I cheerfully admit that I know next to nothing about the MTV series "The Hills" other than it is the most gawdawful acted show on TV -- I tried to watch an episode once and thought I'd stumbled into someone reading the minutes from a planning commission meeting -- but I do have a tiny local angle to pass on. Jervy Smith, my optometrist, reports that his son, Alex Smith, Clovis West '03, is in the season 4 trailer for "The Hills" and has a bit part in the show. Jervy writes:

Alex is supposed to cuddle up to Whitney Port, although she may have found another flame in which case his appearances will be short lived. But at least Alex made the first 20 seconds of the nationally televised trailer.

By the way, Alex Smith (pictured, right) attended the University of Southern California and graduated from Columbia University in '07. He doesn't consider himself an actor, but he currently does a little modeling and is a club promoter in Manhattan. His dad reports that Alex's pictures are currently in this week's tabloids: US Weekly, Aug 11 edition, page 71; Life and Style, page 40; In Touch, page 62. Jervy writes:

I don't know where they dug up those pictures. The one in US Weekly actually came from the show. The season begins Monday, Aug. 18. Alex doesn't know if he is in or out or when or if in the show he will be seen.

So, tell me, "Hills" fans: Is the whole thing scripted? Or is it "reality"? Do you care? And why is Heidi so bloody famous?

[Photo: Courtesy Jervy Smith]