There's not much original in this series -- but then, aren't fashion trends
all about recycling? Chanel never departs too far from the formula, darling.

In this case, a blond girl with big eyes and a mysterious past is an
overnight success. A good-hearted farmboy is in danger of being corrupted by
the big city. A supermodel learns that she's yesterday's Style section. They
all live together in a rattier version of a "Real World" dorm.

Most of the characters are about as distinctive as mannequins. You won't
mind, though, because they're awfully nice to look at. (That's "High School
Musical's" Corbin Bleu with a more reasonable haircut.)

But the disgraced supermodel is played by Mischa Barton, and this is where
the show may achieve inadvertent poignancy. In real life, the breakout star
of "The O.C." suffered her own breakdown over the summer, complete with
bloat and hospitalization. When she arrives late to a fashion show and can
no longer fit into her dress, you'll cringe. The only thing that will make
you more uncomfortable, in fact, is Elle Macpherson's acting as the head of
a modeling agency.

As with the best reality shows, there is limitless potential for lots of
skin, celebrity cameos, and attractive people being humiliated. That's
certainly one definition of "entertainment." Some things never go out of
style.