"I was very proud of COLLEGE HILL 3, which had the best ratings and best viewer response of the series," said Reginald Hudlin, BET President of Entertainment. "But I can say COLLEGE HILL 4 takes it to another level. It is truly outrageous!"
In the first episode, the new roommates meet and greet each other with a little trepidation. There's Krystal, the upscale girl from the real O.C. who often finds herself at the root of all the dissention between the two groups; JT, a wannabe rapper from Compton, Calif. struggling to remain true to his girlfriend while actively being pursued by one of his new Virgin Islander roommates; Fallon, the one woman you don't want to cross from Inglewood, Calif.; and Willie from L.A., who is "single as hell" and constantly looking.
Representing the Caribbean crew are the outspoken and outrageous Idesha--she's the one relentlessly pursuing JT; Chicky, a soft-spoken star athlete who generally gets along with the Californians until they start trash talking his island; Vanessa, a gorgeous green-eyed girl who has a hard time adjusting to the Cali kids and their attitudes; and Andres, a pretty boy with bedroom eyes and a smile that melts butter, who likes to sit back and take in the drama.
Dealing with their cultural and socio-economical differences is challenging for the COLLEGE HILL 4 cast, but focusing on academics while living in a luxe mansion overlooking the ocean with a pool, hot tub, tennis court and pool table proves even more difficult. They do, however, manage to squeeze in a little studying in between the clubbing, "extracurricular" activities and frequent arguments.
"When we started COLLEGE HILL, we wanted to explore the African American experience through the eyes of college students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities," said Executive Producer Tracey Edmonds. "In this fourth season, we wanted to see how geography and culture affects that experience. It was fascinating to see how their interactions with each other either validated or contradicted their own presuppositions. It definitely made for an exciting season and an interesting case study in human relations."
It's easy to see why there's never a dull moment on COLLEGE HILL 4. With all of the romantic entanglements, conflicting personalities, and sexual tension, there should be a sign on the front door reading: "Welcome, But Beware of the Drama!"
MEET THE CAST
Krystal, 23, Laguna Hills, Calif., broadcast communications major. She's a material girl without a lot of money, who's grown up in a predominantly white suburb in the O.C. Krystal has never seen "so many black people" in her life and doesn't seem to adjust well to the island lifestyle. A vocal diva who thinks it's her way or the highway, Krystal doesn't care who she tells or who it offends.
Jaron "JT", 20, Compton, Calif., music major. Growing up in South Central L.A. where he was accustomed to "loud music, gunshots and car crashes" wasn't easy, so JT used the Bible to get through the rough times. He'll need to keep that 'Good Book' handy in St. Thomas while trying to remain faithful to his girlfriend of three years.
Willie, 22, Los Angeles, international marketing major. He's a preacher's kid born in Little Rock and reared in St. Louis, but everything about Willie is Hollywood. He recently moved to L.A. to pursue his dreams of becoming an actor. He's so playfully vain that he thinks this show is about him--"Willie, and the cast of COLLEGE HILL."
Fallon, 21, Inglewood, Calif., communications major. She's strong, opinionated, outgoing, ambitious and admits to having a "smart mouth." Raised by her mother, she subscribes to the theory that "more is better" and is a self- proclaimed "material junkie" who would gladly take a day at the spa and mall over chilling on the beach.
Andres, 21, St. Croix, V.I., business major. He's happily experienced life in the States and in his native St. Croix. He's cute, athletic and outgoing, and feels confident with the ladies -- they might have another story though. His prankster nature and antics in the house can lead to some unwelcome response from his roommates!
Devon "Chicky", 21, St. Thomas, V.I., business administration major. Chicky is a 6-foot-9 star athlete who excels in basketball, softball and volleyball. A "playa player," he's a big man on campus in more ways than one. Chicky initially finds some issues with the Americans and their vernacular, but seems willing to try embracing their differences and often finds himself playing the peacemaker during their many disputes.
Idesha, 21, St. Thomas, V.I., biology major. Born in St. Kitts, she moved to the V.I. when she was 13. Idesha has cast her reel in JT's direction, hoping to reacquaint him with the joys of single life. She's never met a dare she didn't like and definitely goes after what she wants. She's in it to win it! An island girl through and through, she brings a spicy Caribbean flavor as thick as her accent to this season's cast.
Vanessa, 21, St. Croix, V.I., psychology major. A self-proclaimed "good girl," she is considered fun, crazy and outgoing by her friends. Yet, as she admits, "every good girl has her naughty side." She's also a bit of a hot head who can't hold her liquor. Some of her male roommates would like to find out if she's more naughty than nice.
"We're very proud of this franchise," said Robyn Lattaker-Johnson, VP of Development and Executive in Charge of Production for the series. "This season we definitely had our fair share of fun, but we also opened up a necessary dialogue about the differences and similarities among Black youth across cultures."
Editor's Note: Review screeners, interviews, b-roll/show clips and artwork are available upon request; contact Zabrina Horton, BET Corporate Communications at (310) 481-3737 or zabrina.horton@bet.net or Mariah O'Hara at BWR Public Relations at (310) 248-6177 or mohara@bwr-la.com.
ABOUT BET
BET, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), provides contemporary entertainment that speaks to young Black adults from an authentic, unapologetic viewpoint of the Black experience. BET connects with its target audience in a way no other media outlet can; providing hit music, entertainment and news programming that is reflective of their experiences, such as: 106 & PARK, RAP CITY, MEET THE FAITH, COLLEGE HILL, and AMERICAN GANGSTER. In addition, outstanding mega-specials such as the BET AWARDS (the #1 Awards Show on Cable Television), BET HIP-HOP AWARDS and CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL keep viewers regularly tuned in for the latest and greatest in Black entertainment. Reaching more than 84 million homes, BET can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.
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