the hard times of rj berger

Although MTV's 'Skins' flopped in a big way earlier this year, its summer series 'Teen Wolf' performed well enough for the network to order a second season.

But times have not been so good to one of the network's less talked-about shows, 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger.' The show debuted to solid ratings in 2010 that have since fallen. Although it was brought back for a second season this spring, MTV has decided not to go ahead with a third season of the comedy.

'Hard Times' followed a particularly well-endowed teenager as he navigated the horrors of high school.

What didn't work out with his longtime crush finally came through with his new girlfriend on 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' (Mon., 10PM ET on MTV). But not without a price.

For his 16th birthday, Amy promised RJ a present he'd remember for all time, but told him he needed to stand up to Max first. So, RJ threw a Max Bash party to both celebrate his birthday and bring together all the people who hated Max.

Of course, Max trashed the party, but even then RJ stood up to him. While that conflict remains unresolved, RJ's bravery earned him the promised birthday present. And this time, after blowing out the candles, RJ's wish did come true as he and Amy consummated their relationship.

At a heinously under-supervised school lock-in on 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' (Mon, 10PM on MTV), things get even more out-of-hand than we expected when Miles accidentally drugged the student body. He brought in some biscotti he pilfered from his brother, only to find out too late they were drugged.

Of course, things were great at first. A teenage boy locked in a school filled with teenage girls in their underwear is like a dream come true. When he saw Paris Hilton, that dream became a fantasy. Then she said he was hot.

But then the high took a turn for the worse. Hilton morphed into a demonic beast and announced, "I am the devil!"

Perhaps hoping to inject a bit of juice into the ratings of 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' (Mon., 10PM ET on MTV), the network pulled in a guest star from a sister series. While 'RJ' did respectable enough for the network to give it a second season, it hasn't exactly been exactly been setting the ratings world on fire. Unlike 'Jersey Shore' ...

With 'Jersey Shore' wrapped for now, fans of its cast may have just gravitated toward this show to see Vinny Guadagnino perfect his acting chops as RJ's cousin Vinny. See, no stretch on the name. And his character's persona?

Let's just say he had RJ and the cast looking like the cast of his show by the end of the episode ... and not necessarily to the improvement of any of them. Lily was particularly disturbing as an even more crazed Snooki.

We had a hard time deciding what I should watch for Couch Potato this month. I've watched women's programming all day (OWN) and The Disney Channel, and I was hoping this time that my editor -- a perfectly lovely woman who has never showed any cruel streak before -- would assign me something I was familiar with, or at least something I could identify with.

She chose MTV.

I am 45-years-old. I have not watched MTV regularly since Nirvana smelled Teen Spirit and Michael Jackson told us it didn't matter if things were black or white. I haven't "wanted my MTV" in a while. There was a time -- say, from 1981, when MTV debuted, to around 1992 -- when I watched the channel a lot. They actually played more music videos than reality shows then and the ratio of good to bad music was much more in my favor. I wore my sunglasses at night, I was caught in the heat of the moment, and I wanted Jessie's girl.

MTV's other scripted series that had the PTC all up in a tizzy over its depiction of teens and sexuality returned for its second season. And it looks like 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' (Thu., 11PM ET on MTV) are going to continue for the titular character.

Last season, he gave himself to friend Lily after she was hit by a school bus. But his heart always belonged to Jenny Swanson. What he didn't do was tell Lily that he'd taken Jenny to the school dance that very night, and there shared a kiss with her.

At least, he didn't tell her until now. On the one hand, you have to give RJ credit for finally being honest with Lily about his true feelings and intentions with Jenny. On the other hand, he probably shouldn't have allowed her to go around as his girlfriend since that fateful day in the hospital.

According to Vinny Guadagnino of 'Jersey Shore,' making the leap from reality to scripted television in a guest spot on 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' wasn't tremendously difficult. Guadagnino said he drew from prior experience as an amateur actor, and he even recited a bit of Shakespeare to prove his acting skills on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC).

"I was acting since I'm a little kid in a lot of plays and stuff. So, I'm used to memory," said Guadagnino, adding that he has experience with "musical theater, Shakespeare, a little bit of everything."

Zooey Deschanel might be a movie star already, but she could be following in her big sister's footsteps and joining a TV series full time.

TV Line reports that Deschanel is reportedly in talks to star in the Fox comedy pilot 'Chicks and Dicks,' from 'No Strings Attached' writer Liz Merriwether. The actress would play Jessica, an elementary school teacher who moves in with a group of immature guys after breaking up with her live-in boyfriend.

Nothing's set in stone yet, especially not the title of the show -- that'll probably change if the series ever makes it to air.

Deschanel's sister, Emily, stars on the Fox hit 'Bones.'

Also in contention to star in one of the season's biggest pilots is Rachel Bilson, who is in talks for a lead role in Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage's new show, 'Hart of Dixie.' Bilson would play a New York City doctor who inherits a small Southern medical practice, reports Deadline.

In other TV news ...

• Following a successful kidney transplant, Tracy Morgan is back on the '30 Rock' set. The actor missed several episodes while he recovered from the surgery. [EW]

• When Gwyneth Paltrow heads back to 'Glee,' she'll be sharing a 'Kiss' with Matthew Morrison. At least musically -- her character, Holly Holiday, will duet on the Prince song with Mr. Schuester. [TV Line]

• Almost 10 million people tuned in to Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl on Sunday. The Super Bowl counter-programming attracted an audience of 9.2 million over 12 hours. [EW]

"Do you want to be the loser who did the right thing, or do you want to be the stud who did Jenny Swanson?" advises Coach Sinclair.

Umm, the latter. But before he breaks the news to Lily, she tells him she always imagined they'd lose their virginity to each other. She skips off, elated.

"Lily, wait, there's something I need to talk to you about," says RJ. She spins around -- in the middle of the road. Seconds later, she has bigger issues than going dateless to the school dance.

Miles' brother Chet, an Iraq War vet, runs interference while RJ and Miles attempt to steal test answers from Mrs. Lipsky on 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' (Mon, 10PM ET on MTV).

It turns out that times aren't, in fact, too hard for RJ Berger after all.

At least not according to TV Guide, which is reporting that 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' has just been renewed for a second season. The series, which follows the adventures of a high school nerd whose social life takes a major turn when the entire school discovers he's unusually well-endowed, debuted on MTV less than two months ago.

If the premise of a 'Hung' for kids seems a bit outside of the ordinary, so too is the manner of 'RJ Berger's' renewal, as both the network and TV Guide are giving credit to an unlikely source: Justin Bieber.

Miles and Robin face off in the school yard in Monday's episode of 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' (Mon., 10PM ET on MTV) because she's sick and tired of him spreading rumors that they've had sex.

Miles says he doesn't want to hit a girl -- but he launches the first blow anyhow, and the brawl begins (in anime).

[Spoiler alert]

RJ lusts after the new girl, but learns that she's a member of the Purity Club on 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' (Mon, 10PM ET on MTV).

Miles gives RJ advice on how to score with Jenny during a study date on 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' (Mon, 10PM ET on MTV). Here's a hint: It involves a book strategically placed over a certain part of RJ's anatomy.

I've figured out where MTV wants to fit into your television viewing life cycle. It's a place they've been filling already, only now they're adding scripted programming to the mix. As teens grow beyond 'iCarly,' there's been no place to go. Adult shows are too sophisticated; dealing with issues they either aren't ready to tackle yet, or don't even understand.

Enter 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger.' As my esteemed colleague Joel Keller pointed out earlier this month, 'Berger' -- 'Hung' for the junior set -- seems to rather quickly ignore the titular appendage. That's actually an asset for the future of the show. What kind of legs can a high school comedy be if its obsessed with its lead character's genitalia all the time?

It does come up again in the third episode, in an incredibly awkward way, but it's everything that happened around that moment that worked as comedy. Perhaps the series speaks too closely to my own insecure early years, but I think 'The Hard Times of RJ Berger' nails the teen experience of its target audience in an uncomfortably authentic way.