Cashing out up on The Hills

For many, MTV’s The Hills is one of the most vacuous, aggravating, mind-numbing programmes on television at the moment. Following the lives of several rich, attractive, twentysomethings living in Los Angeles, The Hills is generally categorised as a ‘reality show’.

Just how ‘real’ this reality is seems questionable. On the show itself, the cast members ‘work’ in entry-level jobs in fashion and media, which, in reality would barely pay for their lavish lifestyles and luxurious mansions.

Heidi Montag, one of the show’s stars, stated in an interview with Blender magazine that, “It’s fun to watch, but I’m glad it’s not my life. I’m actually a drama-free person.”

Back in 2008 cast members were making anywhere between $10,000 and $75,000 an episode, with Lauren Conrad being the top earner. In 2009 these numbers had unfathomably increased. Lauren was still the highest earner, making $125,000 an episode with a clause in her contract stating that no other cast member could earn more per episode than her. Her replacement Kristin Cavallari will receive $90,000 per episode.

She is closely followed by Audrina Patridge and Heidi Montag, both earning $100,000 an episode. Spencer Pratt, Heidi’s trouble stirring husband makes $65,000. The more drama surrounding a cast member the more they earn, obviously.

The appallingly large amount of money being made is enough to leave the average person jaded. All they’re doing is gossiping, shopping and hitting a few clubs. Anyone can do that. Is the cast of a fake reality television programme really deserving of the thousands thrown their way?

While MTV would not comment on the stars’ salaries, The Hills creator and executive producer Adam DiVello said that the show’s cast “has a value to our fans.”

He said: “Kids think of [the cast] as their own friends… It’s been a long ride with these characters, and as you go along, you get more and more invested.”

Even though our lives may be full of as much drama as Lauren’s and our sunglasses may be as big as Heidi’s, no one’s likely to put us on television and throw millions at us. All we can do is sit back, relax and enjoy the show.