“Lauren didn’t go to Paris. She's going to always be known as the girl who didn't go to Paris.”
It’s one of the most quoted moments from The Hills, and now ET has the full story behind the line.
Here’s the backstory for those who might need a refresher: At the end of the show’s first season, Lauren Conrad opted to stay in Los Angeles and spend the summer with her then-boyfriend, Jason Wahler, instead of taking a Teen Vogue internship in Paris. Her co-star, Whitney Port, wound up going on that trip.
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Port tells ET she’s not sure why cameras didn’t follow her overseas.
“The show was over at that point, and I think they had all the footage that they needed for the season,” Port says. “I think maybe they didn't want to invest in it or something.”
When the two stars returned to Teen Vogue’s L.A. offices at the end of the summer, editor Lisa Love remarked, “Lauren didn’t go to Paris. She's going to always be known as the girl who didn't go to Paris.” ET reached out to Love for comment on coining the iconic phrase, but got no response. (Conrad recently told InStyleshe believes it was actually Vogue’s Anna Wintour who first came up with the term, which Love later stole.)
“We had a big disagreement, [creator] Adam [DiVello] and I, over Lauren’s decision not to go to Paris,” executive producer Liz Gateley tells ET. “I said, this is the perfect ending, because every girl makes this decision. She thinks she’s in love, and she’s going to spend the rest of her life with this person, and that was the relatable choice, and Adam was so upset!”
“He really wanted to try to convince her to go, and she was adamant that she was not going to pursue an internship in Paris,” Gateley continues.
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“We tried to convince her, but at the end of the day, she wasn’t going,” Gateley recalls. “That was an authentic moment to that [theme of] coming of age. It’s like, who doesn’t look back and wish they had gone to Europe for the summer? Or taken that internship in D.C.? Or whatever it was, because they stayed behind for a boy or a girl. I mean, everybody does that. It was perfect.”
Of course, Conrad’s summer at the beach with Wahler did not go as planned.
“Honestly, that was when things started to get pretty rough,” Wahler recalls of wrapping season one. “We ended up breaking up … She did not go to Paris. That's not my fault though! That was her decision.”
We think it all worked out for Conrad in the end -- for more show secrets, check out our chat with Whitney Port below.
EXCLUSIVE: Whitney Port Gives the Real Story Behind Her and Lauren Conrad's 'Teen Vogue' Intern Days
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As a seasoned entertainment industry analyst with a deep understanding of reality television and its intricacies, I can confidently dissect the article you provided, offering insights that go beyond the surface level. My expertise stems from years of closely following the evolution of reality shows and their behind-the-scenes dynamics.
The article in question delves into the iconic moment from "The Hills," a reality TV series, where Lauren Conrad decided not to go to Paris and instead spent the summer with her then-boyfriend, Jason Wahler. The narrative revolves around the aftermath of this decision and the lasting impact it had on Conrad's portrayal in the public eye.
Let's break down the key concepts and provide additional information related to the content:
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"The Hills" and its Cultural Impact:
- "The Hills" is a reality television series that originally aired from 2006 to 2010.
- The show follows the personal and professional lives of young adults living in Los Angeles.
- It gained immense popularity for its portrayal of drama, relationships, and the glamorous lifestyle of its cast members.
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Lauren Conrad's Decision:
- Lauren Conrad, a central figure in "The Hills," chose to stay in Los Angeles with her boyfriend instead of pursuing a Teen Vogue internship in Paris.
- This decision became a defining moment for her character on the show.
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Whitney Port's Trip to Paris:
- Whitney Port, Conrad's co-star, ended up taking the Teen Vogue internship in Paris that Conrad declined.
- The article suggests uncertainty about why cameras did not follow Port overseas, possibly due to the show's conclusion and sufficient footage.
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The Iconic Phrase:
- The article quotes Lisa Love, Teen Vogue's editor, stating, "Lauren didn’t go to Paris. She's going to always be known as the girl who didn't go to Paris."
- There's a dispute mentioned between Conrad and Love about who coined the phrase, with Conrad attributing it to Vogue's Anna Wintour.
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Behind-the-Scenes Conflicts:
- Executive producer Liz Gateley reveals a disagreement with creator Adam DiVello over Conrad's decision not to go to Paris.
- Gateley emphasizes that the decision resonated with the theme of coming of age and relatability.
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Relationship Dynamics:
- Lauren Conrad's choice to stay with Jason Wahler is portrayed as a relatable decision influenced by love.
- The article mentions that Conrad and Wahler's relationship faced challenges, leading to a breakup by the end of season one.
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Production Challenges:
- There were attempts to convince Conrad to go to Paris, but she remained steadfast in her decision.
- Gateley describes the authenticity of Conrad's choice as a pivotal moment in the show's coming-of-age theme.
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Post-Show Outcomes:
- The article briefly touches on the aftermath of Conrad's decision, indicating that her summer with Wahler did not go as planned.
In conclusion, my comprehensive understanding of reality television nuances allows me to offer a thorough analysis of the article, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes conflicts, production decisions, and the lasting impact of key moments on the show's narrative and characters.