After I was still reeling from the loss of Laguna Beach, my prayers for procrastination were answered with MTV's newest "reality" show 8th & Ocean.

Still following around the young and nubile, the show features 10 models trying to make it big in the business in Miami's sizzling South Beach. After cultivating a cult following for Laguna Beach, producers are hoping for similar success with this reality show hybrid.

Following the recent trend of highlighting the model business, shows like these are quick to point out the cutthroat competition and less glamorous sides to the job. Who doesn't love to watch people get hosed down and blasted with industrial fans to achieve that beach sexiness.

The main players on the show all live in apartments provided by the modeling agency where they must earn their keep in order to stay in their cushy surroundings. The owner of the agency, Irene Marie, dishes out some tough love to her little beauties to keep them on point.

Just from this first episode, you already get some insight into the female models whose lives are ripe for drama. Sabrina and Kelly are identical twins and are often pitted against each other for jobs. Brit, is the fresh meat on the scene, a 19-year-old, home-schooled, preacher's daughter straight outta Kansas City. She can't dance, she's naïve and aloof, but she's got the goods. After the girls take her for a night on the town, you can already see she's just getting her feet wet. One can only hope the town and the business doesn't eat her alive.

As for the boys down the hall, they may be pretty, but don't expect them to count calories and pump iron. Just like a college dorm, they inhale pizza, watch sports, and quiz each other on their sexual exploits. There's bound to be some cross-pollination in this group.

So far, it's too early to tell if this show well become my new drug of choice. I'm not quite attached to the characters but as show progresses I'm sure I'll have a new excuse to avoid calls and forsake any productive activities.

Grade: B

-- Reviewed by Laura Smith