Earlier this week, Bravo released the trailer for one of its new series, Summer House, and as with any Bravo reality show, it’s a lot to handle, especially if you live on the East End.
So what makes this one different than say a Real Housewives franchise? Well, it was filmed predominantly in the Hamptons and many residents were vehemently opposed to the premise of the show and letting it film in the area. While the show is supposed to be based in Montauk, it was actually filmed in Southampton, Amagansett and other non-Montauk locales too. In June, the Town of East Hampton denied the show’s film crew’s permit application to shoot outdoors on town property.
“I urge all businesses to not allow them to film in their locations,” Montauk native James Katsipis said on Facebook. “Think about what Jersey Shore did to that community. We need to stop this show from happening. Isn’t The Affair enough?”
One local even went as far as suggesting using air horns whenever filming was taking place to disrupt the shoot.
But, the show went on, and will debut in January. Bravo’s website describes Summer House as: “When a group of beautiful and successful New Yorkers leaves the comforts of the Big Apple behind to party the summer away in their home away from home, nothing is off limits. Bravo’s new series Summer House takes the beach town of Montauk, New York by storm, while following a group of nine friends who make the exclusive enclave their go-to party spot between Memorial Day and Labor Day – that is, when they’re not hustling at their day jobs. You could say they work hard and party way harder.”
Kyle Cooke, Ashley Wirkus, Lauren Wirkus, Everett Weston, Lindsay Hubbard, Carl Radke, Cristina Gibson, Stephen McGee, and Jaclyn Shuman will star in the show, which will follow them as “they maneuver love and life, as well as a good time in between all the drama in their summer share.” Bravo even teases a few surprise cameos, and Vanderpump Rules‘ Stassi Schroeder appears in the trailer.
If you live in the Hamptons, you understand what makes it so special. But, what’s the appeal to the cast? “Everyone’s heard of the Hamptons. That’s like your mom’s friend who wears pearls,” Cooke says on the show. “Montauk is like your mom’s friend’s daughter – who’s a little promiscuous. And by a little, I mean a lot.”
Some are worried that the glorification of the area’s party scene will be detrimental to Montauk. “The Montauk Chamber of Commerce is very concerned that Bravo falsely puts out that Summer House was filmed in a Montauk house,” says Laraine Creegan, Executive Director of the Chamber. “The house was located in Amagansett, on Napeague Harbor, not in Montauk. Furthermore, the producers were denied a permit to film on public lands in East Hampton Town, that includes the hamlet of Montauk. They filmed mostly in Southampton and the house. We are very concerned that the reality show promotes a false picture of Montauk as a party town. We are a hamlet of pristine beaches and parklands for families, outdoors people and mature adults.”
Summer House premieres on Bravo on Monday, January 16th at 10 p.m.
Will you be watching?
To watch the trailer, visit www.bravotv.com.