‘Million Dollar Listing New York,’ fine views
The real estate brokers on this Bravo series are not likeable
By Tom Conroy, Media Life
Thank you, Tom Conroy; thank you, Media Life
Editor’s Note: Although TGP, as our readers know, is firmly planted on the independent left (and by that we don’t mean liberals), striving to be an engaging information and commentary platform for the 99%, we often go outside our normal boundaries to explore pieces that merit attention on account of their cultural value. This review, spotted on Media Life, on one of Bravo’s latest offerings (focusing on Manhattan’s revolting high-end real estate market), is a perceptive window into capitalism’s ugly bestiary in one of its foulest cesspoools and playgrounds. Hence our bringing it to your attention.
I mean no offense to the millions who actually live and work in NYC (‘work’ as in having to work or else!) but the Big Apple is also one of the world’s biggest aggregations of bourgeois assholes and criminals on the planet. Naked and ruthless ambition, unapologetic acquisition neurosis and runaway greed, complete selfishness and disregard for anything remotely of value, seem to be the marching values of this crowd, which, incidentally, and not surprisingly, are also the core values that define the 1%.
As befits a channel that has made a specialty of superficiality, with Million Dollar Listing/ NYC Bravo adds another item to its bulging inventory of reality shows featuring multi-multi-millionaires and millionaire wannabes, and an assortment of egomaniacal servants. This catalog—anthropologists take note!— now includes constantly bickering crass housewives, über competitive chefs, decorators, hair stylists, real estate agents, and other phyla likely to be found in the proliferating capitalist fauna. Nothing is absolute, however, and some people and shows in this farandula are engaging and sympathetic; house flipper Jeff Lewis’ humanity, for example, rarely fails to shine through despite his frequent anxiety fits, and there are obviously others. And many shows are doubtessly entertaining, as in “watching car wrecks” entertaining. They may be the only redeeming touches in a palette that faithfully mirrors the upper tiers of a civilization that richly deserves to crumble.—Patrice Greanville
 |
____________________________________________
By Tom Conroy
One of the simplest methods that TV series use to hook us is to present likable characters. The thinking is that if we enjoy the regulars’ company, we’ll watch even if the stories or jokes aren’t that good.
Bravo’s new series “Million Dollar Listing New York” proves once and for all that shows can forgo likability. A look at high-end real estate in Manhattan, it features three brokers who are all disagreeable in their own ways and have clients to match. Some of the conflicts among these people are interesting, but it’s the fantasy value of the amazing apartments and lofts that make the show watchable.
[On the March 7th premier episode, the show first introduced us to its three stars]: Fredrik Eklund is a Swedish-born broker who brags that he’s sold more than a billion dollars of real estate in his career. Michael Lorber is a new broker who brags about his education, vacation homes and wealthy dad. Ryan Serhant is a metrosexual broker who brags in off-color ways about his sexual conquests to his young female assistant. In the first episode, he can’t remember the name of the girl with whom he just spent the night.
Their clients are hardly more sympathetic. Fredrik is trying to sell the apartment of a grouchy boor who says he will refuse to negotiate prices. Ryan is selling a big apartment owned by an heiress who has converted a bedroom and a bathroom into storage space for her huge, expensive wardrobe. Michael is representing a middle-aged female buyer who gets on the seller’s bed with Michael and makes sex jokes.
Ryan has to persuade his client, the heiress, to unclutter her place, hiring a professional organizer who shows up with a moving crew. The client’s reluctance to part with any of her precious shoes or clothes provides a little comic relief.
Unsurprisingly, the various encounters are mostly unpleasant. In what seems like a setup, Fredrik happens to be in the same restaurant where Ryan is entertaining a prospective female client. Fredrik subtly disparages Ryan’s skills and experience, pointing out that Ryan used to be an actor. Ryan counters by telling the client that Fredrik performed in gay porn films. Fredrik says to the camera that it was a long time ago and he’s not ashamed of it.
Both the clients and the brokers casually discuss buying places worth around $2 million, usually saying they can pay cash. If the one percenters of this country don’t want their taxes raised, they should stop appearing on shows like this.
Since we viewers have no one to root for, the homes have to engage us, and they do. Anyone who has ever squeezed into a city apartment will be dazzled by the space and locations. The boor, for example, is living in a 1670-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment with 180-degree views of New York Harbor, including the Statue of Liberty.
The brokers, of course, earn huge commissions on the sales. Their setbacks and successes, however, leave us cold. The only pleasure they provide is allowing us to see egomaniacs embarrass themselves.
It should be pointed out that this show has probably turned out exactly the way Bravo wanted and that many viewers will love it. One person’s fixer-upper is another’s dream home.
________________
Source: Media Life— http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reviews_21/-Million-Dollar-Listing-New-York-fine-views.asp
_______________________________________________________________________________
¶
ADVERT PRO NOBIS
IF YOU CAN’T SEND A DONATION, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, AND YOU THINK THIS PUBLICATION IS WORTH SUPPORTING, AT LEAST HELP THE GREANVILLE POST EXPAND ITS INFLUENCE BY MENTIONING IT TO YOUR FRIENDS VIA TWEET OR OTHER SOCIAL NETWORKS! We are in a battle of communications with entrenched enemies that won’t stop until this world is destroyed and our remaining democratic rights stamped out. Only mass education and mobilization can stop this process.
It’s really up to you. Do your part while you can. •••
Donating? Use PayPal via the button below.
THANK YOU.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
