A humble plea

So, this is happening.

That's right - the people who brought us "Jersey Shore" are currently working on a spinoff with 12 of "the hottest and proudest Southerners," to be called "Party Down South." Casting has already been completed... dammit.

So, since I can't sneak on this show myself, I have a humble request for the producers of "Party Down South." Please just don't make us look stupid. Of, course, I know the lucky 12 WILL look stupid, because that's part of the entertainment value (and I say that as someone utterly addicted to "Jersey Shore"). But, you see, we here in the South have fought pretty hard against some insidious regional stereotypes. Namely, that we're all closet KKK members with three teeth. Pick colorful cast members who may not be the most well-adjusted, by all means. But I would just love it if you didn't chalk up their cluelessness to the fact of their Southernness.

And, I have another quibble. People in other parts of the country go muddin' and eat fried chicken. Take it from a proud redneck - we're everywhere. There are many, many other things particular to the South that they don't do in, say, Ohio. So if you want to be the redneck reality show, cool. But if you want to be the Southern reality show, please understand that this might be a very different thing.

For the record, North Carolina is home to both the nation's first women's college and first public university. Also, we went for Obama in '08. Just wanted to get that out there.