Show Review: World of Jenks

MTV has been airing episodes of a new show, "World of Jenks."  Following 24 year old Andrew Jenks [who also Executive Produces] as he travels the US with the ambition of finding out how different people of abnormal situations live their lives.  To quote him "his parents never even let him play with water guns growing up."  Needless to say, he had an easy-going, positive childhood.

Upon first hearing of this show I will admit that I was skeptical.  I thought it would be your typical whoa is me, waa waaa story of a privileged young man barely stepping into the shoes of those less than fortunate.  While my initial assumptions were correct, I was surprised to concur that this show actually does have heart.

The premiere episodes brings us to Chad, an autistic young man who came highly recommended to Jenks & co.  He is very particular, and Jenks learns the differences right off the bat.  Andrew was very compassionate and by the end of the episode he had gained Chad's trust, and the two made quite the team.  In the next episode we travel to Georgia where rapper, "Maino" resides.  This episode was quite different than the first.  Quickly in we find Maino did hard time, and has a permanent scar where someone slashed his face with a razor.  At one point he [Maino] chokes Jenks out with his bodyguard telling him, "let him live, let him live!"

The Street Queen is the appropriately titled third episode which follows 22 year old Danielle aka "HeavyD."  She is homeless 'houseless' [as she and her friends prefer] and has been since she was around the age of 12.  Right before becoming homeless, while she was babysitting her younger siblings, she was charged with a felony account of child neglect (DO NOT ask me how that works because I don't know.)  During the episode we see that life on the street is actually better for her than it would have been at home.  At one point Andrew and D sleep outside a church right off of the Tenderloin where he has to piss on the side of it!  Moving along Jenks goes back home with D and she reveals that in one circumstance she held a razor blade to her wrist in a bought of fury and told her parents she was better off dead, and that she wanted to commit suicide.  Much to my surprise her dad suggested that this was the right thing to do!!  To sum up the kind of douche bags we are speaking of, the mom and dad could not even be sober on the afternoon they had to hitch hike to their home.

Wrapping up my review we follow UFC fighter Anthony "Showtime" Pettis.  Once again Jenks thought he was walking into a callous soul with no sensitivity.  Proving the complete opposite [yet again] "Showtime is anything but.  He was gearing up for the fight of us life, right after losing a pivotal match.  The guy was undefeated, hell I'll even go as far to call him a BEAST!  Throughout the episode Anthony shows Jenks his dads grave site which he visits frequently for inspiration.  "Showtime" supports his entire family with his fighting career.  The best news of the episode is in the end when the match concludes with Showtime knocking the shit out of whatever the big "Tough guys" name was. 

If I were to grade this show I would give it a solid A-.  For a first season premiere that is a DAMN good grade for me to dole out.  I am eager to see MTV green light a second season, much more importantly the other 4 or 5 episodes we have left in which he follows a cheerleader, and an animal rights activist among many other interesting things.  Kudos Jenks, keep up the good work!!!