an even newer audience, the raunchiness comes with it."
Cast and characters
The Hard Times of RJ Berger features five roles that receive star billing in the opening credits; in season two, three members of the recurring cast joined the main cast:
- Paul Iacono as Richard "RJ" Berger, the eponymous protagonist; a nerdy, socially awkward but moral 15-year-old high school sophomore. He is shy, cynical, and generally ignored or picked on by his peers. He has been in love with Jenny Swanson since he first saw her and has since had constant wet dreams about her, but he's been too shy to proclaim his love for her, and is afraid of her boyfriend, Max's, retaliation. He is forced into the limelight when a fight forces several basketball players to be ejected from the game. Coach Sinclair tells RJ if he wants to continue skipping gym, he has to play. RJ puts on a uniform that is much too large for him. When he shoots the ball and misses entirely, his shorts fall off, followed by his jock strap and thus showing his large penis to the whole school. At first, he becomes famous, but after the initial episodes, his classmates go back to ignoring him. He claimed that his gift is a curse because when a Japanese girl he was teaching English began to give him oral sex, she choked and almost died (according to RJ). After his brief but sudden popularity, he decides to begin an active social life and pursue his ultimate goal of winning Jenny's love. In the season 1 finale, he loses/gives his virginity to a hospital-bound Lily, out of guilt proclaiming that it "was the right thing to do". He and Jenny start dating in the second season, though their attempts at intimacy are regularly foiled by Max and a vengeful Lily. He and Jenny break up after RJ's father, (at the time the English substitute teacher) uses Romeo & Juliet as a metaphor to convince RJ & Jenny that they may be destined to remain friends. RJ and Jenny mutually agree to break up after several 'bumps' in their relationship: Jenny finds out RJ had lied to her about being a virgin (he gave his virginity to Lily)/RJ and Jenny had nothing in common/ they get into arguments about Jenny's self consciousness (in a previous episode she became obsessed about a pimple breakout)/ RJ felt unsupported in his problems (mainly being unpopular and his parents divorce)/ RJ starts to have a crush on his tutor (Amy). RJ soon dates Amy, eventually resulting in the fact that he has fallen in love with her. Towards the end of the second season, Amy almost breaks up with RJ when he and Jenny are nominated Mr. and Mrs. Pinkerton, but he patches things up in the end of the season. RJ ends up winning Mr. Pinkerton, with Jenny, beating Max and Robin. RJ also finds out that Max is gay (he found Max making out with another student in the locker room) and tells Max he won't tell anyone until Max decides to come out; he does tell Jenny though. When Lily arrives in tears, she tells him that she's carrying their baby.
- Jareb Dauplaise as Miles Jenner, RJ's comical, immature, overweight, sex-crazed, and often vulgar best friend. He is obsessed with becoming popular and scoring with girls, he appears to be an antithesis to RJ's moral values. He often carries a video camera with him. When he discovers RJ's secret, he persistently encourages RJ to use it to become popular so he can become popular too. He has a frenemy relationship with Lily and is constantly insulting her physical appearance. He suffered a number of losses early in life, including the death of his mother and the "suicide" of his cat. He also has an older brother named Chet, who is shown to be a crazy Iraq War veteran. He lost his virginity to a substitute teacher which resulted in him catching crabs. Miles finds out along with other people that Lily is pregnant with RJ's baby due to RJ losing his virginity to her.
- Kara Taitz as Lily Miran, socially awkward, and sex-obsessed girl who has a lustful infatuation for RJ and constantly chases him much to his dismay. Despite RJ not returning her feelings, she hopes to get him to notice her. It was revealed that she has been chasing after RJ since childhood - they kissed in kindergarten - and then still she was very perverted. She has an unusual fashion sense and is frequently dying her hair; it is revealed that she makes her own clothes in episode 11. She and Miles constantly antagonize one another. RJ asks Lily to the school dance in episode 11 and Lily confessed her attraction towards RJ started since they were in second grade as she claims she is "the happiest girl in the world". Lily then gets hit by a bus. In the season finale, RJ feels bad for leaving Lily alone at her hospital bed so he goes back to her. When she wakes up, she and RJ have sex in the hospital bed. Soon after RJ leaves, though, her vital signs flat line. Lily is alive in the Season 2 premiere, although, her fate was unknown until then - especially that the episode opens with a funeral. When RJ tells her that he only had sex with her out of pity and that he still went to the dance with Jenny, this makes Lily both angry and sad. Afterwards, Lily appears to want revenge on RJ for her humiliation and will stop at nothing to foil his relationship with Jenny. She and RJ eventually rekindle their friendship; she even sparks a friendship with Jenny. Lily then starts dating Hamilton and they form a heavy relationship, until the second season finale where Lily reveals to RJ that she is pregnant with his baby and wonders what she and him will do next.
- Jayson Blair as Max Owens, an arrogant, selfish, dimwitted and obnoxious stereotypical school jock and RJ's main antagonist. After RJ stood up to him in the first episode, Max swore to humiliate RJ at all costs as a punishment. He was Jenny's boyfriend in the first season and is aware of RJ's love for her, which sparked jealousy. In the season finale, just as Max is about to fight RJ for kissing Jenny, Miles tackles him and starts punching him repeatedly in the testicles, giving RJ the chance to leave. He is now dating Robin Pretnar, Jenny's ex-best friend and head cheerleader. He still actively antagonizes RJ for stealing Jenny (despite that his relationship with Jenny ended before she started dating RJ) and Miles (for assaulting him at the formal). In the second season episode "Steamy Surprise", RJ discovers that Max is secretly gay when he sees him making out with another student in the high school locker room showers. RJ decides to keep Max's secret, although he does tell Jenny. Max breaks up with Robin after a tape is played where she called him stupid and says he's just a pretty face.
- Amber Lancaster as Jenny Swanson, RJ's primary love interest; a beautiful, popular, and down-to-earth cheerleader. Though she represents the stereotypical cheerleader, she is sweet and open-minded, as opposed to the other popular students. She later gets RJ to tutor her and trades email addresses with him, which implies she has an interest in him. She is impressed with RJ after he stands up to her boyfriend, Max, and by RJ's overall morality. In the season finale, RJ and Jenny share a kiss before a concerned RJ returns to Lily's hospital bed. She and RJ start pursuing a relationship in season two. However, Jenny soon discovers that RJ lied to her and their relationship falls apart. They ultimately end it in friendship. At the end of the second season, Jenny wins Mrs. Pinkerton along with RJ as Mr. Pinkerton beating Robin and Max.
The series' recurring roles include:
- Beth Littleford and Larry Poindexter (the roles were upgraded to main cast in season 2) as Suzanne and Rick Berger, RJ's parents. They fail to level with their son and will sometimes embarrass him even when they try to make him feel better. They are also portrayed as sexually adventurous (of which include engaging in group sex and Suzanne performing in porn). At the end of the season 2 premiere, they tell RJ they are getting a divorce, since Rick lied to Suzanne about his unemployment which put the family in debt. Suzanne would begin a relationship with Jeriba Sinclair which results in a full time relationship during the season until Rick shows back up and woos her with the poem he wrote the first time they had sex. It appears that Rick and Suzanne make up in the end of the second season but it is unclear how much they have patched back up. At the end of the second season, it is revealed that Rick and Suzanne will be grandparents due to Lily being pregnant with RJ's baby.
- Marlon Young (the role was upgraded to main cast starting Season 2) as Jeriba Sinclair, Pinkerton High's basketball coach and gym teacher; he is also RJ's guidance counselor, though he is very sarcastic and unsupportive and gives RJ questionable advice. He begins to date Suzanne after she and Rick separate in the season 2 premiere, much to RJ's disgust. After the majority of the season, Jeriba decides to ask Suzanne to marry him and when he attempts to propose, Rick shows up and ruins his plans and his relationship with her crumbles after she decides to make her marriage to Rick work, making him angry at RJ and he then returns to humiliating him once again. Once Lily's pregnancy is revealed, Sinclair tells RJ that he won't be the only one making RJ's life hell next year.
- Ciena Rae as Robin Pretnar, Jenny's ex-best friend and fellow cheerleader; she was Miles' love interest though she not only hates but despises him and prefers to not acknowledge his existence. However, when Miles spread a rumor that he motorboated her breasts she challenged him to a fight and beat him up. She is Max's girlfriend in season two and she now claims to be the status of the school's "queen bee" and is shown as being very cruel, snobbish, and domineering towards the other cheerleaders. Max ends up breaking up with her after he finds out that Robin called him stupid.
- Caitlin Crosby as Amy, RJ's math tutor, introduced towards the middle of season 2. She has a "geek-chic" vibe, and always acts relaxed and down-to-earth. RJ is assigned to be tutored by her when his grades drop, and chemistry between the two develops. RJ asks her out in Season 2, Episode 7, "You, Me, and Weezer", and at the end of their date to a Weezer concert, they kiss. Later they eventually have sex but afterwards, she almost breaks up with him after finding out that RJ and Jenny were on the ballot for "Mr. and Ms. Pinkerton High". RJ then declares his love for her during his speech and she accepts him back and she says that she loves him as well.
- De'vaughn Nixon as Hamilton, a "gangster" student who first appears in Season 1 as a one-time character, and then becomes a recurring one in Season 2 when he starts dating Lily after they meet in school therapy. He is extremely smart (having an IQ of 170), and actually a nice guy.
- Adam Cagley as Kevin Stern, an overweight, indolent nerd who is acquaintances with RJ and Miles though neither can stand him. He uses a mechanical chair to move himself. He is also a member of the Model United Nations Club. He plays a pivotal role in a few episodes, his biggest during a time when RJ and Miles have a fight and call off their friendship, so he becomes Miles' new best friend albeit temporarily. In the season 2 premiere, "RJ's Choice", the episode begins with the students at Kevin's funeral. Kevin's scooter crashed through a window in a donut shop. It is at his funeral it is revealed that he was adopted by an African-American couple.
Episodes
Reception
Critical response
Brian Lowry of Variety wrote that beyond the crass concept, the show is otherwise "a fairly standard high school-outcast tale", adding that fortunately for MTV "the show's derivative nature will be lost on a target audience barely in diapers during the initial run of 'Wonder Years'."[5] Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "[a]side from a few novel details, MTV's latest is a by-the-book geek sex comedy for the Apatow Generation. In other words, a likely hit."[6] Barry Garron of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "even with its abundance of stereotypical characters", The Hard Times of RJ Berger "is endearing and relatable to its target demo[graphic]" and drew parallels between its characters and those of the sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.[7] Willa Paskin of New York magazine thought that the show's premise was faulty, noting that an enormous penis is unlikely to have much effect on your social life in high school.[8]
Ratings
The pilot episode of The Hard Times of RJ Berger premiered on MTV after the 2010 MTV Movie Awards on June 6, 2010. The debut generated 2.6 million viewers, making it MTV's most-watched series launch in the 12–34 age demographic since 2008.[9]
Viewership for the series' second season ranged between just 765,000 and 1.37 million viewers with the series finale having 865,000 viewers.[2]
Media information
The first season of The Hard Times of RJ Berger was released on DVD through Amazon.com August 23, 2010.[10]
References
- ^ Leffler, Rebecca (October 4, 2010). "MTVNI touting 5,000 hours of programming". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mtvni-touting-5000-hours-programming-28681. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
- ^ a b 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' Canceled by MTV
- ^ MTV Hardens Commitment To Scripted Programming With Season 2 Greenlight Of "The Hard Times Of RJ Berger". . MTV (Viacom). August 2, 2010. http://mtvpress.com/press/release/hard_times_season_two_greenlight_announcemtne/. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ Walters, David (June 2010). "David Katzenberg is making his own name". Details. http://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/men-of-the-moment/201006/last-call-katzenberg. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ Lowry, Brian (June 1, 2010). "The Hard Times of RJ Berger. (Series – MTV, Sun. June 6, 11 p.m.)". Variety. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117942899.html.
- ^ Lloyd, Robert (June 5, 2010). "Television review: 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger'". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/05/entertainment/la-et-0605-hard-times-20100605. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ Garron, Barry (June 3, 2010). "The Hard Times of R.J. Berger -- TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/the-hard-times-of-r-j-berger-tv-review-1004095455.story. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ Paskin, Willa (June 3, 2010). "MTV’s New Big Penis Show Doesn’t Understand High-School Popularity". New York magazine. http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/06/rj_berger.html. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
- ^ Levine, Stuart (June 7, 2010). "Slight drop in ratings for MTV Movie Awards; Broadcast down 2% from last year". Variety. http://variety.com/article/VR1118020335.html. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
- ^ Lambert, David (August 18, 2010). "The Hard Times of RJ Berger – Season 1 of the MTV Series Comes to DVD via Amazon's CreateSpace". tvshowsondvd.com. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Hard-Times-RJ-Berger-Season-1/14271. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
External links