Entertainment, Featured - by Natan Edelsburg on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 11:19 - 19 Comments - 1,527 views

Under the Arch Wants to Make Your Reality TV Dreams Come True

In the valley of elah download.10-AM.png” alt=”Screen shot 2009-11-04 at 11.18.10 AM” width=”259″ height=”128″ />We know the primary reason you came to NYU was for a shot at getting on The City, MTV’s sad excuse for a Hills NYC remake. Well, burgeoning reality stars, your time as come! According to a New York Post article and a Wall Street Journal blog from last week, Under The Arch, a web series started in October 2006 by NYUer Sean Patrick Murray, is hosting an “open call” for the second season of the show they describe as “nine NYU students living their dream.”

If you think you have a special enough life at NYU to make us watch the second season, head on over to David Barton Gym (yes that’s the new gym on Astor Place that looks like a nightclub for yoga lovers) from November 16-20. The trailer they released is pretty good. Murray’s honesty with his project, which MTV has rarely been with its pop-realities, was best described in this quote from WSJ:

Although he strives for realism, Murray says that there is an unavoidable element of artifice that goes with the show, so that the cameras know where to be to record what’s going on. “We’ll get together once a week and talk about the stories we want to tell in the same way that anyone who creates a play or movie does,” he says.

Watch their trailer here and let us know what you think about it:



19 Comments

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Arlen Wayans
Nov 4, 2009 12:13

Well this is all artifice, since Sean Patrick Murray is definitely gay, I have known him since our freshman year. He has always been weird about his sexuality and tried to hide it but he did come out, and now he is making this stupid web series to pretend he is straight. Bullshit.

Darnell Ross
Nov 4, 2009 12:56

I go to Marymount Manhattan College…can I also audition for this?

Sarah DB
Nov 4, 2009 13:30

Well Arlen, he wasn’t gay when we were hooking up. But I guess that was before May and anyways if he’s already out why would he use this webseries as a cover for his sexuality. It’s not all about him being straight. It’s about a bunch of different people going through different things. Don’t write nasty comments just because you are jealous you don’t have a reality show of your own. Do you think anyone would even watch yours? No, didn’t think so.

Brian Schmander
Nov 4, 2009 13:31

The show is not about Sean’s sexuality whether I want to believe what you are saying or not. Regardless it is irrelevant. The show is a refreshing new way of telling the stories of NYU students who are exposing the most exciting and vulnerable moments of their lives at time when people learn most about themselves. This is just a trailer that touches the surface. I am looking forward to watch full episodes that allow the cast to portray their whole selves as they overcome adversity in a city that can make or break you. I highly doubt there are selfish motives behind the purpose of this show. Looking forward to the next season and cast!

Jacob Hentoff
Nov 4, 2009 14:02

if i were in ny i would totally do this.

mike vilensky
Nov 4, 2009 14:55

every nyu student has been pissy about this since they heard about it two years ago since we know there’s simultaneously no reason and every reason for this show to be made. i also still can’t tell if there is a meta-layer of humor here, or if this show is entirely serious. is it only funny if you go here?

and @ arlen: i think his ambiguous sexuality is just viral marketing for his tv show!

Rebecca martin
Nov 4, 2009 15:03

Wait– isn’t this just Felicity II?

Don Chubbly
Nov 4, 2009 15:33

Arlen Wayans… is that one of the lesser known Wayans? What’s the matter Arlen, are you still bitter you didn’t get to be in “Little Man” too? YA BURNT!

Kenneth Hsu
Nov 4, 2009 16:42

@mike

Agreed. This feels like one big inside joke for NYU students.

Phillip Klugman
Nov 4, 2009 17:10

Anyone know what the song/artist is that’s used in the trailer? I like it and know it’s a cover but I have no idea who does it.

Tweets that mention Under the Arch Wants to Make Your Reality TV Dreams Come True | NYU Local -- Topsy.com
Nov 4, 2009 17:41

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by NYULocal and tom rotenberg, Linley Chan. Linley Chan said: will one of my friends PLEASE audition?? http://bit.ly/3hC5Dt [...]

Travis Helwig
Nov 4, 2009 18:23

According this post, the audition is four days long with no start or finish time.

Cooper Cheatham
Nov 4, 2009 18:54

Sean and Briana from Under the Arch are hot (As is the rest of the cast)

Sean and Briana did a shoot for http://www.guapomagazine.com for Halloween and you guys should all go check it out.

Yes, yes shameless plug, but hey, they were great to work with!

Samantha Moore
Nov 4, 2009 23:30

@phillip its a cover of “animal” by Miike Snow but I dont know who does the cover

Rachael Rho
Nov 5, 2009 0:11

Besides the fact that this show looks ridiculous, it fails to recognize really any racial diversity at NYU. The clip shows a predominately white cast, which doesn’t make sense with the fact that our school is one of the most ethnically diverse in the country.

If you’re going to try to make this show at all authentic or any buy-in from real NYU students, you need to get a much wider crowd at this open call.

Don Chubbly
Nov 5, 2009 9:34

@Samantha the wonderful sky ferreira sings the song. CHUBBLY OUT!!

Who Wants to be Miss G Train? | NYU Local
Nov 5, 2009 11:12

[...] you want to be a part of something publicized and demeaning, and reality shows just aren’t your bag, perhaps a pageant is perfect for you. Anyone who lives in Brooklyn or [...]

bobby teelin
Nov 5, 2009 11:41

@ Rachel Rho- I agree that it needs more diversity. Although I think the way it started was just the kid filmed him and his real group of friends..so hopefully the “new season” will bring some color. Literally. Haha

Jessica Roy
Nov 5, 2009 23:38

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About the Author
Natan Edelsburg is a staff writer for Entertainment. He began blogging when an obsession with Gossip Girl caused him to cry out against their misrepresentations of NYU. Natan also curates Twitter lists for GlobalQuad.com and Listorious.com.
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