"Buckwild": Nearby residents aren't wild about new MTV series

Did you watch the premiere of "Buckwild" on MTV Thursday night? The show, which takes place in West Virginia, may have captivated an audience, but not everyone in the state was tuning in; some are even upset about the new series.

• Watch: New MTV reality show "Buckwild" stirring up controversy

Set in Sissonville, W.Va., MTV's latest "authentic comedic series" follows the antics of nine twentysomething cast members. Punches are thrown and words are exchanged, as turmoil brews among the roommates.

"CBS This Morning" contributor Lee Woodruff traveled to West Virginia this week and said it "took about 10 bars to find people who were watching the show and would talk about the show."

When Woodruff actually found a few West Virginians willing to weigh in, many of them didn't have the best things to say about the series, which follows "an outrageous group of childhood friends from the rural foothills of West Virginia who love to dodge grown-up responsibilities."

Some West Virginians are angry, arguing the show feeds into "redneck" stereotypes. Samantha Markos, a nearby waitress, said if MTV producers filmed a "real" reality show about the state, "You would find a lot of hardworking people that provide for their families."

Melissa Whitman, who lived across the street from where the "Buckwild" gang resided during shooting last year, witnessed more than she probably wanted to see, especially as those nasty fights broke out.

"I watched the producer actually talk to the lady and tell her exactly how he wanted her to come off on film," she said, later adding, "I guess they thought that we were all uneducated."

And Danny Jones, mayor of Charleston, W. Va., added, "You can find all kinds of people that live here and they're not people that are going to be portrayed in 'Buckwild.'"

"Jersey Shore," anyone?

[Janet2912]

I've worked in West Virginia numerous times and love it. Beautiful country, friendly people, and the women are hot.

[AWillAWay4]

Having grown up in a small town in WV (much like Sissonville), I have to say that there is nothing offensive about this show. I grew up doing a lot of the same stuff that is shown on Buckwild and I don't think it is an unfair picture of West Virginian culture, at all. West Virginians, in general, are very afraid of the way that the "outside world" will perceive a very private culture. Mountain people are crazy, but it's definitely a good crazy and WV culture is one of the richest in the country. I definitely think that it is time that the world come to know it, I'm sure they will love to see what really goes on "up in them hills"... :D

[MissShona]

I think that people are taking way too much personal offense at this. I am a proud graduate of West Virginia University (although I am from and grew up in nearby Pennsylvania). I will be the first to say that WV has some of the nicest, most down-to-earth people you will come across anywhere. Also being that I went to college there, I came in regular contact with educated, professional people. My own family in PA used to make cracks about WV. And I would be quick to correct them; and remind them that I had gone to other colleges and WVU (and the community) were top notch in my book. However I love the show "Buckwild". I find that the cast members are much easier to relate to than the characters from "Jersey Shore" or even the ones from "The Real World" series. Also it shows the world just how much in common young people have everywhere. When I moved to Miami, it boggled my mind how people had no clue whatsoever on how life was in the Appalachians. Also, I happen to be Black as well. If I got personally offended at all of the inaccurate, negative portrayals of Black people that is shown on TV and in the movies....I would never get over it. Not in a million years. So just take a deep breath people. It's entertainment. If someone really believes that an entire state is just like what they see on "Buckwild", then they are pretty ignorant all-around, and not worth your worry.

[Skyhawk442]

I see no difference than most places in the states. However, when i was younger, now that was crazy. Yee Haw!

[davcor2]

There seems to be a mindless mentality that production companies are eager to take advantage of. However, it's the stupidity of the general public that watches crap like this for lack of anything better in their lives.
GET A LIFE people and work toward a more fulfilling existence.

[intonews]

We are slowly finding out that the reality of these shows are not real. Set-up, staged, scripted....I think the reality shows are showing their feet of clay FINALLY. A certain part of society that just gets off watching the weird, depraved and ignorant side of this country. What has really happened...we've been dumbed down. Producers think we have the attention span of a gnat so they come out with dribble like this and oh so many others. Oh sure their fun to watch for the first 5 minutes then I feel I'm losing brain cells the longer it goes on. West Virginia, fight to show the real image you want to portray. Don't let the TV/Cable industry win.

[HobartSchmenge]

Dribble: 1. To fall or flow in drops or small quantities; trickle. 2. To advance a ball or puck by bouncing it or giving it a series of short kicks or pushes

Drivel: 1. Childish, silly, idiotic or meaningless talk or thinking; nonsense; twaddle. 2. Saliva flowing from the mouth, or mucus from the nose.