MTV has announced that it has picked up The Hills, a new Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County spinoff series that will follow Laguna star Lauren Conrad.

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First rumored since cameras crews were spotted following her around Condé Nast's West Coast offices back in August, The Hills will follow "L.C." as she moves to Los Angeles, attends college, and works as an intern at Condé Nast's Teen Vogue magazine. The 19-year-old is currently a student at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in downtown Los Angeles.

"The way I look at it is, The Hills is to Laguna Beach what Melrose Place was to Beverly Hills, 90210," Tony DiSanto, an executive producer for both series, told the New York Post (wait a minute, does that make L.C. the new Grant Show? And is Heather Locklear going to have to show up and save the show in Season 2?)

"This is the story of Lauren from Laguna Beach bursting out of that bubble, moving to L.A. and trying to juggle school, a career and relationships -- you're going to get a good mix of the three different avenues of her life and how she's trying to keep it all together," DiSanto explained to the paper. "It's a nice change from Laguna -- you're sort of living this with her -- it's a progression from Laguna Beach."

But although The Hills' "story" might be different from that of Laguna Beach (which, as MTV previously announced, has been renewed for a third season), the new show's editing style won't be. "Like Laguna its going to shoot in a cinematic style," said DiSanto. "But you'll notice subtle differences that are more classic cinematic devices for storytelling."

As for why Laguna's producers chose to feature L.C. in the new spinoff, DiSanto was frank: they simply think that the emotional blonde makes for good TV. "She wears her emotions on her face, she's so expressive and this dynamic, amazing kid who's doing a lot of great, cool stuff -- and we thought this would be great TV," DiSanto explained.

The formal announcement of The Hills begins the total number of MTV reality shows produced by DiSanto and the rest of Laguna's team to three. In addition to renewing Laguna for the third season, last month the network also announced plans for 8th & Ocean, a Laguna-like series that will follow aspiring young models living in Miami's trendy South Beach area.