The Hills: A Date with the Past – Stephen Colletti Returns
After much speculation, the moment that all fans of The Hills and Laguna Beach had been waiting for since The Hills Season 3.5 started up again finally happened – Stephen Colletti and Lauren Conrad reunited on semi-scripted reality TV.
For those of us who jumped on The Hills bandwagon late, Stephen Colletti was Lauren’s kindergarten crush during Seasons 1 and 2 of The Hills’ mother show Laguna Beach. They were an “on again off again” couple, with the “offs” also being known as the very hot Kristin Cavallari. However, most Laguna fans were on “Team Lauren” (oh yes, there was Team Lauren before Team Heidi came in the picture) in this case and over two seasons, we grew to dream of what could have been with the couple that almost really was.
Needless to say, it was a big deal when the season preview showed Colletti’s face, who has been linked with not only Conrad and Cavallari, but Heroes’ Hayden Panettiere as well
. Though their meeting turned out to be more hype than substance, it was a gasp-worthy moment when Stephen showed up at Lauren, Lo, and Audrina’s housewarming party at their new place in the real Hollywood Hills (as opposed to their former place, which was in West Hollywood, kind of).
So no, sparks didn’t necessarily fly, but it was still ok because of the buildup.
It was clear that Stephen wasn’t trying to get back into the reality mix like Lo, who has been all up in the mix this season and believes that Stephen is “best for Lauren,” However, there was something nostalgically awesome about seeing Stephen and Lauren back together, even if it was just for a brief dinner – even moreso than it was to see Lauren and Jason’s tumultuous relationship rear its ugly head a few times during the first two seasons of the Laguna spinoff. They’re the relationship that everyone wants to happen that might not happen and it might actually seem a little too convenient if they did end up together on camera.
Whatever keeps Lauren single, because she looks beautiful in this semi-season! Me = In Lurve.
Otherwise, Audrina Patridge continued to keep her distance from the house of Laurens (Conrad and Bosworth) as she moved into the guest house in the back. However, all might not be well in The Hills paradise and Whitney Port should soon be moving in to take Audrina’s spot if the girls’ pre-season media tour means anything.
Audrina’s renewed relationship with champion belcher Justin Bobby gives Lauren and Lo very little common ground to have conversations with ‘Drina and it creates an awkwardness that conveniently survives by way of twenty feet between the roommates’ separate houses.
Are Audrina’s days with a significant role on the The Hills numbered? Do we like Lo’s silliness enough to have her essentially replace the echoing that was Audrina’s conversations?
With Stephanie Pratt
continuing to be part of the weekly storyline and less and less Speidi every week, The Hills is transforming its cast before our very eyes.
Some of us are actually beginning to feel bad for Playboy Spence at this point and find it extremely entertaining when he refers to boba as “bobo” in a snarky way to his sister. Heidi’s role is diminishing as well, putting the focus back on Lauren and her girls during the second half of the show’s third season, which might not be a bad idea to have a nicer version of the show after it got a little intense at times last season. The Hills is proving that reality TV can transform and it’s doing it in a gentle enough way to keep us watching.
Not a whole lot happened this week, but somehow, it felt substantial. The storylines are interesting, characters are transforming, and music courtesy of Gavin DeGraw, Danity Kane, Leona Lewis, and others was fantastic. Who needs real reality TV when scripted reality makes it so much better?
