Since the dawn of television, countless major televised moments have shaped and influenced our world.
On July 20, 1969, the world watched as man first walked on the moon during the Apollo 11 landing, solidifying the United States’ victory in the Space Race.
On August 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon announced his resignation live on air following the Watergate scandal.
On June 10, 2007, The Sopranos finale aired, dividing millions on what actually happened to Tony Soprano.
But today, let’s talk about one of the greatest moments in television history: On July 13, 2010, MTV aired the series finale of The Hills.
Let’s rewind.
In September 2004, MTV introduced us to Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, a show that offered a peek into the lives of California’s elite 1%. Over three seasons, viewers became obsessed with the drama, fashion, and relationships of the cast, including Lauren “LC” Conrad, Kristin Cavallari, Stephen Colletti, Lo Bosworth, Trey Phillips, Christina Schuller, Morgan Olsen, Talan Torriero, and Jason Wahler.
The success of Laguna Beach led to its spinoff, The Hills, which followed LC’s journey as she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams in fashion. Through love, heartbreak, and always somehow ending up at the same nightclub as her frenemies, LC became a cultural icon. Joining her were co-stars Heidi Montag, Audrina Patridge, Whitney Port, Spencer Pratt, Brody Jenner, Kristin Cavallari, and Lo Bosworth.
The Hills aired for six seasons, running from May 31, 2006, to July 13, 2010, with a total of 102 episodes. On that fateful Tuesday in July, 3 million viewers tuned in for what became one of the most shocking television moments ever: the big reveal that much of it was staged.
For years, fans debated whether the show was real or scripted.
How did they always end up at the same club as their rivals? Didn’t Los Angeles have, like, a lot of clubs?
Were the lives of these uber-rich, uber-pretty people really that dramatic?
And, let’s face it: were they all really just hooking up with each other?
All these questions were somewhat answered during the series finale, titled “All Good Things…” In the final scene, Brody Jenner hugs Kristin Cavallari, the Hollywood Hills backdrop dramatically slides away, and the audience sees the truth: the scene was filmed on a backlot, not on location.
This iconic moment blurred the lines between reality and fiction, leaving fans in awe and cementing The Hills as a legendary piece of pop culture history.